A fine mess: Inconsistent NBA picks players' pockets

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

A fine mess: Inconsistent NBA picks players' pockets 
February 26, 2004 
BY RON RAPOPORT SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST Advertisement

  

The Detroit Pistons got a lot of attention earlier this week when they were 
fined $200,000 for not completing the proper forms before allowing two newly 
acquired players, Rasheed Wallace and Mike James, to suit up. That's a lot of 
money for a paperwork snafu, to be sure, but it's only the tip of the iceberg of 
the thriving little side business the NBA's Department of Reparations has 
going. What the league lacks in consistency when it comes to assessing fines, it 
more than makes for up in volume while also providing an interesting look at 
what goes on during the course of an NBA season. 
Here are just some of the fines that have been handed down this season. See 
if you can find a method to the NBA's madness. 
Tracy McGrady was fined $10,000 for kicking a ball into the stands, but Tim 
Floyd got away with a mere $5,000 for the same infraction. Kevin Garnett of the 
Timberwolves and Ruben Patterson of the Trail Blazers, on the other hand, 
were fined $5,000 each for throwing a ball into the stands. 
Jason Kidd was fined $10,000 for verbally abusing a ref, but Jermaine O'Neal 
was assessed only $5,000. Coaches Scott Skiles, Don Nelson and Maurice Cheeks 
were each hit with $7,500 fines for taking it out on the officials. Shaquille 
O'Neal was the big loser in this department when he lost a day's pay, 
$275,000, for swearing while criticizing the refs. 
Then there is the matter of taunting the folks on the sideline. Latrell 
Sprewell was fined $25,000 for the grief he gave the Knicks' owners and bench, but 
it cost Allen Iverson only $10,000 for making obscene gestures to the crowd in 
Milwaukee. Go figure. 
The Jazz was fined $25,000 for a comedy routine mocking Karl Malone and Kobe 
Bryant, but the Cavaliers got off with a $5,000 fine when their mascot made 
fun of former teammate Ricky Davis. Perhaps that's a commentary on the greater 
star value of the Lakers' players, who knows? 
Gary Payton had a rough week in which he was fined $15,000 for fighting with 
the Warriors' Speedy Claxton and $25,000 for not taking part in the skills 
challenge at the All-Star Game. He could have just written a check to Baron 
Davis, who earned $25,000 for winning that event. 
Of all the fines handed down lately, though, I have to admit to a personal 
favorite. It came when Suns assistant Tim Grgurich was relieved of $7,500 for 
verbally abusing a member of the media. I never thought I'd live to see the day.

TAM