I've been saying this for years. Stern's been in that position since 1984. That's more than long enough. Future commissioners should have a 10-15 year term and that's it. No one man is bigger than the league.
Time for Stern to go OKLAHOMA CITY – David Stern is pushing 70, tired, irritable and still surrounded with no one to tell him the truth. For all the young diva stars in the sport, no one has an entourage of yes men as deep as the NBA's commissioner. Rest assured, everyone told Stern how out of line Jim Rome was on Wednesday, that Stern’s public tantrum was validated, that Stern justifiably defended his honor. Rest assured, no one dared tell the commissioner he needed to put the NBA above himself, stop the preening and let Kevin Durant and LeBron James be the stars of these Finals.
No one dares tell Stern the ultimate truth that his ego, his vindictiveness, is an embarrassment to the league.
That wasn’t about Stern’s honor, his reputation or defending his good name on Rome’s radio show. If Stern can’t handle a line of questioning on the draft lottery without resorting to personal insults, he shouldn’t sit for the interviews. In a lockout year, everyone has had too much Stern. Just ease back, let the Finals speak for itself and stop thrusting yourself into these predicaments.
Stern's office demands that kind of discipline from him because this is no time of the year for the commissioner to turn into a sideshow gone viral. Of course, Stern has always believed himself to be bigger than the office, bigger than the sport. The NBA’s never known a diva like him, and the owners will make sure it never does again...
Agree completely Lilo. While Rome's schtick is old, he was right to ask the question. Just the way he worded it and the way he said was wrong. But not only the lotto fixing, look at many games over the years. Even last night - the refs determine the games by giving the stars calls or non-calls. It's been going on for a long time. And I truly believe that Stern is behind the way games are officiated. Stern can't tell me LeBron didn't foul Durant on that last play.
And I also agree with Selig needing to go, Klydon. He is the worst commissioner in the past 50 years of any sport.
But Goodell has done a good, but not great, job. The process of appealing suspensions back to Goodell being the decider is lunacy. But Goodell has done a good job trying to remove the thugs from the game who have off the field issues. I don't like the rule changes giving so much protection to QBs, but that is not all Goodell's fault.
