[gostars]

Stern defends Van Gundy fine
/ The Sporting News
Posted: 4 hours ago

NBA Commissioner David Stern talked with Sporting News Radio host Jeff Rickard today. Stern discussed the fine handed down to Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy for criticizing referees. Below is an excerpt from the interview.

Rickard: A lot of accusations without a lot to back them up. Is that the reason for the stiff fine? Why so much?
Stern: He didn't imply, he said. He not only impugned the integrity of our officials in the league, but he purported to have specific information on that point. When asked, he declined to cooperate.

Rickard: Behind the scenes, had he cooperated would there have been a full-scale investigation from your office?

Stern: Oh, of course. We do that all the time for all of our teams when they raise issues with us. We're continually both evaluating our referees and dealing with questions that teams raise about particular calls, general calls, and the like. The integrity of our staff is an important issue for us and an important issue for the staff, so it's something we take very seriously.

Rickard: He's certainly not the first coach to ever complain publicly about the officiating. Why twice the amount the previous record was set at?

Stern: He didn't cooperate with the investigation. He said he had specific facts. You can't accuse somebody based upon, "I know that this thing occurred because I was told by a certain person." Okay, fine. "Tell us what you know. No." Okay. That's a kind of, ‘I have in my hands the names of three people who" … That's below the belt. You can't do that to our officials.

Rickard: You also left open the possibility that there could be even more punishment coming his way.

Stern: We're not finished with the investigation.

Rickard: What could that mean?

Stern: I can't even imagine, but that's just the way we want to leave it.

Rickard: What are your thoughts on how the legal system dealt with what happened in Auburn Hills that night?

Stern: I'm disappointed, with respect to the chair-throwing, if that's all that happened.

Rickard: Two years probation (for the fan who threw the chair in Detroit during the Pistons-Pacers skirmish earlier this season). What would you have liked to see happen?

Stern: I think that somebody who puts our players in danger like that should serve some time.

Rickard: Any thoughts of ever reinstating (Pacers forward Ron Artest) for the postseason at all this year?

Stern: I always have thoughts.

Rickard: Any serious thoughts?

Stern: He isn't being reinstated, so I'd leave it at that.

The Jeff Rickard Show airs 12p-3p ET nationwide on Sporting News Radio.