Here's a much more balanced column imo, and it comes from a San Antonio writer too....
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/c...s.35bc8b7.html
Some of his salient points:
- Crawford is most certainly not without blame. He should have walked away.
- Stern put in a "no tolerance" edict this year with regards to player's whining, and Crawford may have thought that he was just following those directions.
- Players should know individual officials like Crawford well enough so that they can predict how they will react. Iow, they know Crawford has a reputation for having a very low crap-taking tolerance...why push him?
- Duncan
was mocking Crawford from the bench.
- Crawford wasn't challenging Duncan to an actual
physical fight
per se. He was telling Duncan not to mess with him.
I also read a story somewhere where Crawford supposedly stated that he disagreed with his punishment, and he might retire rather than accept it. We'll have to see how that one plays out.
No matter what though, the NBA is still unwatchable imo.