Rick Artest, World Peace, and Seven Days in April and May.

[APG]

Seven games is what I expected given prior precedent for how the NBA handles their suspensions. If any of you thought there would be a lifetime ban, you weren't thinking realistically. And even a rest of the season ban wasn't realistic either. Plus, any suspension of 12+ games and the players association has the right to appeal to a grievance arbitrator and they would have definitely done that...and probably would have won the appeal and gotten it shorten.

To give you an idea, the only players to receive lifetime bans are for integrity of the league issues (e.g. CCNY point shaving scandal in 1951), and for violating the league's substance abuse policy a certain amount of times. And even with that, that's collectively bargained and spelled out explicitly in the CBA.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

Seven games is what I expected given prior precedent for how the NBA handles their suspensions. If any of you thought there would be a lifetime ban, you weren't thinking realistically. And even a rest of the season ban wasn't realistic either. Plus, any suspension of 12+ games and the players association has the right to appeal to a grievance arbitrator and they would have definitely done that...and probably would have won the appeal and gotten it shorten.

To give you an idea, the only players to receive lifetime bans are for integrity of the league issues (e.g. CCNY point shaving scandal in 1951), and for violating the league's substance abuse policy a certain amount of times. And even with that, that's collectively bargained and spelled out explicitly in the CBA.

I was thinking they could have just said he's done for the season, but I imagine the CBA states they have to specify a number of games. It does seem that Artest's history should have played a factor and given him a longer suspension; but perhaps the NBA didn't realize he's the same guy because of the name change.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I was thinking they could have just said he's done for the season, but I imagine the CBA states they have to specify a number of games. It does seem that Artest's history should have played a factor and given him a longer suspension; but perhaps the NBA didn't realize he's the same guy because of the name change.

I'm sure they did factor in prior history...7 games for an elbow is unheard of in the NBA. Usually, elbowing incidents wind up with players receiving 1-2 games. To put it in context, Kevin Love received two games for step on the face of a prone Luis Scola. Metta World Peace is missing 3x the normal amount...with some of those being playoff games which makes the importance of those games even greater.

Again, if they suspended him indefinitely, I'm betting this would trigger the clause allowing the player, through the players association, to appeal not to the commissioner (as would be the case for any suspensions under 12 games), but to a neutral grievance arbitrator...and I'm betting that's a fight the players' association would have taken up.

[Adam]

That makes sense.

[tref]

Originally Posted by ref3808

If I were judge and jury it would have minimally been a suspension for the balance of the year.

Even though APG spelled out how the League operates?

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

Plus, any suspension of 12+ games and the players association has the right to appeal to a grievance arbitrator and they would have definitely done that...and probably would have won the appeal and gotten it shorten.

To give you an idea, the only players to receive lifetime bans are for integrity of the league issues (e.g. CCNY point shaving scandal in 1951), and for violating the league's substance abuse policy a certain amount of times. And even with that, that's collectively bargained and spelled out explicitly in the CBA.

[tomegun]

I have been a Lakers fan since Magic entered the league after winning the NCAA championship. The joy he played the game with was what drew me to him and the team. Having said all of that, I don't want Ron Artest on my team anymore. He is unstable and what he did lacked class. Also, he has only had a handful of good games in my opinion as a Laker. Yes, I'm probably exaggerating a little bit, but so what. I think we would have been a better team if we would have re-signed Trevor Ariza.

[ref3808]

I would have announced the suspension through the rest of the season and let the players association appeal it. At least the league looks like they are trying to take some serious steps to clean it up.

[APG]

Clean up what? There hasn't been a real problem with rough play or elbowing fouls this season in the NBA...at least from what I've seen.

[26 Year Gap]

I would prefer 7 games or whenever the injured opponent is able to resume play--whichever is longer. That should be the case in all pro sports, but, alas, I am a dreamer.

[APG]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

I would prefer 7 games or whenever the injured opponent is able to resume play--whichever is longer. That should be the case in all pro sports, but, alas, I am a dreamer.

I could never see any professional league going this route...anyhow Harden was cleared to practice and will probably play Saturday. So in your case, he'd still get the 7 games, and you'd still have people wanting more.

[amusedofficial]

Originally Posted by ref3808

I would have announced the suspension through the rest of the season and let the players association appeal it. At least the league looks like they are trying to take some serious steps to clean it up.

Precisely. Let them grieve it and let the union argue that an elbow from a professional athlete with a jacked upper body to the temple of someone not defending himself is anything but a) a deliberate attempt to injure and b) potentially lethal.

The players association can only take a suspension in excess of 12 games to an independent arbitrator, so the joke of a commissioner gave him five fewer games, than he could have imposed without worrying about arbitration. 12 games could potentially reach into the third round of the NBE playoffs, tentatively scheduled for sometime around Bastille Day.

I can see not imposing more than the 12 games because it's important that the penalty not be stayed pending appeal.

Stern, of course, has been busy fawning "welcome to the NBE" to the newly ordained owner of the Hornets who just happens to also run a football franchise with a record of paying its players to hurt opponents.

BTW, Kermit Washington got 26 games. Precedence, Mr. Arbitrator. Precedence.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Stern, of course, has been busy fawning "welcome to the NBE" to the newly ordained owner of the Hornets who just happens to also run a football franchise with a record of paying its players to hurt opponents.

BTW, Kermit Washington got 26 games. Precedence, Mr. Arbitrator. Precedence.

I don't buy that the Saints are the only team to do this, I don't even necessarily buy that they were the worst offenders. They just got caught, IMO (I could be wrong), and happened to be the example the NFL wanted to set.

As bad as this was, it wasn't even close to Washington's sucker punch of Rudy Tomjanovich.

BTW, who is Rick Artest?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by amusedofficial

Kermit Washington got 26 games.

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

It wasn't even close to Washington's sucker punch of Rudy Tomjanovich.

Hey guys. Many Forum members weren't even born yet in 1977.