Commissioner threats players?

[lmanchur.]

Did anyone else hear that good ol' Bud might fine players like Kobe who said they might not play at the All-Star game next weekend?

Kobe wants to rest his injured leg (or whatever he has) to better serve the Lakers in the second half of the season, and said he'd take the fine.

How can the commissioner do this!? The players get paid to go to the All-Star game, and has the opportunity to make more money if they win the skills competitions... if the player wants to refuse it, then why would you fine him?

Did anyone else hear this or was I just dreaming!?

[Marc]

No, I also heard this. And I think the commish is David Stern, not Bud, that's baseball. :)

I think there are too many players not wanting to participate, but I don't know if fining them is the solution. I understand Stern's need to make the All-Star Game as exciting and star-packed as possible - because, well, it's good for the league, but maybe the players want and need some time to be with their families.

[Jersey Devil]

Like I said, if it's true then I've lost any respect I may have had for Stern. I personally haven't heard anything on that subject yet myself.

If Kobe doesn't want to play, whether anyone agrees with him ... it should be his choice. If he wants to really tick his fans off, then let him miss it ... so be it. And if he says he's hurt, what are we to say he's not?

Besides, if Kobe is going to get fined to play, then Zo and Grant Hill better be out there playing at least 25 minutes, or all hell will break loose.

[SC-Jared]

Hmmm, although I disagree with threatening, I disagree with All-Stars sitting the game out if it's not necessary. Like Kobe, Vince Carter is also injured, though not on the IL, and will probably sit the All Star game out. I ask what is the point of being an All-Star if you don't give enough of a crap to play in a game for the fans that pay your contracts? In this new face of sports, the NBA is definitly the leader in "new-school" politics- most of the players in the NFL, NHL and MLB have enough respect to play even if it means a little pain.

And what about the Slam dunk contest? All the top dunkers turned it down, so they can instead party, and/or film the damned thing on the sidelines with their camcorders. Sooner than later we're going to be seeing people like Vitaly Potapenko and Brian Grant enter in the dunk contest because nobody else will. A contest with Vince, Kobe, Steve Francis, Iverson, etc. would draw amazing ratings and thrill the spectators- not Jim McLlvaine and Chris Dudley.

:goof: J1

[Jersey Devil]

All-Star games all over have begun that process of having people sit out just for the heck of it.

Football is a big example. I don't know how many people missed this year's all-star game for whatever reason. I'm sure this will start soon with a lot of players in baseball and hockey (though not as common).

I really don't see why these players miss the games though (unless the bone is broken). Do they think they're going to get hurt? There's almost no contact in all-star games. Does it seem too much like work? These people get paid to fool around on the court for about 20-25 minutes each. How bad can it be?

[lmanchur.]

I think the Pro Bowl is different because it's at the END of the season... some guys haven't played for 4-5 months and might want to play.. others might sit out just for that reason: it's been too long, or else they have plans for their families after the season, and who can blame them!?

A LOT of players missed the NHL All-Star Weekend yesterday and Saturday, but all did not play the last two or three games before the break because of legitimate injuries (only exception: Jaromir Jagr (PIT) who left the 2nd period the last day before the break with a concussion)

Being a Raptor fan, it's painful to watch the team go out there and struggle every night when they don't have Vince Carter in the line-up. He's missed a lot of half-games and a lot of full games due to injury, and I don't blame him for sitting out if he decides to. But if he does go, I am quite upset as his decision to NOT play in the Slam Dunk competition ("sitting out just for the heck of it," as someone mentioned).

PS: Sorry, Marc about the commissioners!... got the sports mixed up there for a second! :)