Commissioner Commits Flagrant Foul

You never know what you are going to hear 1130 The Tiger. For example, Wednesday, you heard the commissioner of a major American sports league sound like he was a ball boy for a minor league team. Actually, the ball boy would have exhibited better behavior.

Jim Rome's (11am-2pm) conversation with NBA Commissioner David Stern turned contentious when Rome, with his typical freight train momentum and power-train delivery, asked Stern if the recent NBA Lottery was "fixed." Although there is no proof, more than one person has suggested as much.

The New Orleans Hornets--owned by the NBA until its sale to Tom Benson becomes official this week--won the lottery and the right to pick first in the upcoming draft. Stern, who often sounds as if he is sitting high on his throne and looking down at everyone below, responded with a question of his own.

"Do you beat your wife?"

Whoa, Mr. Commissioner. If you were trying to be funny, stop. Had you been onstage at The Laugh Factory, you would have been booed off stage, while you ducked from being hit by objects thrown by the audience. Your weren't the least bit funny. However, you were embarrassing.

Stern's thinking--as he explained--is that Rome's question was not "fair". He figured his question about Rome beating his wife was just as ludicrous as Rome asking if the lottery was fixed. One problem. I haven't heard anyone, ever, suggest Rome beats his wife. I have heard a lot of people, right or wrong, suggest the lottery is fixed.

So, let me make sure I understand, Mr. Commissioner. If a questions seems outlandish, it's not fair?

Wow. It's a good thing Woodward and Bernstein didn't think that way. Back in the 70's, how outlandish was it to think the President of the United States would be involved in the break-in and cover up of a hotel room?

More recently, it's a good thing prosecutors didn't think it was outlandish that a respected former coach in a small, college, football-worshipping town like State College, Pennsylvania, would be accused of sexual assault against young boys.

Asking questions is a good way to get answers. Mr. Commissioner, if you would have just answered Rome's question in a way reflective of your stature as Commissioner, there would not have been a story. All you had to do was say something like "Jim, I appreciate the question, and I have heard the same accusations. But let me assure you and NBA fans across the world, the lottery is as pure as the driven snow. Each year, you can accuse the winner of the lottery of being just one thing--lucky."

End of story. But no, Stern refuses to remove the blinkers and see the world around him. He acts as if he is above it all.

Mr. Commissioner, no Commissioner is above his sport and its fans. Take Roger Goodell, for example. The NFL Commissioner is a popular commissioner, except those whose favorite colors are black and gold. Goodell is a fan, or at least he acts like one. He has been known to tailgate with fans before games. He has held town hall meetings. He pays respect to reporters at his press conferences. A coincidence the NFL is this country's most popular sport? Granted, the way a commissioner carries himself/herself does not determine a sport's popularity--but it sure doesn't hurt.

So, Mister Commissioner, I have a question for you. Is it possible that one of your referees could ever be involved in fixing games? That could never happen, could it? That's an outlandish thought!

Oh wait. In 2007, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy plead guilty to two counts related to a FBI investigation that he bet on games he officiated and that he made calls which affected the outcome of those games.

Fair question?