David Stern is the worst commissioner in sports history

[KobeGotRondoD]

for 2 reasons... mainly the first one below

1) the referees/fouling/technicals situation. refs have been steadily increasing the # of fouls they call each year. this ruins the flow of the game, especially when they call cheap fouls that wnba referees most likely don't even call. now calling technicals for complaining? that takes away from the passion for the game and fans won't be able to see what makes players like KG special.

2) the nba is losing money... stern should've seen this a while ago since he's been commish for centuries it seems

[Fafnir]

1. I think the refs did a good job in the games I've watched tonight. Hopefully that will continue, and I liked how there wasn't as much whining.

2. I don't believe the NBA is losing money, I think certain franchises are losing money but as a whole the NBA makes money. Certain owners have severely bloated overhead.

[mmbaby]

Stern needs the technicals because they bring in money to the NBA. Lots of money!
I agree it really ruins so much of it not to be able to see the players react in their own way. They can't even raise their arms in the air, even if it's for JOY!
I hope he is forced/coerced to drop this new rule before he messes up a whole season.
What worries me more than anything is the arbitrary way they can call these technicals and thus, sway the game in the loser's direction.

[mmbaby]

There comes a time in every life, business, sport or government when too many rules become detrimental to the honest functioning of the game.
I've seen very little 'whining' in the NBA and believe our players deserve the respect of being treated like men, not bad little boys.

[dpaps]

Stern needs the technicals because they bring in money to the NBA. Lots of money!

100% of NBA fines go to charity

[fairweatherfan]

I'm not a huge Stern fan but the league has grown tremendously under his watch.  The refs continue to be a black eye but on balance he's helped the league. 

[KobeGotRondoD]

The way Stern is running things.. is giving too much power to the refs to decide the outcome of games.

[Atzar]

Stern needs the technicals because they bring in money to the NBA. Lots of money!

100% of NBA fines go to charity

Not to mention that the money collected from fines really isn't a significant number to these guys anyway.

[guava_wrench]

Stern needs the technicals because they bring in money to the NBA. Lots of money!
I agree it really ruins so much of it not to be able to see the players react in their own way. They can't even raise their arms in the air, even if it's for JOY!
I hope he is forced/coerced to drop this new rule before he messes up a whole season.
What worries me more than anything is the arbitrary way they can call these technicals and thus, sway the game in the loser's direction.

Really?

Brings money to the NBA? Try to consult reality when ranting.

How was the rule even a problem today? A tech was called on 2 assistant coaches. They should sit down and help their coach, not the ref.

By the way, we were winning when they got called for the T, so how is that swaying the game for the loser?

There was basically 1 horrific call in the first game -- the clear charge that went against Paul and sent him to the locker room. Why would there be a thread like this after that game?

Shaq got his normal calls. Can't blame the refs for teams preferring to put him at the foul line.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Stern needs the technicals because they bring in money to the NBA. Lots of money!
I agree it really ruins so much of it not to be able to see the players react in their own way. They can't even raise their arms in the air, even if it's for JOY!
I hope he is forced/coerced to drop this new rule before he messes up a whole season.
What worries me more than anything is the arbitrary way they can call these technicals and thus, sway the game in the loser's direction.

Really?

Brings money to the NBA? Try to consult reality when ranting.

How was the rule even a problem today? A tech was called on 2 assistant coaches. They should sit down and help their coach, not the ref.

By the way, we were winning when they got called for the T, so how is that swaying the game for the loser?

There was basically 1 horrific call in the first game -- the clear charge that went against Paul and sent him to the locker room. Why would there be a thread like this after that game?

Shaq got his normal calls. Can't blame the refs for teams preferring to put him at the foul line.

Amen. Besides the factual errors, look, we all love to rant about Stern, largely because Stern is also the most public of commissioners. In a world where Bud Selig is the commissioner of baseball you can never even say he is the worst current serving commissioner in sports. When Stern took over the Association it was in shambles. Look at where it is now. Of course we pick on him, and complain about the things he does, but a little perspective. Selig is clearly the worst. He is out of touch and has ruined baseball, be it through the willful blind eye towards steroids/hgh, never attempting to get a salary cap, not to mention p.r. mistakes. Stern at least tries to change rules in the off-season, Goodell changes the way the game is officiated from week to week. Look, I love to complain about Stern as much as the next guy but the title of this thread is so shortsighted and oblivious to history it is laughable.

[Edgar]

 

[budMovin]

I agree with you in the sense that David Stern has been a pretty bad commissioner overall. I was initially a critic of the new no-arguing fouls rule. It does take away from the passion displayed on the court.

After watching all three games today, I am actually starting to like the new rule...How annoying is it to see players like Kobe, Lebron, Amare, ect. run up and down the court complaining to the refs, working them until they get everything called their way? Every possession you see players complain about a call/non-call. If we can get rid of the complaining than we will see a lot less bias from the refs towards certain players. It seemed like the superstars tonight got a lot less of the regular ticky-tack fouls you expect to see them get. No way would Wade get the palming violation he got tonight if the refs would have to listen to him complain for the next three trips up and down the court.

Sure the rule takes away from the emotions that the players can express. However, it allows us to bring our focus away from the officiating and back to the basketball being played.

[Bankshot]

for 2 reasons... mainly the first one below

1) the referees/fouling/technicals situation. refs have been steadily increasing the # of fouls they call each year. this ruins the flow of the game, especially when they call cheap fouls that wnba referees most likely don't even call. now calling technicals for complaining? that takes away from the passion for the game and fans won't be able to see what makes players like KG special.

2) the nba is losing money... stern should've seen this a while ago since he's been commish for centuries it seems

3.  Banning upside down headbands.

[Celtics4ever]

He is a great businessman and good for marketing.  Trouble he runs a dirty game dominated by horrible officials.

[2short]

He is a great businessman and good for marketing.  Trouble he runs a dirty game dominated by horrible officials.

zing!
Stern did a lot for the nba when he first came in, tv revs and all the different marketing angles.  He should step down now (or 5 years ago) the officiating is a joke, if that was FIFA soccer there would be riots, investigations and firings.  He is the guy that made Rodman, Iverson and others marketable, now he has gone the opposite way with dress code and the new idiotic tech rules.  He is a egomaniac, good luck to the nba owners in getting rid of him now.  They have created a monster. 
Would former cba com. Isiah Thomas be considered the worst?