King Stern's response to Stan Van Gundy

[rondohondo]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6202323

NBA commissioner David Stern said Thursday that he won't speak to Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy personally about recent comments critical of the commissioner, but that he doesn't expect Van Gundy to make similar remarks in the future.

"I would render a guess ... that we won't be hearing from him for the rest of the season," Stern said Thursday on The Herd on ESPN Radio.

"When he stops and reads what he said and realizes what he did, he will say no more."

Asked what by host Colin Cowherd he could do to Van Gundy, Stern said: "I have a feeling that some modicum of self-restraint will cause Stan and the team for which he works to rein in his aberrant behavior."

Stern initially told Cowherd he would not respond to Van Gundy, then said: "I'm going to engage in private discussions at this point with this franchise."

After that, asked if Van Gundy's comments bothered him personally, he said: "It didn't bother me personally. I see somebody whose team isn't performing, whose star player was suspended, who seems to be fraying ..."

Stern added: "... Whatever the pressures are that Stan is feeling, that he fell to whatever position he's in to say something like this, it made me sad.

Stern acting like his usual arrogant self. Why is he commenting on how the Magic are playing? He is the commissioner of the league and is talking about how the Magic aren't performing well and that the star player is fraying.

It's almost like he mocking the Magic because they are not as strong of a contender as in the past and Howard is going to leave them.

I can't stand this arrogant jerk

[BballTim]

 FWIW, I think he was saying that SVG was fraying, not Howard. Still, trash talking from the commish is fairly unusual.

[rondohondo]

 FWIW, I think he was saying that SVG was fraying, not Howard. Still, trash talking from the commish is fairly unusual.

yea, I read that wrong, but still trash talking a team in the league from the commissioner is totally out of line IMO

[Bankshot]

No fine?   Didn't Doc get fined for less?

I'm not looking for Stan to get fined because I liked what he said about Stern because I believe it to be true, but just wondering why no fine here.

[Adelaide Celt]

So Stern assumed his role in 1984... and he's still there?

Way too long for an old geezer like him to be in such a position. Would be great to see him gone but I fear any potential replacement could well be even worse.

[Chris]

I have no problem with this.  Van Gundy's statements were beyond over the line, and detrimental to the league.  He basically accused Stern of being a dictator.  

Sterns comments about it seemed very reasonable really.

First off, I think he is absolutely right that when Van Gundy sees his words in print, he will be embarrassed...and if not, the Magic owners will make it clear to him that he should be.  

[thirstyboots18]

So Stern assumed his role in 1984... and he's still there?

Way too long for an old geezer like him to be in such a position. Would be great to see him gone but I fear any potential replacement could well be even worse.

I was getting upset over the "old geezer" comment, so I looked Stern up, and he is FOUR YEARS OLDER THAN I, so all is forgiven!   

[hpantazo]

I think he made it clear to the magic owners in private that if SVG "acts up" again, he will be fired. That's why he's so sure that he won't hear from him again this season.

[LakersFan_33]

It's very easy to get on Stern, but why don't people praise him for growing the NBA for the many years that he was commissioner. The NBA has grown exponentially since he came aboard, both in the US, as well as internationally. Nothing is perfect, but things are the same for every team.

I watch the Clippers, and Blake Griffin frequently gets fouled hard (near-flagrant), as well...So he is hardly alone, as I'm sure it happens to others too. If SVG had a problem with the hard fouls, he knows that he could have taken this to the commissioner privately.

[Assassin70]

I have no problem with this.  Van Gundy's statements were beyond over the line, and detrimental to the league.  He basically accused Stern of being a dictator.  

Sterns comments about it seemed very reasonable really.

First off, I think he is absolutely right that when Van Gundy sees his words in print, he will be embarrassed...and if not, the Magic owners will make it clear to him that he should be.  

This...but I still hate Stern.

[joeb]

I think he made it clear to the magic owners in private that if SVG "acts up" again, he will be fired. That's why he's so sure that he won't hear from him again this season.

don't believe the commish has the authority to fire, though he can suspend and fine away until his cold, little dictator heart is content.

[hpantazo]

I think he made it clear to the magic owners in private that if SVG "acts up" again, he will be fired. That's why he's so sure that he won't hear from him again this season.

don't believe the commish has the authority to fire, though he can suspend and fine away until his cold, little dictator heart is content.

don't underestimate Stern, he has "hidden" authority

[BballTim]

  Looking at some of those quotes I'm reminded of my grandfather, who talked about taking people out back and "working them over" if they didn't get with the program.

[footey]

I have no problem with this.  Van Gundy's statements were beyond over the line, and detrimental to the league.  He basically accused Stern of being a dictator.  

Sterns comments about it seemed very reasonable really.

First off, I think he is absolutely right that when Van Gundy sees his words in print, he will be embarrassed...and if not, the Magic owners will make it clear to him that he should be.  

I agree. I think that Stern has actually shown a lot of restraint. Guys have been fined and suspended for a lot less. I like SVG, but it was overboard what he said.

[Finkelskyhook]

I have no problem with this.  Van Gundy's statements were beyond over the line, and detrimental to the league.  He basically accused Stern of being a dictator. 

Sterns comments about it seemed very reasonable really.

First off, I think he is absolutely right that when Van Gundy sees his words in print, he will be embarrassed...and if not, the Magic owners will make it clear to him that he should be. 

I agree. I think that Stern has actually shown a lot of restraint. Guys have been fined and suspended for a lot less. I like SVG, but it was overboard what he said.

Overboard?  Perhaps.  But the absolute truth.

I'm guessing that there's some behind-the-scenes stuff going on there...ALA the Jordan gambling thing....No way VanGundy got off scot-free for those comments.