3.34 - The One with the suspensions

Dear NBA Commissioner David Stern,

you're an idiot...I now place you in the ranks of MLB's Bud Selig, and NHL's Gary Bettman for making and endorsing stupid decisions. How does a elbow to one of the NBA's elite players warrant a suspension to two other player who weren't even involved in the play? Did you even watch the replay? If not...let me describe it to you:

Game 4 - 18 seconds left, Suns were in control of the game and all they needed to do was advance the ball up the court and hold it to end the game. Spurs veteran Robert Horry stuck out his elbow and body checked Nash into the scorers table. Wait...this isn't hockey...it's BASKETBALL. The hit was unnecessary and unwarranted. If Horry wanted to foul Nash, all he needed to do was wrap his arms around him...not bodycheck him. Mind you he did get suspended for 2 games. But the thing that gets me...Amare Stoudemire and Borris Diaw of the Suns got off the bench, not even getting into the scuffle, are getting suspended for a game each. Stoudemire claims he was going to check into the game...but even if he was to get up and defend his teammate, shouldn't he be allowed to do that? Nash is 6'3" and Horry stands 6'10" and probably has at least 30-50 lbs on Nash. Not exactly a fair fight. ALSO...if Stoudemire and Diaw were suspended for such a minor occurance...why didn't Bruce Bowen of the Spurs get a suspension for kneeing Nash in the groin the game before? So the Suns get punished with two of their best players getting suspended for a game and and Spurs lose a utility player for two games. How is that fair?

Stoudemire called out the Spurs for playing dirty...and was criticized for it. I think he was right...my favourite quote of the evening came from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, "It was just an end-of-game foul and Steve fell down, I didn't think it was such a big deal." Right...I guess he didn't see the play either.

I now turn my attention to last night's Wings and Ducks game 3.

Game 3 - second period - Wings are up 4-0. The Ducks are obviously frustrated in their play and emotions are boiling over. Ducks assistant captains Chris Pronger & Rob Niedermayer converge on Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom and hit him from behind. Niedermayer was given a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Pronger got nothing. In my humble opinion, I think that the refs made the wrong call. Although Niedermayer shouldn't have come in for the hit when he saw Pronger closing in on Holmstrom...his hit was clean. Where as Pronger came in with his elbow up and hit Holmstrom in the head against the glass. What a cheap shot...Holmstrom laid on the ice for several minutes, motionless with blood streaming from his head. There's no doubt in my mind that Pronger was out the injure...not exactly the attitude that you want from one of your leaders on the team. I can't see the NHL not punishing and suspending him for a couple games for that hit even though Holmstrom returned in the third period with 13 stitches and assisted on the 5th Detroit goal.

I know it's the playoffs and emotions run high...but those hits are dirty and uncalled for...