Bee: Wells gets fined

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14235761p-15056964c.html

He didn't pick fine time: Wells absorbs $5,000 hit
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, March 28, 2006

A punch of the ball Sunday turned into a small hit on Bonzi Wells' wallet Monday.

Stu Jackson, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball operations, announced the Kings shooting guard was fined $5,000 for punching the ball into the players' tunnel at Arco Arena in the first quarter of the Golden State game.

Wells, who was upset by a call, hit the ball off the floor, then volleyed it into the air after it came down. The ball, which official Joe Crawford said went into the stands, actually went in the tunnel, though the distinction didn't matter. Wells was ejected automatically, and the Kings went on to lose to 90-83.

"It's something I didn't do on purpose; it just kind of happened," Wells said. "The ball got away from me.

"I've seen other guys around the league do that, and they don't get another technical foul or nothing. ... It was just my stupidity, and I'm the one who's got to pay for it."

A Kings official said the team won't issue any additional fines. Wells' absence was ill-timed, considering the absence of Kevin Martin, who sat out with a bruised thigh.

 

[Variant]

"I've seen other guys around the league do that, and they don't get another technical foul or nothing. ... It was just my stupidity, and I'm the one who's got to pay for it."

We all saw Kobe do it a few weeks ago. Had the ball not ricocheted off a celtics player's head, it too would have gone into the crowd.

Of course, we also knew Kobe would get away with it.

 

[VF21]

IIRC, Kobe kicked a ball off a Sonics player and it went into the crowd. He didn't even get a delay of game, let alone - God forbid - a foul or anything else.

I do try very hard not to make disparaging comments about the officiating and the rules. At this point, it simply doesn't do any good. There are the rules for the regular guys and then there are the KOBE rules. And that's just the way it is. Life and NBA officiating just aren't always fair. I've decided for my piece of mind and whatever sanity I have left I have to accept it ... and move on.

 

[Alacron]

I do try very hard not to make disparaging comments about the officiating and the rules. At this point, it simply doesn't do any good. There are the rules for the regular guys and then there are the KOBE rules. And that's just the way it is. Life and NBA officiating just aren't always fair. I've decided for my piece of mind and whatever sanity I have left I have to accept it ... and move on.

VF, I admire how long you held onto your idealism, but the rest of us already figured that out in 2002.
~~

 

[QueensFan]

I wanted to say this earlier but I figured I would give myself some time to cool off - it hasn't really helped. That ejection was B-U-L-L-*-*-*-*!

Absolute GARBAGE. So what, are they going to eject someone if an errant pass flies into the stands? And to add to the injustice, the ball didn't even GO into the stands, it went into the TUNNEL.

It was total nonsense. I couldn't believe my eyes. One of the worst calls I've ever seen. Grant Napear was right when he said "that's horrible, Joe Crawford." He backtracked when he heard that it was an "automatic" rejection but that too is crap.

 

[16to93]

Ummm ..... ok?? I really wanna talk to the league officials or whatever and ask them about Kobe's kicking tantrums. As VF21 said, he didn't get a technical foul or any kind of warning ... I know it's kobe but that sucks!!!!

 

[HndsmCelt]

Well having very little restraint I made the Kobe obersvation at the time of the incident... It seems to me that the NBA officials make hating Kobe easier and easier.

 

[Bricklayer]

I can only assume something has changed between the KG/Kobe incidents and now. Joe Crawford -- who is a bossy pompous little bald-headed ***, but otherwise a swell guy -- is also a senior official who knows the rules inside and out. He described that incident as an "automatic ejection". I doubt he made it up as those things can be checked on. And I don't think it used to be automatic. Maybe a new crackdown in the wave of the high profile ball kicks/punches?

 

[VF21]

Brick - I looked at the official rules and while there is one about a "delay of game" foul for not allowing the ball to be promptly put back into play, which I would take to mean kicking the ball off an opponent and into the stands, I couldn't find anything that would match the Wells scenario.

Maybe somebody else can look and find it:

http://www.mysportsbook.com/national_basketball_association/nba_rules/index.shtml

 

[HndsmCelt]

I can only assume something has changed between the KG/Kobe incidents and now. Joe Crawford -- who is a bossy pompous little bald-headed ***, but otherwise a swell guy -- is also a senior official who knows the rules inside and out. He described that incident as an "automatic ejection". I doubt he made it up as those things can be checked on. And I don't think it used to be automatic. Maybe a new crackdown in the wave of the high profile ball kicks/punches?

That is a hell of an assumption to make on very thin evedence.

 

[Bricklayer]

Brick - I looked at the official rules and while there is one about a "delay of game" foul for not allowing the ball to be promptly put back into play, which I would take to mean kicking the ball off an opponent and into the stands, I couldn't find anything that would match the Wells scenario.

Maybe somebody else can look and find it:

http://www.mysportsbook.com/national_basketball_association/nba_rules/index.shtml

As mentioned, I would assume it had to come about in the last few weeks -- directive from the top in response to the problems.

 

[Bricklayer]

That is a hell of an assumption to make on very thin evedence.

And a blatant conspiracy or favoritism isn't?

Its very odd for an official to say something's automatic. Gratuitous. Could have just booted him with his discretion. But to say it was automatic...I dunno.

 

[Jbeasey]

little confused by what you are saying about the kobe inccident. i saw it clearly and the two sonics players pulled there heads back and it sailed into the seats. the rule must have not been in affect at the time or im sure he would have gotten tossed, but clearly didnt touch either sonic player.

 

[HndsmCelt]

And a blatant conspiracy or favoritism isn't?

Its very odd for an official to say something's automatic. Gratuitous. Could have just booted him with his discretion. But to say it was automatic...I dunno.

Well I would dearly love to find out WHEN it became automatic. The Kobe put was only like one week ago. Something just smells bad here.

 

[dukeswh]

This kind of rule(if ever there is one) should be widely known across the league due to the seriousness of the penalty behind it.Every player and coach have the right know that they are going to be ejected for such actions before this kind of rule to be implemented. But it seems like only Joe Crawford knows about this.