Kings fined for Detroit video

[ILV]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/13858383p-14698136c.html










x - close Recent Stories By Bee Sports Staff




Kings fined $30,000 for disparaging Detroit video
Bee Sports Staff
Published 2:29 pm PST Monday, November 14, 2005
Get the latest news in sacbee.com's Kings Alert newsletter. Sign up here.

The Sacramento Kings were fined $30,000 today by the NBA for showing disparaging video of the Detroit -- burned-out cars, dilapidated buildings and garbage-filled streets -- before Sacramento's home opener Tuesday night at Arco Arena.
The images were displayed last Tuesday night on large video screens above the court while the Pistons were being introduced before the game.


While Kings and arena personnel were besieged by phone calls and e-mails Wednesday, the incident became a local and national topic of discussion on sports TV and radio talk shows. Jim Rome's nationally syndicated radio talk show even prompted Joe Maloof to call the program.
The Maloofs also placed full-page ads of apology in Thurday's Bee Sports section and in the Detroit News and Friday in the Detroit Free Press.

The league's Game Presentation Manual mandates that "ridiculing of opponents or game officials is prohibited in any form, including ridiculing via PA announcements, video, or matrix displays, music or mascot skits."

Tim Frank, vice president of basketball communications for the NBA, said the league is investigating the incident at Arco Arena.

Previous fines for such incidents included:

* Jan. 30, 2004: Utah Jazz personnel perform a skit that made fun of Los Angeles Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone. A mock phone call over the loudspeakers was answered by team mascot "Bear." A voice, identifying himself as "Mail" said he wanted to come "home" to Utah and that Lakers fans were "mean." The skit concluded with the impersonated voice saying, "I guess it could be worse. I could be Ko ..." stopping short of saying Kobe, who was currently being tried for rape in Colorado. The Jazz was fined $15,000.

* April 24, 2004: Before Game 3 of a second-round playoff series between the Kings and Dallas Mavericks, a video at American Airlines Center showed a cartoon that had a Shaquille O'Neal-like image calling the Kings the "Queens." There also was an image of Doug Christie on all fours on a short leash held by his wife Jackie, and a cartoon image of Chris Webber explaining why he attended the University of Michigan -- blurting, "Money, money, money!" The Mavericks were fined $25,000.

The Bee's Joe Davidson contributed to this report.

 

[piksi]

we should be fined for the way we play

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Good. We should have been fined. And the guy responsible should have been fired.

 

[kingsfan916]

Good. We should have been fined. And the guy responsible should have been fired.

Agreed!

 

[Peja]

we should be fined for the way we play

Word!
Btw. in Serbian league after defeat against some team with score 0-5,players don't get their next sallary...

 

[piksi]

Word!
Btw. in Serbian league after defeat against some team with score 0-5,players don't get their next sallary...

and the fans make a visit during the practice

 

[Bricklayer]

Word!
Btw. in Serbian league after defeat against some team with score 0-5,players don't get their next sallary...

I kind of like that -- that would definitely be a way to inspire some effort on court -- you only get paid if you win!

(of course I could see an out and out revolt if you tried to trade anybody to New Orleans )

 

[GoGoGadget]

(of course I could see an out and out revolt if you tried to trade anybody to New Orleans )

I don't think that revolt is necessary, just pouting.

The precedent was set last year by Jimmy Jackson -- don't show up for he Hornets, end up on the Suns. No fuss, no muss.

Okay... maybe a little bit of fuss.

 

[Archibald]

This falls squarely on the shoulders of the Maloofs. What the hell were they thinking? The city of Detroit should sue them for big bucks. If nothing else changes, the Magoofs are lucky to get off just paying 30 grand.

 

[Rowdyone]

I think everyone agrees that it was a mistake and apologies were given, fines paid. But what annoys me the most is that no one lost their job over this...it shows a certain wishy-washy management style that seems to pervade our entire organization, spilling over into other more important areas of decision making.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think everyone agrees that it was a mistake and apologies were given, fines paid. But what annoys me the most is that no one lost their job over this...it shows a certain wishy-washy management style that seems to pervade our entire organization, spilling over into other more important areas of decision making.

Firing somebody would be as much publicity ploy as anything else. The lesson has been learned, I think its safe to say it won't be repeated. So if the individual(s) who did it have been good employees otherwise and excel at what they do, not sure what the point of firing them would be other than to molify outside forces.

As much as anything I think they might want to look at their management style and think about having higher ups actually supervise areas like this that can reflect on the whole organization.

 

[mcsluggo]

I kind of like that -- that would definitely be a way to inspire some effort on court -- you only get paid if you win!

(of course I could see an out and out revolt if you tried to trade anybody to New Orleans )

uhmmm.... you mean the team that killed the kings earlier this year?