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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11695769p-12584537c.html
Kings notes: Kings have reaction to Sprewell's suspension
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 8, 2004
The NBA's image-control department was at it again Tuesday, suspending Minnesota Timberwolves guard Latrell Sprewell one game for his lewd comment toward a female fan during a game.
Commissioner David Stern's obvious intent was to make it clear antics will not be tolerated, with the subsequent hope that incidents will be minimized as the fear factor and player fines rise.
But Kings guard Bobby Jackson said Stern's rulings might have the opposite effect on the NBA's player.
"I don't think nobody can do nothing right right now, not with the state of the NBA," Jackson said. "They're trying to clean it up. But they've got to understand, they aren't doing nothing but making the players upset more while they try to take care of the fans."
Kings forward Matt Barnes said fans are even more unruly than normal since the brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich., that involved fans nearly three weeks ago.
"Now that the league is being so tight about everything, they know when you taunt the opposing team's good player, and he responds, there's a good chance he'll get in trouble," Barnes said.
Sprewell, who said earlier this season that he needed a sizable contract extension to "feed his family," lost $178,048 of the $14.6 million he'll make this season. His financial hit trumped that of former Kings guard Jason Williams three years ago, who paid $15,000 to the Kings for making racist and sexual comments to an Asian fan in Oakland.
"Some guys just really don't care (what they say)," Jackson said. "But if (Sprewell is) making 14 million and he's got to feed his kids, I would keep my mouth shut."
Wallace returns - By the time the Gerald Wallace reunion began, his head was again square atop his shoulders, the stars that had circled his neck three days before gone for good.
The former King sat out against his old team but had the awareness to sign autographs for an adoring bunch inside Arco Arena. And in his first visit to Sacramento since becoming a Charlotte Bobcat in the expansion draft after last season, Wallace was fully capable of remembering his name.
The high-flying guard couldn't say so much last week, when he was floored by a vicious screen during practice that gave him a concussion and a brief episode of amnesia. He lay on the floor for some 30 minutes afterward, eventually leaving via stretcher and ambulance.
Wallace, who has missed three games and is hoping to return to action Friday, was only temporarily forgetful of the three seasons he spent in Sacramento. It was, he said, an otherwise memorable time.
"I was looking forward to playing these guys all year, so I'm disappointed," Wallace said. "But there's no hard feelings (toward the Kings). Obviously, I wasn't getting it done here with this quality team. In Charlotte, they're giving me the opportunity to prove myself."
Wallace, who averaged just 9.7 minutes per game with the Kings, is averaging 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes for the Bobcats.
King Malone? - Karl Malone might not be a Los Angeles Laker next season, but Kings vice president of basketball operations Wayne Cooper said he likely will not be a King, either.
Malone, who sat out this season to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, had said he would only return for a 20th season to join the Lakers. But Tuesday, his agent told the Associated Press that Kobe Bryant's comments regarding Malone on a Southern California radio station so infuriated Malone, he is considering other teams.
Minnesota and San Antonio are reportedly in the hunt, and Cooper said the Kings are not. "He has teams he's been checking with," Cooper said. "It's not something that (president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and I) have talked about."
Kings notes: Kings have reaction to Sprewell's suspension
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 8, 2004
The NBA's image-control department was at it again Tuesday, suspending Minnesota Timberwolves guard Latrell Sprewell one game for his lewd comment toward a female fan during a game.
Commissioner David Stern's obvious intent was to make it clear antics will not be tolerated, with the subsequent hope that incidents will be minimized as the fear factor and player fines rise.
But Kings guard Bobby Jackson said Stern's rulings might have the opposite effect on the NBA's player.
"I don't think nobody can do nothing right right now, not with the state of the NBA," Jackson said. "They're trying to clean it up. But they've got to understand, they aren't doing nothing but making the players upset more while they try to take care of the fans."
Kings forward Matt Barnes said fans are even more unruly than normal since the brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich., that involved fans nearly three weeks ago.
"Now that the league is being so tight about everything, they know when you taunt the opposing team's good player, and he responds, there's a good chance he'll get in trouble," Barnes said.
Sprewell, who said earlier this season that he needed a sizable contract extension to "feed his family," lost $178,048 of the $14.6 million he'll make this season. His financial hit trumped that of former Kings guard Jason Williams three years ago, who paid $15,000 to the Kings for making racist and sexual comments to an Asian fan in Oakland.
"Some guys just really don't care (what they say)," Jackson said. "But if (Sprewell is) making 14 million and he's got to feed his kids, I would keep my mouth shut."
Wallace returns - By the time the Gerald Wallace reunion began, his head was again square atop his shoulders, the stars that had circled his neck three days before gone for good.
The former King sat out against his old team but had the awareness to sign autographs for an adoring bunch inside Arco Arena. And in his first visit to Sacramento since becoming a Charlotte Bobcat in the expansion draft after last season, Wallace was fully capable of remembering his name.
The high-flying guard couldn't say so much last week, when he was floored by a vicious screen during practice that gave him a concussion and a brief episode of amnesia. He lay on the floor for some 30 minutes afterward, eventually leaving via stretcher and ambulance.
Wallace, who has missed three games and is hoping to return to action Friday, was only temporarily forgetful of the three seasons he spent in Sacramento. It was, he said, an otherwise memorable time.
"I was looking forward to playing these guys all year, so I'm disappointed," Wallace said. "But there's no hard feelings (toward the Kings). Obviously, I wasn't getting it done here with this quality team. In Charlotte, they're giving me the opportunity to prove myself."
Wallace, who averaged just 9.7 minutes per game with the Kings, is averaging 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes for the Bobcats.
King Malone? - Karl Malone might not be a Los Angeles Laker next season, but Kings vice president of basketball operations Wayne Cooper said he likely will not be a King, either.
Malone, who sat out this season to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, had said he would only return for a 20th season to join the Lakers. But Tuesday, his agent told the Associated Press that Kobe Bryant's comments regarding Malone on a Southern California radio station so infuriated Malone, he is considering other teams.
Minnesota and San Antonio are reportedly in the hunt, and Cooper said the Kings are not. "He has teams he's been checking with," Cooper said. "It's not something that (president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and I) have talked about."
