Will Tyreke be Suspended?

[NME]

On topic: I'll guess a 0-1 game suspension, and I don't think that's harsh.

The 0 game suspension would be particularly not harsh.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I'd be surprised if he gets suspended. I don't think any suspension is warranted. In fact, I think the whole idea of "punishing" athletes when they act up is silly. Leave the punishment up to the law.

Would we punish an actor who did this by suspending them from the film set for a few days? Would we punish a musician who did this by forcing them to cancel a few concerts? Of course not. The very notion is absurd.

We don't expect actors to be model citizens in addition to acting. We don't expect musicians to be shining examples to the community as well as make music. So why then, do folks expect athletes to abide by some code of conduct in addition to being athletes? They're paid to play basketball, not to be a poster child for clean, safe, proper living.

If you’re going to suspend them for anything, suspend them for shooting 20% for a playoff series! Suspend them for blowing a defensive assignment in the 4th quarter! Suspend them for jacking up 3 pointers with 18 seconds on the shot clock! Suspend them for dribbling the clock out!

 

[FaStRmAn]

I cant see the league handing down a suspension for a speeding ticket. THAT would be overkill. I think the Union would fight that one for sure.

 

[PurpleHaze]

RookieOfTheDay - with all do respect you are rather misinformed. "Athletes" is too sweeping as there are amatures (like in college) and professionals (like in NBA) - and different rules apply. College athletes are routinely suspended for the kind of behavior Tyreke was guilty of. The more egregious collegiate offenders end up cast off into the wind like former Univ. of Oregon All American QB Jerimiah Masoli (Google if you don't know this idiot) but with the Pros it's a bit different - but not much. And before I go any further put me down for 0 or maybe 1 game for Evans. All the categories you mentioned are independent contractors (actors, musicians) - NOT employees. Therefore the "we" you mention is meaningless. It's up to the employer, you know the boss (hint, Mr. Stern) to decide and no one else. He has to take into account the players union who can appeal it but CANNOT stop a suspension or any other punishment by the association. Now you know, in case you didn't quite understand some subtle but very real differences you glossed over. I do like the humorous note you ended with

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

RookieOfTheDay - with all do respect you are rather misinformed. "Athletes" is too sweeping as there are amatures (like in college) and professionals (like in NBA) - and different rules apply. College athletes are routinely suspended for the kind of behavior Tyreke was guilty of. The more egregious collegiate offenders end up cast off into the wind like former Univ. of Oregon All American QB Jerimiah Masoli (Google if you don't know this idiot) but with the Pros it's a bit different - but not much. And before I go any further put me down for 0 or maybe 1 game for Evans. All the categories you mentioned are independent contractors (actors, musicians) - NOT employees. Therefore the "we" you mention is meaningless. It's up to the employer, you know the boss (hint, Mr. Stern) to decide and no one else. He has to take into account the players union who can appeal it but CANNOT stop a suspension or any other punishment by the association. Now you know, in case you didn't quite understand some subtle but very real differences you glossed over. I do like the humorous note you ended with

College is a bit different because college players aren't paid to play. They're essentially just students and therefore subject to the same rules as any other students. NBA players despite having a union are really for all intents and purposes independent contractors because they are able to negotiate their own personal contracts. They get paid a great deal of money to play. I understand that it's up to the NBA to punish them if they see fit, I just find the very principle to be a silly one. The "we" I referred to was the public and fans in general who help to perpetuate the situation by placing expectations on athletes beyond playing the sport they're paid to play. If a player does something fairly serious there's generally an "outrage" from a certain sector to see them punished by the league somehow. I think that has to factor in at least a little in how the league ultimately responds to something. Stern has a penchant for overreacting and handing out Draconian sentences but it doesn't help matters that most people seem to generally agree with or show apathy toward big suspensions. If there was more dissent from the fans, perhaps things would change a little but most fans seem to support suspensions for off court behavior.

 

[bajaden]

It doesn't bother me that he wasn't punished by the team or the league, but it wouldn't bother me if he was. A game or two would send a message, not only to Reke, but the other young guys also. Either way, this is a bridge over TROUBLED water ... or however the saying goes.

There, fixed!