Stern Tightens Dictatorial Hold on League

Yesterday, the NBA announced a revamped set of rules concerning refs' issuing of technical fouls, specifying certain player actions -- "aggressive gestures, such as air punches," "demonstrative disagreement, such as when a player incredulously raises his hands," "running directly at an official to complain about a call," and "excessive inquiries about a call, even in a civilized tone" -- as grounds for an automatic T.

As Bill Simmons would say, "Ladies and gentlemen: your 2010-2011 NBA season!"

I'm not sure if this is more egregious or laughable (definitely some of both), but with each reign-tightening, dictatorial maneuver by Boss Stern, the NBA loses more and more credibility as a professional sports league to be taken seriously. How do you legitimize a competitive sports environment where the players are basically being instructed to become robots and cease showing emotion on the court?

"We don't want our players looking like they're complaining about calls on the court," said Ron Johnson, the NBA's senior vice president of referee operations, "because it makes them look like complainers."

Well, then.

Look, I understand that some players go over the top in their arguing with officials. Rasheed Wallace has earned a reputation as someone who goes ballistic over nearly every call, and that undermines his own credibility with the refs. But you're gonna tell me that every player in the league is now going to be treated like an uncontrolled infant and get muzzled before he has the opportunity to voice his opinion?

Actually, to answer my own question, no. You know that the league's prized possessions -- superstars like Kobe and LeBron -- are going to be given infinitely more free reign to vent than everybody else. And that underscores a larger point, that this measure is really just a tool to try to save face and further silence widespread player criticism about the blatantly unfair manner in which games are officiated. Raja Bell, you don't like that you just got called for three touch fouls on Kobe in 90 seconds? Well, too bad...because if you go and so much as discuss it with the ref, you're gonna be hit with a tech.

But once again, Stern has erred badly here. Look at how his league has been criticized by fans and players alike in the last couple of postseasons concerning the officiating. Does he really think that this is just going to go away? That ruling with an even more iron-clad fist is going to fix the league's image and credibility problem? News flash, Mr. Stern: this is just gonna make it worse. Much worse.

Well, I'm done venting for now. Please don't T me up.