his gun. A trip to a strip club for 5 Indiana Paceers ended with gun fire last night.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2615124

Stephen Jackson was charged today with a Class D Felony (for firing his gun into the air); Battery (a misdemeanor) for kicking the one-armed guy who had already been punched out by his friends and lying on the ground; and Disorderly Conduct (a misdemeanor) for fighting in public. According to Donnie Walsh, Pacer GM, Stephen Jackson, who still has 4 years and $28M remaining on his contract, will remain with the Pacer organization. I assume this means that Jackson will not be released (the Pacers would have to pay him the balance of his salary); will not be traded (no NBA team is going to trade FOR Stephen Jackson), and will not be suspended by the Pacers (The Pacers really can't suspend a Player who has merely been "charged" with a violent offense; that would violate rule #7 of the CBA). Whether NBA Commissioner, David Stern, decides to suspend him is another matter altogehter. Stern seems determined to clean up or repair the NBA's image this season. Otherwise, he wouldn't have imposed those silly no-tolerance rules that take effect this season: e.g.; NBA players can't argue foul calls or technicals; if they do, they run the risk of receiving technicals, or, depending on the number of argued calls, monetary fines, and ultimately, if sixteen such offenses occur, a $2500 fine and a multiple game suspension (the rule was obviously imposed to check Rasheed wallace. Who else?). But I don't think even David Stern will suspend a player who has not admitted to a crime or been proven guilty of a crime (Stephen Jackson). That's un-American. But we'll see what he does. One thing's for sure; this trial is likely to drag on for a very long time. It's so complex, and involves so many witnesses, it could last until the next offseason. Nothing about this trial is going to help Stern repair the NBA's image.

Finally, Stephen Jackson was technically still on probation in Michigan for the very same thing at the time this new shooting incident occurred (Parolees are not allowed to carry firearms for any reason). So, Michigan prosecutors could charge him with a parole violation. That's jail time. And if he's found guilty of discharging a firearm this time round, he could also get jail time for that because it's a felony. If Jackson is ultimately convicted of a felony (a violent offense), he will almost certainly be suspended from the league. But here's the kicker. According to the CBA, even if a player is convicted of a violent offense, he receives a 10 game suspension, after which time, he can return to his team. And it actually gets worse. Even if a player is suspended by the league as the result of a felony conviction, he would still receive half his owed salary, and worse, that 1/2 salary would still be counted against his team's salary cap. Unbelieveable. But that's how the CBA reads.


Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels, and Jimmie Hunter, appear to have escaped charges stemming from their involvement in this incident. Do any of you actually believe that Jamaal, Jackson, Marquis, and Hunter were not smoking weed in the car that night? I don't. But I don't really care about that since I don't think smoking pot should be illegal. And, does anybody believe that Jackson fired shots into the air in self defense? I don't. He left the scene (where he was free from harm), went to his car, go this gun, and then walked backed into danger (the fight) and started mixing it up with again. That's not self-defense. He was free to leave, but didn't. Instead, he returned to what was originally a fist fight and then escalated that into a far more dangerous gun fight. How do I know this? My sisiter is an attorney. I hope she didn't steer me wrong on this. From where I sit, it looks like the boys got a little too high that night, got horned-up by the half-naked ladies at the strip joint, and wanted to let off some steam. They got into an arguement, words were exchanged, a fight ensued, things got out of hand, and Stephen Jackson's ended up breaking the law.

What the hell is going on in Indiana these days? Why does this keep happening to the Pacers? Just today, police found weed in a car belonging to Jermaione O'Neal. Somebody needs to keep tighter reins on the Pacer players.

It is pathetic. Indy has taken the outlaw title away from Portland, and by a landslide. I don't how Larry Bird -- of all people -- can stand it.

Well, Larry, I'm not sure I would agree with that one. The Portland Trailbalzers have some very bad boys on that team, some of whom like guns, weed, and blow a little too much (I think you know who they are. I do wanna get sued.). And to be honest, Seattle and Denver also have their share of bad boys. Again, I think you know who I'm referring to. But Indiana is definitely giving them a run for their money during the 2006 off- and pre-season. I'm going to sit back and wait before I hand over the ttitle of League's Baddest Boys to the Pacers. And remember, the Knicks, the perrennial favorite and heavyweight contender, haven't even entered the race yet. They're behaving like a bunch of altar boys so far this season. But I'm still rooting for them to get back in the game. They are just too good raising hell to punk out like this. I can't believe that they aren't fighting for what's rightfully theirs. I still expect some turmoil and player fireworks from the Knicks this season. My boys, Marbury, Francis, and QRich, and Jalen won't let me down. You'll see. They'll wake up soon and realize that the title, NBA Bad Boys, is still up for grabs, and do whatever is necessary to overtake the front running Indiana Pacers and Portland Trailbalzers. Bank it!

Hey, the Blazers are cleaning up their act. They're now down to Randolph and Miles as the sole miscreants. And, other than being his usually sullen-jerk self, Miles hasn't done anything lately that I can recall.

But you're right -- it's too early to crown the Pacers. There is so much potential competition out there! Still, it bugs me a little bit that the NBA gets so much grief for this sort of thing while the NFL gets almost a free pass from much of the public.

Yeah, but Randolph and Miles are dependable miscreants. Randolph reportedly has some problems with you know what, and is trying to repair his image, but Miles is the hoopster from hell. He'll raise me some hell this year, just like he does every year. If you're ever in the stands during one of their games, show them some love and give 'em a big shout out from Thomas. I love those guys. Since I got some of it in me too, I always pull for the the freaks and weirdos, so long as their not doing anything life-threatening on the court. You know, like choking a well-meaning coach til he's cyanotic; or charging overweight, beer-snookered, and foul-mouthed fans to deliver some frontier justice in the stands; and especially blowing unmanly kisses to a domineering wife seated behind the team to ward off aggressive females and ensure her man gets a fair shake from the refs and coaches. Yes, Larry, all three are punishable offenses, but for very different reasons. Attempted murder and assault and battery are criminal offenses and those guys got what they deserved, but handing over your dignity (as well as your pants) to your woman? That's unforgiveable in my book. The player who did this (unfortunately, I've come down with a bad case of NBA amnesia recently and can't remember names and initials), ought to be ashamed of himself. But Miles and Randolph have yet to reach that point. So, I like them. Methinks I've said enough. I'm out.

Doug Christie is the name you forgot. I wish I could forget him too.

Man, you're a brave one. Deliver all summons and fingernail scratches to the face to Larry C's house.

Another NBA player implicated in a shooting, perhaps proving that you can take the player (Sebastian Telfair) out of the Trailblazers, but you can't take the Trailblazers out of the player:



http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2633483

"Another NBA player implicated in a shooting"

And we thought NBA players couldn't shoot straight.

Sportinlife, I give that one about 7 out of 10. Not 'Blueraider' clever, but still funny.

Had to laugh at this headline in the Washington Post this a.m.:

"Stern Makes Plea for Players to Leave Guns at Home"

Wow -- that nicely sums up for me why I haven't followed this "sport" in decades.

I still say the NFL is worse. It gets off too easy. And unlike baseball, the NBA has no massive steroid cheating epidemic (at least that we know of). I pay attention to what happens on the court.

The NFL could be worse based on numbers alone. But based on percentage of athletes in each sport, I'd bet the NBA is just about even, if not worse, in terms of trouble with being legally and/or ethically challenged.

Bucky, you're missing a lot of fun, bro. But back on topic. The NBA has a rule aganst players bringing guns to basketball venues. But I wonder if Stern can legally command them to leave their guns at home when they visit non-basketball establishments. Stern is very serious about repairing the NBA's image, so if anybody can convince players to leave their guns at home, he can.

The fact that the NBA has to have such a rule is all you need to know about the quality of the character of NBA players.

No, Thomas, he can't. And unfortunately, it's all a part of hip hop culture. Hip hop heads and red necks are now the big champions of guns in America.

Worst yet, an otherwise rational sports columnist in the LA Times wrote an opinion piece about how Stern is off-base, because the players have the right to protect themselves and Stern shouldn't interfere. Good grief. I don't know anyone who roams around the streets with a gun on their person. But I guess I don't go to enough strip clubs.