NBA's commissioner has some work to do
Let me go on record as saying that the NBA under former commissioner David Stern ascended to a model league that other leagues tried to emulate.
It has been a different story, however, under the new commissioner, Adam Silver.
While Stern had to implement changes over player conduct, expansion and international play, Silver took over and was hit almost immediately with the Donald Sterling fiasco.
Silver deftly ended the saga by banning the L.A. Clippers owner for life over his racist remarks, and forcing the sale of the team, which went to Steve Ballmer for a record price tag of $2 billion. Then the Milwaukee Bucks - that's right, the Milwaukee Bucks - were sold to two New York hedge-fund investors for $550 million.
Since then, things have quieted down a bit.
With the all-star weekend behind us, I can't help but wonder about the additional days off that were granted by Silver.
With just one NBA on Feb. 12 and only two games on Feb. 19, the all-star break is essentially 8 days long, and for a guy like myself who has been watching the NBA for five decades, it couldn't have come at a worse time.
It's the dead of winter and the perfect time for the NBA to shine and gather momentum with housebound fans.
Silver should realize that just because LeBron James and the Players Association want some time off doesn't mean it's good idea.
Is it best for the league?
If we were assured the players would play consistently without taking nights off except for injury, I might say yes. But I doubt that will happen.
Michael Jordan would never have asked for a break in play during the season; he loved the game too much to make that request. LeBron James loves to play, but I think the regular season would be just 50 games a year with Christmas off and maybe a spring break if it was his decision. And, of course, he would expect his salary to stay the same.
Let's remember that fans are paying top dollar to see the stars play - stars such as Kevin Durant, LeBron and James Harden. A father might take his kids to only one game a year, and what happens when LeBron doesn't play because he's taking the night off?
Jordan understood people came out to see him, and he not only wanted to play but to excel each and every game. I guess some of today's players never got that memo.
Now New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony reportedly will shut it down soon, but he still played 30 minutes in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.
He has a $124 million contract for five years, but he will probably sit out the rest of the season. What a life!
I believe the next thing on the agenda for Adam Silver is figure out how to address this type of situation. In the meantime, I guess I'll watch college hoops and bowling this week.
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