Barkley’s Comments Cost Him 10 Grand
The NBA fined Houston Rockets’ forward Charles Barkley $10,000 Monday for calling referee Jack Nies “gutless” after Barkley was ejected from a game against the Orlando Magic.
“I stick by what I say,” Barkley told KRIV-TV of Houston. “I don’t care about $10,000. The money goes to a good, worthy cause. So I look at it in a positive light. I got my money’s worth. I definitely got my money’s worth.”
Barkley was thrown out of Friday’s game for his second technical foul with 9:02 remaining and the Rockets trailing by 18 points. He received his first technical for protesting the lack of a call during the second quarter. He drew his second after complaining he was held while going after a pass.
After the game, Barkley said: “I’d like to say one thing about Jack Nies, I think he is a gutless official who holds grudges.
“For him to toss me for no reason … since we had our altercation, I’ve always thought he was gutless. He did nothing to dispute that tonight.
“Y’all print that because I want the NBA to call me.”
Barkley did not attend a Monday workout because he was being treated for an injured shoulder.
Barkley didn’t think his actions called for his ejection.
“I didn’t say anything. I got tossed for dropping a ball,” Barkley said. “I always take my punishment like a man. I’m not going to gripe. Whatever they do I felt would be fine.”
Around the league
The Atlanta Hawks will be without forward Christian Laettner and guard Steve Smith when they play at New Jersey tonight.
Laettner sprained his right ankle in Sunday’s 118-95 victory over the Detroit Pistons. He is expected to miss as many as seven games.
Smith had fluid drained from his right knee. He is expected to miss only one game.
The Philadelphia 76ers have signed center Benoit Benjamin for the rest of the season.
The Sixers signed Benjamin to two 10-day contracts as a replacement for injured forwards Scott Williams and Derrick Coleman, but he remained on the team after both returned. He has averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds.
The San Antonio Spurs placed forward Chuck Person on the injured list with recurring back pain.
Person, 33, has been on the injured list three times this season because of back pain, missing 12 games. He missed all of last season after undergoing back surgery.