NBA cracks down on repeat flop offenders
NBA: The NBA will penalize floppers this season, fining players for repeated violations of an act a league official said Wednesday has “no place in our game.”
Those exaggerated falls to the floor may fool the referees and fans during the game, but officials at league headquarters plan to take a look for themselves afterward.
Players will get a warning the first time, then be fined $5,000 for a second violation. The fines increase to $10,000 for a third offense, $15,000 for a fourth and $30,000 the fifth time. Six or more could lead to a suspension.
“Flops have no place in our game – they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call,” vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said in a statement. The players’ association plans to file a grievance with the league office and an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that it should have been consulted first before the new rules were implemented.
“The NBA is not permitted to unilaterally impose new economic discipline against the players without first bargaining with the union,” union executive director Billy Hunter said.
However, a number of players expressed support for the policy. Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he hopes it has an impact on the game.
“I like the rule,” he said. “Shameless flopping, that’s a chump move. We’re familiar with it. Vlade (Divac) kind of pioneered it in that playoff series against Shaq, and it kind of worked for him.”
Summitt thought she was forced out
Miscellany: Pat Summitt says in an affidavit that she initially believed she was forced to step down as the Lady Vols basketball coach after the 2011-12 season by Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart.
The affidavit was part of former Lady Vols media director Debby Jennings’ lawsuit against the University of Tennessee. In it, Summitt says Hart told her in March she would be replaced after the season.
Summitt says in the affidavit filed in a Tennessee federal court that Hart later told her that she misinterpreted his comments from that conversation. Jennings’ lawsuit alleges that age and sex discrimination led to Jennings’ forced retirement.
• ACC will play eight conference games: The Atlantic Coast Conference has dropped a plan to play nine conference football games starting next season.
With Notre Dame set to play five games against ACC teams every season, starting no later than 2015, conference leaders decided to stick with an eight-game schedule.
• Former player threatens trainer: Former Arkansas linebacker Bret Harris has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill the school’s head athletic trainer on his Twitter account.
Harris, 23, is charged with a felony count of terroristic threatening against Matt Summers, who is in his fourth year as the Razorbacks’ trainer.
• Hurd pleads not guilty: Former NFL receiver Sam Hurd pleaded not guilty to a new indictment in the drug case that derailed his career. Hurd entered the plea in federal court in Dallas. He faces new charges of possessing marijuana and cocaine while he was out on bond from his previous arrest.