The NBA/ESPN is already going into spin mode after last night, with Jalen Rose “discussing” (distributing talking points) about why Kobe shouldn’t get suspended for elbowing Ron Artest in the throat last night. Kobe won’t get suspended because the league (and therefore ESPN) is in the tank for a Lakers/Cavs series, just as the Gasol/Garnett trades all but guaranteed a Celtics/Lakers Finals in 2008. The converage over at ESPN is embarrassingly biased, with admitted homer JA Adande leading the pack.
Bill Plaschke has an amazingly posturing article in the LA Times, which contains this quote:
This is what happens when you get tough. This is what happens when you impose your will.
This is what happens when the league protects its superstars from fair treatment. Plaschke writes like a guy trying to get two of his friends into a fight: “Did you hear what he said about you?!” Fisher should be suspended for at least a game, and will. If Kobe gets suspended, I’ll eat my own head.
Didn’t the NBA learn anything from the wretched Suns/Spurs debacle?
Here’s hoping Denver spoils everyone’s party.
[All that being said, Kobe’s pass to himself off the backboard and dunk over Yao was EVIL. He’s just sick.]
UPDATE: The Rap Up has the best line about it yet: “Ron Artest’s Throat Viciously Attacks Kobe Bryant’s Elbow.”
Artest:
“You’re hitting the wrong person. Don’t you know you’re hitting Ron Artest?”
Kenny:
“In this instance, [Artest] was 100 percent right.”
And Sir Charles nails it:
“There are certain guys in the league you wanna mess with. He’s not one of ’em. He’s not first on the list. He’s like down at 25.”
UPDATE ON THE UPDATE: ESPN just “reported” (read: parroted) that Fisher has been suspended. Kobe’s strike to the “chest area” has been “upgraded” to a flagrant 1. What a load of shit. Told ya.
Kenwoode 