Who's worse? David Stern or Bernie Ecclestone?

Stern made a fool of himself with this latest debacle. Maybe time has made me forget some of Bernie's blunders, but I am absolutely shocked at the way the NBA has handled the Spurs resting players.

Not to get P&R, but revenue sharing, salary caps, removing coaches decisions sounds pretty darn socialist to me.

 

We may not like the Pygmy - I've certainly said many, shall we say, "disparaging" things about him.

He's not universally "loved", that's for sure. BUT, I really wouldn't say he's ever been "bad for the sport" - At least for those with skin in the game. He's made many of them very wealthy over the years.

OTOH, and I'm no basketball expert, Stern comes across as a clueless, no personality idiot most of the time to me.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Where exactly was Stern wrong in the latest situation with the Spurs?

I think it was complete crap to have 4 guys not only sit out, but send them back to San Antonio. Besides they were playing the Heat, not the Rockets or some other sub-par team, not that it makes it right in my book. People go to games to see key players and to not even notify anyone as Stern stated.

With that said, it's the only thing he's gotten right in a long time. He's full of **** when it comes to the NBA lottery "not being fixed".

 

Stern, no question. The league and the sport is moving backwards. You'd have to say the Austin USGP was a huge success after the disaster that was Indy.

 

That is the decision of the coach. Like it or not, it's HIS choice to sit them - doesn't matter what the fans or Stern thinks.

Who is calling the shots here? Stern or Pop? Once commissioners start messing around with coaching decisions, the game is in big trouble. You are now setting a seriously bad precedent that could have implications down the road.

Stern overstepped his authority.

 

4 games in 5 days I believe was what the spurs played so perhaps the nba should be fined for stupid scheduling. Miami almost lost anyways so maybe the heat should be fined for stinking.

 

That was not his purpose, ie. to make all involved think of F1 as a money making racket.

That is why he has done more harm than good.
Pete

 

Who said anything about a "racket"?...... The poll asked which was "worse" for their sport. As a commish/governor/ringmaster, I'd say Bernie has done a lot more good than harm for his sport.

How has he harmed F1? He, basically singe handedly, turned it from a minor league sport into the most watched sport on the planet. If I'm a team owner, I think I'd re-elect him.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Gary Bettman won't get votes of confidence either.
IMHO,it's his job to get hockey played,period.
Big fail,if he can't get the players and owners in a room and hold a stick to their heads.
I know,it's complicated,but damn.
And wasn't he Stern's butt boy? The last time they,NBA,went out? What's that tell ya?
Missing cheers,
RE

 

Hmm. Hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks. [FWIW, I agree]

OTOH, were I a local fan expecting to see some of the "big names" and they didn't show up, I guess I'd be pissed.

But it sure as hell shouldn't be anything to do with the commish.......

Cheers,
Ian

 

David Stern is far worse. Both have been good for their respective sports associations (net positive), but I think Bernie has done a much better job. Whereas the NBA continues to struggle with its image of thugs, moving teams around just to bring another team back to that city, and financial problems...Bernie still has F1 very profitable and expanding nicely.

What David Stern did about the Spurs was wrong. I understand it's a spectator sport and people come out to see those guys, but 4 games in 5 days? Get real. The coach should have had the players dressed, start the game for 1 play, then bench them rather than fly them back home...that part I get. I hope he does that next time to get around whatever new rule David Stern sets.

Heat fans don't even bother showing up to games anyway. Probably hurt the TV fans only that night.

 

Sterns lucked out like no other in that Bird ended up in Boston, Magic in Laker-land, and then came along a kid named Michael Jordan.

The lack of parity in the NBA was dumb-founding during Sterns helm, and the combo-breaker of big-market championship dynasty rota was... San Antonio.

And now w/ elite players willing to take less-than-max money in an undesirable locale, only makes it all the more murky in the future.

The NFL has made small market clubs marketable & appealing to any/all players. Something the NBA has been unable to do over the long-haul (as there are exceptions, current OKC, past Minnesota, etc).

I'm pretty ambivalent on the Sterns fine vs. Pop decision. It's really not Sterns bidness, unless some official rule was broken, and Pop shouldn't have done such (though, looking at his history w/ the league- I don't think he truly gave the fugh...)!

 

Who is David Stern?

Why do we care?

 

NBA commissioner. Because this is the sports section of F-Chat where we discuss sports.

Anway, not sure about Bernie but here are some things Stern has done that I didn't like:

1) Dress code for players.

2) Tried to change the basketball a few years back! WTH? The ball they've been using for GENERATIONS. They eventually changed it back when there was too many complaints from players.

3) Chris Paul trade Veto for "basketball reasons". Lakers and Rockets were given the assumption that the Hornets GM (Hornets were owned by the league at the time) had the power to make trades so they went ahead and made the trade involving the 3 teams mentioned. Then David Stern stepped in last minute to Veto the trade. All players involved were stuck on their current team (awkward) and it lead to Lamar Odom demanding a trade from the Lakers which they had to accommodate.

4) Fining the Spurs for a coaches' decision to let his stars rest an early regular season game. Popovich has been doing this for YEARS.

5) Letting the new Seattle Super Sonics owner move the team to Oklahoma City.

There were more, but those are the ones off the top of my head.

 

1) I think it's a great idea. Do you want to see guys showing up neatly dressed or slumming in outfits from the 'hood?

2) agreed

3) agreed

4) It is none of the NBA's business how a franchise is run. Do we go to see games, or players? Seems to me the NBA should concentrate on teams rather than players but I understand where he was coming from. BTW San Antonio almost won that game outright.
(I wonder what would happen if New England sat Tom Brady and Houston sat Arien Foster Monday night?)

5) I see no problem with moving a team, what's the issue?