David Stern

David Joel Stern (born September 22, 1942) is a Jewish American lawyer, and has been the Commissioner of the American National Basketball Association (NBA) since 1984. David Stern grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey and is a graduate of Teaneck High School. Stern graduated from Rutgers University where he was a dean's-list history student in 1963, and from Columbia Law School in 1966. Stern has served on the Rutgers University Board of Overseers, and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University.

Criticism

Stern has been derided by analysts for making the NBA into a nanny state because of overly strict penalties for any infractions. Outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has constantly poked fun at the record fines that he has amassed. Following a brawl between Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons that also involved Pistons fans on November 19, 2004, some critics viewed the long suspensions of several Indiana star players as excessive compared to the six-game suspension issued to Detroit center Ben Wallace, who had initiated the fight. However, it must also be noted that the three Pacers who received the longest suspensions all fought with fans. Ron Artest (suspended for the season) and Stephen Jackson (suspended for 30 games) both went into the stands to fight with fans. Jermaine O'Neal (suspended for 25 games, reduced to 15 on appeal) punched a fan who had gone onto the court, but never entered the stands. By contrast, Wallace fought only with opposing players on the court.

Related Topics:
Nanny state - Dallas Mavericks - Mark Cuban - A brawl - Indiana Pacers - Detroit Pistons - November 19 - 2004 - Ben Wallace - Ron Artest - Stephen Jackson - Jermaine O'Neal

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Stern also received criticism in 2005 for negotiating a labour agreement that did not introduce any major change in the NBA system. The existing "soft" salary cap is considered ineffective in maintaining a competitive balance between teams and holding down the escalation of player salaries. Stern had said he wanted to play it safe and avoid a lockout like that seen in the 1998-1999 season, but he was faulted for not taking advantage of the momentum from the NHL lockout settlements where the National Hockey League emerged with a new and strict "hard" salary cap.

Related Topics:
Salary cap - Lockout - NHL lockout - National Hockey League

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