David Stern

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy has been accused of gambling on games he refereed and possibly affecting the outcome of the game, a practice called "point shaving." I cannot be the only one who is excited about the scandal and the huge ego check it has provided to David Stern. Even though he did compare the NBA to the FBI and CIA during his response to the news, you could tell by the expression on his face he felt as if he had just "Sexed Mutombo." The best thing is this is just beginning. Much like the airline ticket scandal in 98', which Donaghy was involved in as well, there is no way this is an isolated incident, and it makes me giggle.

If some of you do not understand why this makes me excited, let me explain. Since David Stern took the league over in 1984, the NBA has expanded and prospered. He is given a lot of the credit for the success because of his marketing strategies and his pushing of superstars. I do not give him any credit because of the small help provided by Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and, this guy you might have heard of, Michael Jordan. What he really had accomplished is a change in the nature of the game where athleticism is more important than actually knowing how to play the game of basketball. He is the reason basketball is unwatchable anymore, and without a superstar in the Michael Jordan status, which Lebron is not, the ratings have and will continue to fall.

I find it interesting how that is not blamed on Stern like the success is. In fact, a lot of people still consider him the best commissioner in sports, even though his sport is falling at a rate only surpassed by the NHL. Lately, however, the wheels are beginning to fall off, and this scandal might just be the bump that breaks the axle. The Joey Crawford incident, the Stoudemire incident and the general discontent with his dictator like reign on the NBA are all factors leading to the fall of David Stern and I will throw a party when it happens.