Melo Conspiracy Theory

I know we're all tired about the whole media grandstanding over the "incident" on Saturday night, but I have to throw in my two Pesos regarding Carmelo Anthony's unusually high 15-game suspension.

According to Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune, "NBA Commissioner David Stern can suspend players up to 12 games without the matter going to arbitration."

This may be a stretch, but could Stern have intentionally suspended Melo for 15 games knowing that an arbiter would reduce it to 5? Think about it, David Stern comes off tough with the initial suspension and fair with the arbitration ruling. Billy Hunter, who's screwed the NBAPA in every collective bargaining deal, actually wins one for the players.

Here's the icing on the cake; Billy Hunter's so confident that he'll win, he believes this will have a domino effect and reduce the other suspensions. Here's what he said in an InsideHoops.com interview yesterday:

"the appeal will affect the other suspensions that have been imposed that we can't challenge because they're less than 12 games. So if I'm successful in getting Carmelo's reduced, it'll have a corresponding impact on these other guys so that, minimally, they will probably get back a portion of the money, so if there's a reduction in the number of games they'll get the money back. So that's the way we're trying to address the entire situation."

Wow, this guy can't even get Stern to split a bar tab; and now Stern's going to roll over on the rest? That's a lot of confidence from a guy who been under David Stern's Jedi mind trick for the past eight years.

You will challenge Melo's suspension.

I will challenge Melo's suspension...