NBA FanHouse

Former Kings Official Banned From NBA For Betting on Games

Tom Ziller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST

Jack Mai, the former assistant director of scouting for the Kings, has been barred from future employment in the NBA after a league investigation found that Mai had bet on numerous games, including ones involving the Kings. Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski initially reported the Mai banishment. League spokesman Tim Frank confirmed to FanHouse.com that Mai has been disqualified from future employment with any NBA team.

According to a league memo acquired by FanHouse, Mai was found to have bet small amounts on NBA games with acquaintances, and the league's year-long investigation found no proof Mai used his position with the Kings to influence the outcomes of games. But any betting on NBA games is barred by league rules.

Wojnarowski also reported, citing anonymous league sources, that business partners of Mai alerted the league of his betting habit. Allegedly, Mai had been using his position as a high-level Kings employee to broker NBA player appearances and equipment deals in China and Korea, with the implication that Mai profited off these deals.

Mai was reported by the Sacramento Bee to have abruptly resigned from the team last winter. As the team sought to cut costs amid its worst season in history, a campaign which ended mercifully at a 17-65 record, Mai left the Sacramento scouting department short-handed. At the time of Mai's departure, coaches Reggie Theus and Chuck Person had already been dismissed for performance issues. The remaining assistant coaches (including first-year assistant Shareef Abdur-Rahim), as well as then-new assistant general manager Jason Levien, picked up the scouting load in Mai's absence.

In Sacramento, little was made of Mai's departure. While the Kings have had great success in the NBA draft during Geoff Petrie's tenure as general manager, only Petrie and assistant GM Wayne Cooper have drawn the acclaim. Little has been written about Mai over the years. The Kings scouting department, led by Scotty Stirling, is a tightknit, older bunch. While the resignation should have raised eyebrows, most (myself included) chalked it up to the bad financial situation, and the unsure future for the entire Kings staff.

The league memo advises that Mai cannot work for any team in any capacity. For a basketball lifer, that's quite the penalty.

Former Kings Official Banned From NBA For Betting on Games originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kings Swap Out Mason for Ime Udoka

Tom Ziller — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, NBA Injuries, NBA Police Blotter, NBA Transactions

The Kings, seeking a defensive veteran for the small forward position, took on Desmond Mason in advance of training camp. That didn't turn out so well: Mason has been beyond awful on offense (surprising no one who has watched Mason play at any point over the past four years) and didn't make much of a difference for the league's 29th ranked defense.

Five games was enough for the Sacramento front office, as the team waived Mason a day after signing former Blazer and Spur Ime Udoka to a non-guaranteed minimum salary contract. Like Mason, Udoka is known for his defensive skill, having been signed as a sort of Bruce Bowen replacement two summers ago. That didn't really work out, and Udoka was left teamless for opening day after Portland waived the swingman at the end of the preseason.

Mason started Sacramento's first four games before Paul Westphal elevated Andres Nocioni to the spot Wednesday. Nocioni has created another problem: the Argentine veteran was arrested on suspicion of DUI in downtown Sacramento early Thursday morning. He has a court date Monday, and can expect a compulsory two-game suspension by the NBA at some point in the future (though potentially not until the start of next season).

Udoka is a year younger than Mason, which is to say Udoka is still a bit too old for the tastes of this Kings fan. The Kings boast a young roster, with three starters and five rotation players under the age of 23. Team star Kevin Martin is only 26, and Nocioni is the elder statesman of the starting five at 29.

Udoka does have a solid defensive reputation, and in his best pro season (2006-07 with Portland) he shot well from the corners. Martin (who was found to have a hairline fracture in his non-shooting wrist today, and as such could miss a few weeks) has really stepped up his defense this season, but the Kings continue to allow easy shots in the paint and too many open threes. Hopefully Udoka can help there.

Kings Swap Out Mason for Ime Udoka originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Donaghy Released From Prison

Matt Watson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Police Blotter

Tim Donaghy, the disgraced former NBA referee who admitted to gambling on games that he officiated, was officially released from a federal prison on Wednesday.

Donaghy was transferred to a halfway house for two months earlier this summer but was returned to prison in late August after violating the terms of his probation by failing to appear for his job. Donaghy claimed it was a simple misunderstanding -- he believed he had permission to miss work in order to visit a physical therapist -- but the courts obviously disagreed.

So what's next for the most notorious former referee in sports history? In addition to trying to find a new publisher for his tell-all book, he's also contracted the services of Executive Prison Consultants to help ease his transition back to society. According to an EPC press release on Monday, Donaghy plans to reside in Sarasota, Fla., and seek employment with a sales or marketing firm.

It may be a hard-sell to convince a company to hire such a high-profile ex-con, but Donaghy apparently trusts EPC to help make it happen. In fact, he's already provided a testimonial on EPC's Web site: "Executive Prison Consultants did more for me than I ever thought possible. They helped me get things done that attorneys told me were not realistic. Thanks to EPC, I left prison months before my originally scheduled release date. The professionals at EPC get results!"

Tim Donaghy Released From Prison originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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West Faces Six Weapons Charges

Matt Watson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Police Blotter

Delonte West has returned to the court for the Cavaliers after two separate leave of absences, but the fallout of his recent arrest in Maryland has just begun. West was formally indicted on eight charges Tuesday, including six related to concealed weapons.

West was arrested on Sept. 17 in Maryland after allegedly cutting off a police car on the Beltway while riding his three-wheeled motorcycle, at which point officers soon discovered he had a fully-loaded 9mm Beretta handgun tucked in his waistband, a fully-loaded Ruger .357 Magnum strapped to his waist and a fully-loaded shotgun in a guitar case strapped to his back.

During today's indictment, it was also revealed that West was carrying an 8 1/2-inch Bowie knife as well as 112 additional shotgun shells in another backpack strapped to his vehicle.

All in all, West, who's admitted to suffering from bipolar disorder, is being charged with two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, two counts of carrying a handgun, two counts of transporting a handgun, and one count each of reckless driving and negligent driving. All of the charges are misdemeanors, although each of the weapons counts carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

While we now have a complete inventory of West's armory on wheels, we still don't know why he was armed to the teeth, where he was headed or where he was coming from -- and given how reluctant West has been to address the media since returning, there's a good chance we'll never find out.

In addition to Tuesday's charges, West may still faces potential charges related to a separate incident last month in Cleveland in which his wife filed a domestic violence complaint. However, West was not arrested following that complaint, and police did not observe any signs of abuse or injury.

West Faces Six Weapons Charges originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donald Sterling Pays Millions to Settle Federal Discrimination Suit

Matt Watson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, NBA Police Blotter

The skeletons in Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's closet have been a poorly kept secret for years -- and now they're a matter of public record. According to the Los Angeles Times, Sterling and his wife have agreed to pay a whopping $2.725 million to make a federal lawsuit alleging housing discrimination go away.

Although Sterling, who runs his real estate empire as competently as his NBA team, officially denies any wrongdoing, the fact remains that the settlement, once officially approved by a U.S. District judge, is projected to go down as the largest ever obtained by the Justice Department in a housing discrimination case.

Even if Sterling is officially allowed to save face by calling the settlement a business decision (a "compromise of disputed claims," according to court documents obtained by the Times) instead of an admission of guilt, it's still a black stain on the NBA -- and one it needs to address.

Given the recent uproar about Rush Limbaugh's failed bid to buy a minority stake in the St. Louis Rams, where's the outrage in Sterling being allowed to maintain majority ownership of the Clippers? The worst that Limbaugh was accused of is exercising free speech. But Sterling? From the Times:

The Justice Department sued the Sterlings three years ago, accusing them of favoring Korean tenants while seeking to exclude blacks and families with children. Through their Beverly Hills Properties, the Sterlings own and manage about 119 apartment buildings with some 5,000 units in Los Angeles County, according to the Justice Department.

In court filings, Justice Department lawyers presented evidence that the Sterlings made statements "indicating that African Americans and Hispanics were not desirable tenants and that they preferred Korean tenants" occupy buildings they owned in Koreatown.

If the NBA is so concerned about its image that it doles out fines to players and coaches who dare complain about referees (players and coaches often making the exact same observations made by television announcing crews calling the games), how can the league let Sterling's transgressions -- actions that not only create an uglier P.R. disaster but also have actual negative effects on society -- go unpunished?

Several NFL players spoke out against Limbaugh, saying they'd never play for a team he owned, and at least one NFL owner said he wouldn't vote to approve him, but NBA players and owners have largely remained silent about Sterling's status. That's a shame, especially because the only difference between the two is that Sterling already belongs to the league's fraternity and isn't merely trying to gain entry.

Donald Sterling Pays Millions to Settle Federal Discrimination Suit originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Popeye Jones Arrested for DWI

Matt Watson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Police Blotter

Popeye Jones, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons who's now entering his fourth season as a player development coach with the Dallas Mavericks, was arrested Sunday evening and accused of drunken driving. According to the Dallas Morning News, the Richardson (Texas) Police Department received calls from other motorists complaining that someone driving a gray GMC Yukon was driving erratically.

When he was pulled over, Jones refused a breathalyzer exam -- and briefly resisted arrest. At some point during the whole incident, Jones' face hit the pavement, resulting in minor cuts and one bloodied mugshot. If he merely "lost his balance," as the Morning News reports, it won't bode well for any defense claiming that he wasn't intoxicated.

But if he were, say, helped to the ground by the officers on the scene, this case may not be as open and shut as your average DWI arrest, especially given Jones' relatively high profile as an NBA coach with more incentive than most to formally clear his name and reputation.

FanHouse has received confirmation from the Richardson Police Department that the arresting officers were using an in-car dashboard camera, although video from that device, as well as video from the detention center, will not be released at this time.

Assuming the video presents a clear angle, it's possible the footage will quickly clarify what exactly happened when it is finally released -- which is fortunate, because it doesn't seem like the Mavericks plan on being too forthcoming on the incident.

When the Morning News asked Mavs owner Mark Cuban for comment, he emailed an indignant response: "I'm not going to comment on Popeye specifically. The question I do have on the record is this: Why do you care? Do you report on every DWI that occurs in Dallas?"

Popeye Jones Arrested for DWI originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Delonte West's Wife Files Domestic Violence Report

Matt Moore — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Police Blotter

First, the guns. Then the unexcused absences. Now we can add a domestic violence report to the recent events section of the Delonte West dossier.

WOIO.com reports that Saturday night, West drove his wife to the Cleveland airport where an "incident" occurred. Reportedly the incident started at the couple's home where the Cavs' small guard tried to take her wedding ring off. After the argument continued to the airport, West's wife filed a domestic violence report with authorities. Police told the station there were no signs of abuse or injury.

Well, then. As long as he's managed to put all that trouble behind him.

There are two realities that are coming to clarity from all this. The first is that Delonte West's issues extend beyond the prototypical troubled NBA player getting tagged for DUI after a late night at the club. In a very short time he's exhibited a pattern of personal turbulence that spans multiple time zones, and that branches across unrest with the law, with his team, and now with his home life. Many said he needed help before this incident, but this just reinforces the point and it at least appears that he's not headed in the right direction.

The second reality is that the Cavs are going to have to start evaluating whether or not West is worth the headache, and if they can afford it this season. Make no mistake, they've got to make a locker room that suffered from hubris last season mesh with the largest ego (and posterior) in the NBA, get through Boston and Orlando, and then win a championship in order to secure the biggest star their entire state has ever had. So there's a little bit resting on this season. And while the team has bonded with West and has demonstrated patience and diligence in trying to help him resolve his issues, as the saying goes, it's a business. At some point these distractions are going to become too much for Cavaliers. They may not be at that point yet, but they can see it from there.

Report: Delonte West's Wife Files Domestic Violence Report originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumeal Robinson Blew His NBA Fortune on Strip Clubs

Tom Ziller — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:50:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Police Blotter

There are plenty of stories about athletes blowing their cash stores quickly, and ending up in bad financial shape within years of retiring from their chosen game. Rumeal Robinson fits that archetype. Robinson, who played for six teams over a six-year NBA career, did things a little differently though. He wasn't content to blow all of his money of material items and drugs.

He still bought plenty of material items, according to an in-depth story by the Miami New Times. But that's not what crushed him. What crushed him was what the New Times calls "a strip club habit that would have made Pacman Jones blush."

The New Times reports that Robinson would have strip club binges in which he'd spend $20,000 at a club per night for a week, all while bringing strippers back to his house to dance and even clean his house for various dollar amounts.

Once his NBA career ended and he hit rock bottom, Robinson made things worse by reportedly bribing a broker for a loan for his poorly planned real estate development firm, a firm he named after an extinct species of shark (Megalodon). The ill-begotten loan money didn't fund his business, of course. The New Times reports it funded luxuries like expensive steak dinners, high-flying hotel rooms, Cuban cigars and (ahem) a $10,000 M16 machine gun, purchased at a police supply store in Miami.

Worst of all, he sold the Connecticut home of his adoptive mother out from underneath her. She told police he tricked her into signing a deed. He took the $600,000, and she got booted out months later. Then he disappeared. Robinson is apparently homeless. He faces fraud charges related to the bank loan, with a court date set for November in Iowa.

Rumeal Robinson Blew His NBA Fortune on Strip Clubs originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delonte West Arrested on Gun Charge

Matt Moore — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Police Blotter

Delonte West has a whole new set of reasons you should get him his donuts.

The Washington Post reports that West was arrested Thursday night after being stopped on his three-wheeled motorcycle. He cut off a police officer and after being stopped, informed the arresting officer he had a gun in his waistband. After backup arrived, police actually found three weapons on his person. A second weapon was strapped to his leg, and another was in a guitar case strapped to his back.

Yes, just like in "Desperado."

All jokes aside, West was arrested on speeding and possession of a handgun charges. He was released on Friday of his own recognizance. No information was given as to the circumstances of why a starting two-guard of an NBA team who has been diagnosed with a mood disorder was driving a three wheeled motorcycle while carrying three guns.

It's too early to make assumptions for West's causation or circumstances, but the excessive nature of the charges (three weapons at once, including one in a guitar case? Really?) combined with the fact he sought clinical help for depression less than a year ago presents a scary set of circumstances surrounding his intent prior to his arrest.

We'll have to wait to see if any further consequences come from the arrest, be it legally, league-related, or team-enacted.

Delonte West Arrested on Gun Charge originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Mandated Secrecy Made Michael Beasley a Bigger Story

Tom Ziller — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, NBA Police Blotter

With any news story, crucial unknown details lead to inflation of attention. Michael Jackson's death was (rightfully) huge news. But the uncertainty about the circumstances has kept it in headlines for weeks. When there's a combination of secrecy and interest, you end with a slow leak of rumors and details, and this can keep a story like Michael Beasley's rehab stint in discussion constantly.

Just in the last two days, TrueHoop's Henry Abbott and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported a new detail: Beasley was already taking part in an outpatient treatment program stemming from his 2008 rookie camp incident when a violation landed him in a mandatory 30-day inpatient treatment program (where he is now). This is a fact folks with the league and the players union have known since the story first broke ... but we're finding out five days later, sparking a new round of conjecture.

While understanding the need for privacy, I must wonder if there's a better way.

In most cases, the privacy standards mandated by the league's collective bargaining agreement work to the players' benefit. The league doesn't release positive marijuana tests on a first or second offense, and the NBA is not allowed to disclose what players are in the league's substance abuse treatment program. As players could lose endorsement dollars (or fans) with a positive drug test, it's in their (the players') best interest that this info doesn't get out. And for all we know, there could be a ton of first-time weed offenses every year (especially if Josh Howard is to be believed).

But the privacy standard didn't work for Beasley -- it, in fact, worked against him. For two days, all the world had heard about Beasley were those 140-character cries of distress (or disbelief, depending on the nuance you read them with). After that, we had an avalanche of info leaks with the barest sourcing or, in all honesty, credibility. No one seemingly knew what was up, and everyone thought the worst. A player with a reputation for immaturity makes some vaguely suicidal Tweets, immediately switches to radio silence, and pops up in rehab two days later. It's easy to think the worst.

But, if the latest info is to be believed, there really wasn't a big crisis. Ever. Beasley messed up last summer, and had to do the outpatient treatment program. During that program, Beasley messed up, and had to attend the inpatient treatment program. There's no longer the sense Beasley was on the verge of self-destruction, or that this is a rescue ... or even that Beasley needs to be rescued. This all looks incredibly unextraordinary now, which is two miles and a furlong off the sentiment from all of last week.

I don't precisely know what the solution here is -- can NBA officials seriously ask Beasley's camp to hold a press conference and explain what's up? Should the union step in and tell Beasley's agent that the hush-hush is doing more harm than good? Have reporters just been too unwilling to listen to those closest to Beasley (such as his father, who seems pretty vindicated all of a sudden)? It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle, but that doesn't mean the whole cost-benefit structure of the league's privacy policy shouldn't be discussed in the process of the 2011 CBA negotiations.

How Mandated Secrecy Made Michael Beasley a Bigger Story originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suspensions of J.R. Smith, Jason Richardson Seem Insincere

Brett Pollakoff — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:46:00 EST

Filed under: Nuggets, Suns, NBA Police Blotter

The NBA suspended J.R. Smith for seven games, and Jason Richardson for two games, after both players recently pleaded guilty to separate driving offenses.

The timing of the suspensions seems rather random -- Smith's reckless driving incident (from 2007) was resolved by the courts this past July, while Richardson served one day in jail for his DUI conviction back in December. But you knew they were coming at some point, because, well, leagues tend to suspend players who get into trouble with the law.

I'm wondering, though, if the length of the suspensions doesn't seem almost as random as the timing of the announcements. When looking more closely at the details of the incidents, the punishments come across as being a bit disingenuous.

Before we get started, this is in no way an attempt to moralize or pass judgment on these individuals. Most of us have made questionable decisions behind the wheel at some point in our youth, and just because we're talking about high profile athletes, that fact in and of itself doesn't make their actions any more egregious than those of our own.

The incidents we're talking about, however, do happen to be more serious than your run-of-the-mill traffic stop.

Smith's unfortunate reckless driving ended up killing one of his best friends, who was a passenger in the vehicle that he piloted through a stop sign at over 67 miles per hour, where the posted speed limit was 35 mph. He served 24 days in jail earlier this summer after pleading guilty to reckless driving, and must also complete 500 hours of community service.

Richardson's DUI didn't end up hurting anyone, but the second time he was pulled over by the police while driving, he certainly could have. In February, Richardson was cited for doing 90 mph in a 35 mph zone, with his unrestrained three-year-old son in the back seat.

Again, we're not here to judge. But in the official release which announced these suspensions, it was mentioned that Smith's was for the 2007 incident, "and for prior and subsequent motor vehicle offenses."

Based on that line of reasoning, shouldn't Richardson have gotten more than two games, considering the DUI in December was followed up with the excessive speeding and child endangerment less than two months later?

The bottom line here is this: Considering the violations in these cases, the suspensions just seem too light for us to believe that the league is serious about punishing players for off-the-court legal issues. It seems like they feel they need to do something, but honestly, they do as little as possible.

It's clear that the league is much more interested in protecting itself, as the 10 games that Rashard Lewis received for taking an over-the-counter supplement (that happened to be on the league's banned substances list) would attest. So why not just stick to doing that?

There's no problem with the league continuing to punish its players for breaking its own rules. But unless they're willing to take a much tougher stance when those same players break society's rules, they would be better-suited to stay out of the punishment business, and just let the legal system sort things out.

Suspensions of J.R. Smith, Jason Richardson Seem Insincere originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:46:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Donaghy Skipped Work, Landed Back in Jail

Tom Ziller — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Police Blotter, NBA Referees

On Tuesday we learned that disgraced former referee Tim Donaghy was arrested again. Now, thanks to the Philadelphia Inquirer, we know why: Donaghy skipped work.

The U.S. Marshals took Donaghy into custody for failing to show up to his job at a Sarasota bottling company, according to the Inquirer's Frank Fitzpatrick. In the two months since being released from federal prison camp, Donaghy has lived in a halfway house, where he was scheduled to stay until October in order to finish out his prison term. In 2008, Donaghy plead guilty to gambling charges, in the process implicating the NBA in a mass game-fixing conspiracy.

This all comes as the referee union reaches an impasse with the league over pay, potentially setting up a lock-out in October. You'd think Donaghy's name popping up in the headlines helps the union, given Donaghy is the prime example of what happens when you don't pay enough mind to your referees.

Tim Donaghy Skipped Work, Landed Back in Jail originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Donaghy Returns to Jail

Matt Watson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Police Blotter, NBA Referees

Ever since being released from a federal prison camp in June, disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy has enjoyed relative freedom, working during the days and spending his nights in a halfway house in Tampa, Fla., biding his time until his 15-month sentence was complete on Oct. 24.

Or at least, that was the plan; after being arrested by U.S. Marshals on Monday for an undisclosed rule violation, Donaghy may have his release date pushed back, or at the very least, may be forced to spend the balance of his sentence behind bars. [Update: Donaghy's violation is revealed.]

It's too early to say what the repercussions will be until information regarding the severity of his violations is released, but for the time being, he's being held without bail in a Hillsborough County jail.

Tim Donaghy Returns to Jail originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Madsen Purchased Allegedly Stolen Domain Name for $100,000 on eBay

Tom Ziller — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, NBA Police Blotter

Just when you think you have figured out the NBA, a Clipper gets tangled in a stolen domain name scandal. Based on an Associated Press report, 25-year-old Daniel Goncalves of New Jersey allegedly hacked into a web account belonging to the owner of the domain P2P.com. (P2P stands for peer-to-peer, the common terminology for direct file sharing and content streaming on the web.)

Goncalves changed the ownership of the domain, and put it up for sale on eBay (apparently in 2006). It sold for $111,000. The reported buyer: Mark Madsen. The AP reports this is the Mark Madsen, long-time Laker and Timberwolf. Goncalves was arrested at home in New Jersey last week.

As unreal as this sounds, Madsen was one of the first NBA players to have a substantial (if ... unrefined) web presence. He is a Stanford graduate. He does have a substantial annual salary ($2.8 million next season). Domain Name News reports that Madsen has invested in domain names before and is active in domain name forums on the web.

It's probably not the first time a pro athlete has purchased a stolen good. However, it's unlikely any previous hot item was this nerdy.

Mark Madsen Purchased Allegedly Stolen Domain Name for $100,000 on eBay originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And Now, The Dumbest Jersey Thief Ever

Matt Moore — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:38:00 EST

Filed under: Spurs, NBA Police Blotter

When I was six, I lifted a pack of gum from a grocery store. I was quickly busted by my mom as I tried to eat the gum, immediately, in the car. After my Dad got through with me, including, and this was not the most severe bit, duct taping the window shut, removing the light bulb and putting a towel at the door overnight when I was afraid of the dark, he asked me a question. "What could you possibly have been thinking?"

There's a dude in San Antonio that makes six-year-old me look like a freaking genius.

Our story begins at the house of San Antonio Spurs superstar point guard Tony Parker.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, Christopher James Carolan was working as a security guard at Parker's home while some construction was being done on the house. And by "house" I mean his ranch estate. Because he's Tony Parker and makes an obscene amount of money making rap records. And occasionally winning NBA championships. Parker was having a gymnasium built at the estate and Carolan was working for a security firm during that time. You know, because when he's not recording French rap albums, or hanging out with his wife, Eva Longoria Parker, he wants to get a workout in. Hard life for that guy.

So one day, one of Parker's jerseys goes missing. This jersey is a Michael Jordan autographed jersey, valued at approximately $20,000. At this point you may have wondered how our economy could possibly have developed problems, but let's keep moving. The next day, a Craigslist ad is listed for a Michael Jordan autographed jersey. Huh, what a coincidence.

The seller was of course Carolan, who was later identified by the buyer in a lineup. Here's the kicker. Carolan sold the jersey, again, valued at $20,000, for $120. His fingerprints were also found on the envelope which contained the letter of authenticity, which was found... in the freaking gym.

So, let's recap. The guy stole an autographed jersey of the greatest player in NBA history from the place he was supposed to be guarding, which belongs to current NBA superstar Tony Parker. He then left the envelope with the certificate of authenticity lying on the floor of the place he stole it. Then, after taking it home with him, he posts an ad on Craigslist.org to sell a pretty easily identified item. It's not like autographed Michael Jordan jerseys are just lying around. And when he does sell the jersey, he sells it for $120, when it's valued at $20,000.

Carolan's asking for probation instead of jail time. Normally, I'd be supportive of this, since it wasn't a violent crime and just seems like an incredibly, amazingly, obscenely stupid mistake. My only concern is that he may be too dumb to be allowed on the streets.

So the next time you decide to steal an autographed piece of memorabilia from the home of the NBA player you're guarding and then try and sell it online for a minute fraction of its worth... wait. Here's an idea. Don't steal an autographed piece of memorabilia from the home of the NBA player you're guarding and then try and sell it online for a minute fraction of its worth. Deal? Deal.

And Now, The Dumbest Jersey Thief Ever originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Cuban Comes Out Clean in Insider Trading Suit

Tom Ziller — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Police Blotter

Near the start of the 2008-09 NBA season, word broke that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was being sued by the federal government on accusations of insider trading related to his sale of Mamma.com stock. Cuban defended himself vigorously, both in the courtroom and in the public eye, even though things looked pretty stacked against him.

But a federal judge dropped the Securities and Exchanges Commission's case against Cuban Friday, leaving the owner free and clear of punishment. (No Martha Stewartesque trip to a white-collar jail resort!)

Cuban has been uncommonly restrained in his reaction, refusing to comment for the media ... which is a nice surprise, honestly, given that we all expected a "Nyah nyah nyah told you so." So cheers to Mark Cuban, who is no longer an accused criminal! Hip hip hooray.

Mark Cuban Comes Out Clean in Insider Trading Suit originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Antoine Walker in Big Trouble

Matt Moore — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Heat, Timberwolves, NBA Police Blotter

It never ceases to amaze how professional athletes, many of whom signed multiple eight figure deals within a ten year span, continuously wind up with debt problems. I suppose it shouldn't, considering the rampant debt that most Americans face, and the young age at which most athletes are burdened with bazillions of dollars. There's something depressingly human about just how easily those with everything can turn their financial lives into disasters.

Of course, there are disasters, and then there are disasters.

Former Celtics star/Timberwolves-Heat-Grizzlies bench player Antoine Walker being escorted out of a Lake Tahoe casino in handcuffs a day after an arrest warrant was issued for him for writing bad checks ... in casinos?

Yeah, that's pretty bad. Or sad. Probably both.

An arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday for Walker after he allegedly wrote 10 bad checks totaling $1 million dollars to Caesar's Palace, Planet Hollywood, and Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. As of Wednesday, he had only repaid $187,500 bringing his total before legal fees to $850,000. The Las Vegas Sun additionally reports that Walker took out 10 markers using checks with insufficient funds between July 27th and January 19th of last year.

Today, at Harrah's Casino in South Lake Tahoe, authorities led Walker out in handcuffs. He is in Douglas County Jail with bail set at $87,000. While no official connection has been made, it's likely that Walker was in Tahoe for the Celebrity Golf tournament, featuring several players past and present that have been known to enjoy wagers of their own.

Even being among such company, you have to marvel at Walker, knowing he has an arrest warrant out for writing bad checks in casinos and still ... going to a casino. Really? Really?

Walker's case is just another long line of professional athletes that reflect a widespread issue in American life, even if it is easing for the average American. For professional athletes, the risk may be higher, though, considering the lifestyle and inexperience with financial management at a time when their bank accounts suddenly overflow. Ultimately, it'd seem there's a reason the NBA holds yearly financial management meetings with teams.

Antoine Walker in Big Trouble originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nowitzki Seeks Custody of Unborn Child

Matt Watson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Police Blotter

According to court papers filed last week, Dirk Nowitzki is seeking sole custody of his ex-fiance's unborn child, pending paternity tests that confirm he is in the fact the father, according to the Beaumont Enterprise. Crystal Taylor, the mother of the child, is currently an inmate in the Jefferson County (TX) jail after being arrested last month for violating her probation and alleged theft.

Nowitzki has been estranged from Taylor ever since he alerted the police after discovering her secret past, which includes a lengthy police record, multiple aliases and, oddly enough, a previous relationship with former NFL quarterback Tony Banks.

Taylor claims to have learned of her pregnancy only after being arrested and taking a urine test at the police station.

Nowitzki would obviously prefer to deal with this extremely personal situation in private, but as embarrassing as it must be for him to see intimate details of his life splashed across the newspaper, it's refreshing to see the relatively mature manner in which he's handling the situation. All too often professional athletes make headlines for failing to provide for illegitimate children, but here's a guy taking steps to claim his child before its even born.

Infamous Mugshots

Cristal Taylor, a 37-year-old ex-stripper, has a history of legal woes. From jail this week, Taylor said she is pregnant with Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki's child and that they planned to marry before her recent arrest. Click through the gallery for police booking photos of sports stars.

AP/AP/ZUMA Press

Dustin Johnson: The PGA Tour golfer was arrested in March and charged with driving under the influence in South Carolina.

J. Reuben Long Detention Center / The Sun News / AP

Matt Jones: The NFL wide receiver was arrested in 2008 and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. Police say they found a substance that tested positive as cocaine and traces of marijuana in a car Jones and others occupied. In March, he violated his probation when he failed a test which showed that he had alcohol in his system.

Washington County Sherriffs Office

Carl Eller: Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller, seen here after being arrested last April, was convicted in January for assault on a police officer and refusal to take a sobriety test.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office/AP

Jamal Anderson: The former Atlanta Falcons star was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor marijuana possession in February.

Fulton County Sheriff

Rampage Jackson: The UFC star was arrested on July 15 after a 3-mile chase and multiple collisions. Jackson was hospitalized for a mental health evaluation following the arrest.

Costa Mesa Police Department, AP

Antoine Walker: The former NBA player was charged with suspicion of drunken driving in Miami Beach in January. Police say officers smelled alcohol and that Walker looked sleepy.

Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Dept., AP

John Daly: The golfer was taken into custody in October by Winston-Salem, N.C., police after he was reportedly found drunk outside a Hooters restaurant. Officers said Daly "appeared extremely intoxicated and uncooperative."

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, AP

Charles Barkley: The former NBA star was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police say he ran through a stop sign in Scottsdale, Ariz., on New Year's Eve.

Gilbert Police Department / AP

Michael Rayfield Hodges: Police said that Hodges, a former football player for the Tri-Cities Fever of arenafootball2, bit off the fingertip of an officer during a jail scuffle in November.

Franklin County (Wash.) Corrections

Nowitzki Seeks Custody of Unborn Child originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Should the NBA Do Anything About Donald Sterling?

Tom Ziller — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, NBA Police Blotter

Peter Keating's recent ESPN The Magazine story on the troubling background of Clippers owner Donald Sterling ends on a contemplative if uncomfortable note. After a 5,000-word narrative on Sterling's forays into racism, sexism, misogyny and the owner's complete lack of self-awareness -- all reported in painful detail -- Keating leaves the reader with a bit of a question: why isn't anyone in the NBA stopping him?

It's an uncomfortable question, not just for Secaucus or fellow owners or Sterling's players. It's uncomfortable for NBA fans, too.

If you haven't read Keating's piece -- do it! -- here's a quick summary: Sterling has been prosecuted by the federal government for discrimination against black and Hispanic prospective tenants at his real estate holdings. For a few decades, he has hired "hostesses" for Clippers-related events, and in several cases allegedly asked these hostesses for sexual favors for himself or friends. He allegedly told Elgin Baylor he wanted to field a team of "poor black boys from the South ... playing for a white coach." Et cetera. He's a bad dude, according to Keating's research and countless stories over the past several years.

So how is a Clippers fan supposed to feel about this? The easy route, which I assume some take, is to ignore it. Sterling doesn't wear the laundry, after all. You aren't cheering for Donald Sterling out on the floor -- you're cheering for ~~Baron Davis~~ ~~Zach Randolph~~ Eric Gordon. The team and the owner, to a degree, are separate entities. Most NBA fans wouldn't recognize their owner in a check-out line. I venture to say many Clippers fans wouldn't recognize Sterling at a wine bar, assuming Sterling doesn't walk around shouting his own name. (Such an assumption comes with some danger, I understand.)

But as these stories amplify, as the depths of Sterling's unsavory personality come to light, it's going to be much more difficult to ignore. This goes beyond James Dolan, who quite regrettably allowed a frat house to erupt in his front office. It certainly laps Mark Cuban's insider trading rap a few times. This is the owner of a predominantly black team in a predominantly black league in a city (and one would assume a fan base) with a substantial number of Hispanics who discriminates against blacks and Hispanics in his primary line of work in a blatant enough fashion to get sued by the federal government. This, to me, is not ignorable.

That makes the reaction of NBA figures quoted in Keating's story pretty disappointing. Mark Jackson, analyst and future coach, brushes it off with a "What can I do about that?" and a "Lots of player, owners, people at ESPN have been charged or sued over something." A Hawks VP with a record of speaking out on discrimination issues wouldn't address Sterling's record. And as Keating notes, it's been a pretty quiet topic on the blogs historically. (Note: FanHouse did write about Sterling's discrimination case in March 2008.)

What can the NBA do? Slap Sterling on the wrist? Threaten to take his team? I don't know. But at the least we in the cult of the NBA -- fans, bloggers, reporters, players, coaches and other owners -- can stop ignoring it, stop pretending it does not exist. This is serious, regrettable business in general, doubly so for an NBA owner. In all honesty, sweeping it under the rug only empowers Sterling to keep trying to get away with it.

Should the NBA Do Anything About Donald Sterling? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dirk Nowitzki's Ex Claims She's Pregnant

Will Brinson — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, NBA Media Watch, NBA Police Blotter, NBA Rumors

There was little chance that the Dirk Nowitzki - Cristal Taylor saga was going to disappear quietly, even with the Mavericks eliminated from the playoffs. That small chance vanished, too, when Taylor held an interview with the Dallas Morning News from jail Monday and Tuesday.

Infamous Mugshots

AP/AP/ZUMA Press

Dustin Johnson: The PGA Tour golfer was arrested in March and charged with driving under the influence in South Carolina.

J. Reuben Long Detention Center / The Sun News / AP

Washington County Sherriffs Office

Carl Eller: Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller, seen here after being arrested last April, was convicted in January for assault on a police officer and refusal to take a sobriety test.

Hennepin County Sheriff's Office/AP

Jamal Anderson: The former Atlanta Falcons star was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor marijuana possession in February.

Fulton County Sheriff

Rampage Jackson: The UFC star was arrested on July 15 after a 3-mile chase and multiple collisions. Jackson was hospitalized for a mental health evaluation following the arrest.

Costa Mesa Police Department, AP

Antoine Walker: The former NBA player was charged with suspicion of drunken driving in Miami Beach in January. Police say officers smelled alcohol and that Walker looked sleepy.

Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Dept., AP

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, AP

Charles Barkley: The former NBA star was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police say he ran through a stop sign in Scottsdale, Ariz., on New Year's Eve.

Gilbert Police Department / AP

Michael Rayfield Hodges: Police said that Hodges, a former football player for the Tri-Cities Fever of arenafootball2, bit off the fingertip of an officer during a jail scuffle in November.

Franklin County (Wash.) Corrections

Taylor dropped multiple bombshells around her relationship with the Dallas superstar, confirming FanHouse's report that she's pregnant, while adding that they had a wedding date planned and that Dirk referred to her as his "little jailbird."

"I've known Dirk for seven years - and, no, I didn't tell him everything about my past because I was afraid," Taylor said during a series of phone calls in which she sobbed frequently. "But, I mean, now I'm pregnant and alone and broke because he is my only source of income."

[...]"I'm actually hoping that Dirk will step forward and help, once he reads the article," she said, adding that Nowitzki has not contacted her, directly or indirectly, since her arrest. Nor was he present for her two court appearances in Beaumont.

As the DMN pointed out, there's no way to know -- at least right now anyway -- if Taylor actually is pregnant with Nowitzki's child; privacy laws prevent her medical records from being released.

Additionally, Dirk and the Mavericks are currently refraining from issuing any sort of response to Taylor's allegations, including whether or not Holger Geschwindner, Dirk's coach, was the one who influenced the Mavericks star to research Taylor's background and request a prenuptial, or whether Nowitzki voluntarily made that decision.

It's a story that has taken several bizarre turns and one that certainly hasn't come to any sort of completion; what it does echo, though, is the sentiments that Scott Boras hinted at during a recent Playboy interview, where he discussed cautioning his players about the women they kept company with. That's not to condemn Taylor, it's simply a note of caution for anyone with money or fame to consider their potential vulnerabilities.

Latest NBA Images

In this photograph taken on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, former NBA basketball player Brian Grant gestures during an interview at his home West Linn, Ore. Grant, 37, has made it known that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

In this photograph taken on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, former NBA basketball player Brian Grant speaks during an interview at his home in West Linn, Ore. Grant, 37, has made it known that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

photograph taken on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, former NBA player Brian Grant sits with his wife, Gina, during an interview at their home West Linn, Ore. Grant, 37, has made it known that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

In this photograph taken on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, former NBA basketball player Brian Grant, right, sits with his wife Gina, and son Jaydon, during an interview at their home in West Linn, Ore. Grant, 37, has made it known that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.(AP Photo/Don Ryan)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: Josh Groban attends Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Groban

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: Spike Lee (L) and Larry David (R) attend Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Spike Lee;Larry David

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: Jack Nicholson (L) and Lorraine Nicholson (R) attends Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jack Nicholson;Lorraine Nicholson

Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 19: Denzel Washington (R) and Pauletta Pearson (L) attend Game One of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Denzel Washington;Pauletta Pearson

Getty Images

Dirk Nowitzki's Ex Claims She's Pregnant originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 20 May 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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