Reprinted from The Washington Times, March 5, 1998
NBA star reinstated after choking coach
By John N. Mitchell
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
An arbitrator decided yesterday that the NBA's one-year suspension of Latrell Sprewell for choking his coach and threatening to kill him was too severe.
The binding decision will permit the suspended player to return to the league on July 1 -- five months earlier than the NBA's penalty would have allowed -- and reinstates Sprewell's contract with his team, the Golden State Warriors. That will enable Sprewell to recoup some $17 million of the contract he lost when the team voided it because of his attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo.
The Warriors terminated Sprewell's contract -- essentially firing the player -- for the Dec. 1 assault on Carlesimo in which he went after his coach not once but twice and threatened to kill him. The NBA upheld the Warriors' decision and banished Sprewell from the league for one year. As a result of yesterday's ruling, Sprewell still will miss the rest of this season for a total of 68 games, costing him $6.4 million of his multiyear contract.
Arbitrator John Feerick, dean of Fordham University Law School, wrote in his 106-page decision that the combination of a one-year suspension and a contract termination wasn't appropriate under all of the circumstances.
Sprewell will be permitted a return to the league on July 1, when teams are permitted to begin trading players. It is almost a certainty the Warriors will try to trade Sprewell immediately.
NBA Commissioner David Stern felt that the ruling sent a bad message but had no choice other than to abide by it.
"Whether or not you can choke your boss and keep your job is already established," Stern said. "You cannot choke your boss and keep your job unless you are an NBA player. But this is arbitration. You win some and you lose some."
Sprewell's agent, Arn Tellum, found the ruling much to his and his client's liking.
"We're extremely satisfied with the ruling," Tellum said. "It never should have been that severe in the first place. We were hoping that he would be allowed to return in time for the playoffs. But by and large we are very happy with this ruling.
"[The arbitrator] ruled in favor of Latrell on almost every point. And as more and more information gets out, you'll see that the incident was not as the NBA and the media portrayed it to be."
The case went to arbitration over a month ago when the National Basketball Players Association filed a grievance against the Warriors. The NBPA is at odds with the league over numerous issues, another being whether to test the league's players for marijuana use. If the collective bargaining agreement is opened this summer, as some speculate it might, the union and the league will again be at odds.
But yesterday the players union was happy to just celebrate victory in the Sprewell case.
"The decision reaffirms the sanctity of guaranteed contracts in the NBA," said union Executive Director Billy Hunter.
Stern, perhaps the most image-conscious of all commissioners in professional sports, attempted to put a happy face on a case he had hoped to win.
"The arbitrator was very supportive in terms of that he felt the NBA conducted a fair investigation. He found that the actions of Mr. Sprewell put his coach's well-being in jeopardy, and he also felt that although harsh, the one-year suspension of Mr. Sprewell's contract was appropriate.
"What we're talking about here is upholding the largest penalty for an act of violence in sports history. But however well-intentioned the ruling was, it missed the opportunity to send a message to the broader issue of what is good in sports."
Stern said there were no harsh feelings between the league and Sprewell. In fact, before the hearings ended last month, he told Sprewell he would be welcomed back to the league at the completion of his suspension, whether it lasted the full year or whether it was cut short.
However, he added that Sprewell's return to the league was contingent on him undergoing some form of anger management.
But while Stern was gracious in discussing the ruling, deputy commissioner Russell T. Granik was much more critical of it.
"I have some concerns fans and players might get the wrong message, that no matter what you do your contract cannot be terminated," Granick said.
One thing that is almost certain is that Sprewell will probably never play for the Warriors again. In all likelihood, he will be traded sometime shortly after he is reinstated by the Warriors. And it's just as likely there will be a long line of teams bidding for his services.
Just a little over a week ago, almost all of the Washington Wizards players said they would love to have the former all-star as a teammate.
Larry Brown, coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, sounded as if he would pursue Sprewell as soon as he could.
"I think that everybody in this league deserves a second chance," Brown said. "I would not shut the door on anybody if he could help us and make us more successful. I've always liked his game. He plays great defense and he never tires. And let's face it. He didn't get off scot-free."
Could the Wizards be interested in adding Sprewell next year? He would be a hard fit, considering Washington probably won't have enough room under the salary cap to sign him.
However, Wizards coach Bernie Bickerstaff said that whatever happens with Sprewell, it is time for the league to move on from this ugly incident.
"The arbitrator gave his ruling and that should be it," Bickerstaff said. "It's legal and now it should be a resolved issue. They made a ruling and it will stand.
"I just don't want it to paint the league and the players in a bad light. It's not something that happens often but it has become a focal point."
But are they interested in Sprewell?
"You make those decisions once the season has ended and you have a chance to settle your emotions. You sit down with the general manager and you discuss these things, once the emotions have settled."
Wizards General Manager Wes Unseld was not available for comment.Copyright 1998 News World Communications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of
The Washington Times.
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