The Bulls fined rookie Tyrus Thomas $10,000 for saying that he was only interested in the money at the slam dunk contest.

ESPN.com - NBA - Bulls fine Thomas $10K for comments on dunk contest (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2756552)

Is that really fine worthy? He didn't curse. He didn't criticize officials. He didn't get arrested. All he did was say that he was in it for the money. While not the most noble of things to say, is that really worthy of a fine?
When asked if being around some of the game's greats could be beneficial for a rookie, he responded, "I'm just into the free money. That's it. I'll just do whatever when I get out there."I especially love how me did a complete 180 (no doubt team imposed) in his prepared statement later that night.
"I truly feel honored to be invited to participate in this year's slam dunk contest during next week's NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas," Thomas said. "The opportunity to represent the Bulls and the city of Chicago on a global stage is a privilege that I do not take lightly. I regret the extent to which my comments indicate otherwise."What do you think? Should the league (in this case the team) be allowed to fine a player for something like this?

What a ridiculous fine to put on the rookie. He was speaking the truth, he wanted to win the prize money. I didn't realize they even won money so they should eliminate that. Don't lots of teams build in incentives in the contract for making All-Star games or winning other honors? Isn't basketball a business after all? So David Stern is the commissioner of basketball because he loves the game so much or does he love that big fat paycheck? Doing things for money is not a crime, especially in our capitalistic society.

The irony is that he will probably have to win to make his $10,000 back. LMAO.

What a ridiculous fine to put on the rookie. He was speaking the truth, he wanted to win the prize money. I didn't realize they even won money so they should eliminate that. Don't lots of teams build in incentives in the contract for making All-Star games or winning other honors? Isn't basketball a business after all? So David Stern is the commissioner of basketball because he loves the game so much or does he love that big fat paycheck? Doing things for money is not a crime, especially in our capitalistic society.


Yeah, but there has been money involved from the start. Even back in the D. Wilkins days...when they had a scoring system that actually made sense.

I thought he was joking with that comment. He wasn't? He really is just doing the slam dunk contest for the money?

He's getting paid about $40,000 per game with the Bulls. Why would he be so excited to go an win $35,000 at best in the contest? This dude needs a little perspective and I think Paxon gave it to him.

That's just it. These guys have already proven themselves. They would rather have a couple days off with their families or whatever than to put on a show for the public. Who wouldn't want to get paid for their time and effort regardless of how much money you make. It's all a bunch of hype.

I don't blame him in the least for making those comments.

Stern makes me ill.

What does Stern have to do with any of this?

The Bulls levied a fine on Tyrus because he said stupid things. The Bulls are a strictly run organization. What other disciplinary action can you do?


Tyrus has lacked discretion in the past. I forget the article but a link was post around here before the draft.

What does Stern have to do with any of this?

The Bulls levied a fine on Tyrus because he said stupid things. The Bulls are a strictly run organization. What other disciplinary action can you do?


Tyrus has lacked discretion in the past. I forget the article but a link was post around here before the draft.

I believe Stern sets the tone for the entire league. No speaking out. I think if an organization like the Bulls doesn't follow his lead then he finds a way to get them at some point and in some manner.

Was the CONTENT of what he said really stupid? Or was it just that the VIEWPOINT was contrary to the company line?

What other disciplinary action CAN you take? It's a question of "SHOULD you take disciplinary action, IMO. I think not.

I believe Stern sets the tone for the entire league. No speaking out. I think if an organization like the Bulls doesn't follow his lead then he finds a way to get them at some point and in some manner.

Was the CONTENT of what he said really stupid? Or was it just that the VIEWPOINT was contrary to the company line?

What other disciplinary action CAN you take? It's a question of "SHOULD you take disciplinary action, IMO. I think not.
Thomas was supposed to babble about how he's in awe of the glorious dunk contest, looking forward to receiving the wisdom of the veteran All-Stars, blah blah blah. But he's a 20-year-old rookie, and he committed the crime of saying what he thinks rather than spewing some P.R. nonsense.

Rather than pulling him aside and giving him a little lesson on media relations, the Bulls decided to publicly humiliate him. Then the "apology" statement comes out, sounding insincere and robotic. The whole episode tells you a lot about the amount of respect the Bulls have for their players, and for the intelligence of their fans.

The comments seemed unprofessional at worst. Love of the game makes a better story, true or not. Going forward, it's his reputation that will likely be tested. As far as the fine, all I can say is welcome to the real world. The Bulls did it because they could.

What kind of 20 year-old NBA player would NOT want to be in the dunk contest? You have millions of people watching, you're being judged by some of the greatest basketball players ever. You are getting paid just through the exposure alone. Instead, he takes that opportunity and gives himself negative exposure, which in turn reduces his overall value. The fine is a drop in the bucket.

The NBA could have easily found a dozen guys who would have done it for free. They probably could have even had an entry fee to enter.

I guess I gotta root for DHo now.

this brings up the larger point of players having it in the collective bargaining agreement, that the league can force them to participate in any skills competition BUT the dunk contest. the question is, why do players like lebron not want to compete in it, and even go so far as to put that in a contract? what's the big deal?

i only wish thomas hadn't backed down from his initial statement. his first apology was good ('i'm sorry if what i said upset you') since it wasn't really an apology. but the PR spin...obviously formulaic.

sheed makes these comments all the time...imagine if he was in chicago? heh.

What kind of 20 year-old NBA player would NOT want to be in the dunk contest? You have millions of people watching, you're being judged by some of the greatest basketball players ever. You are getting paid just through the exposure alone. Instead, he takes that opportunity and gives himself negative exposure, which in turn reduces his overall value. The fine is a drop in the bucket.

The NBA could have easily found a dozen guys who would have done it for free. They probably could have even had an entry fee to enter.

I guess I gotta root for DHo now.

A 20 year old who isn't worried about impressing others. One who doesn't need a million people watching to validate his value as an NBA player.

Sure, your typical 20 year old would love the opportunity to get his mugshot on national television while surrounded by adoring fans oohing and aahing his every move. Sure, the typical 20 year old would lunge at the opportunity to make "x" thousands for shooting a few baskets. But we aren't talking about just any 20 year old now, are we?

The NBA IS all about money. Whether people want to believe it or not. It motivates the commissioner and everyone on down who is involved. Tyrus merely stated the TRUTH. So of course, they take his money to punish him because that is what motivates most people. The league cannot let the fans see the truth even though it is right before their eyes.

Yeah, with the history of this thing, having been won by MJ, Kobe, etc., you would think that everyone would want to do it.

I think that Lebron doesn't want in, because everyone would assume that he would win it. So it would be all down-side for him if he failed.

For a long period of time, there were boundary pushing dunks that made it exciting. We have sort of exhausted the art form at this point, and the only innovations are gimmicks (e.g. Steve Nash soccer routine).

A windmill dunk will no longer get the perfect score.

It's just a good thing that he didn't make those comments while wearing a headband...

I would never play for the Bulls if I was an athlete. Who cares what his motives are? Not being invited back again by the league or being traded by the Bulls if they despise his attitude that much should have been the recourse. The Bulls probably should have had a talk with him and left it at that. This is an obvious case of abusing authority. There's a lot of power trippin' going on in that organization.

I would never play for the Bulls if I was an athlete. Who cares what his motives are? Not being invited back again by the league or being traded by the Bulls if they despise his attitude that much should have been the recourse. The Bulls probably should have had a talk with him and left it at that. This is an obvious case of abusing authority. There's a lot of power trippin' going on in that organization.

You must have read my mind with this post.

I couldn`t agree more. Who makes all these rules and fines in this orginization? Is it Paxson? I am sure Scottie Skiles has something to do with the "Bull Rules" also.

My thing is, until they win a championship inspite of those silly rules and fines they impose, the orginization looks petty and foolish, IMO.