Sportsfrog.com

The NBA is understandably sensitive about gun violence, given that two of its players recently brandished guns in a locker room. But they’re losing perspective, and coming across as unreasonable hypocrites. Months ago, Nike did a LeBron-Kobe print ad where Kobe says, “I’ll do whatever it takes to win games. I don’t leave anything in the chamber.”

The ad has been released, and the NBA is offended, releasing this statement: “We had no prior notice of this ad. We think it is inappropriate.”

Really? I mean, really? Are you even remotely serious? Because, if you are serious, you’re either a blind idiot (which we know Stern is not) or a massive hypocritical bully. You operate a sport where the entire dialect revolves around the word “shoot” and its variants. Shoot. Shot. Shot clock. Blocked shot. Shooting percentage. Three-point shot. Sharpshooter. Sniper. Rifleman. And you’re going to take offense at a shooting reference?

And don’t try to tell me Kobe agreed, so the NBA is correct. Of course Kobe agreed. He’s corporate. He knows this isn’t a battle worth wasting breath on, because he understands Stern is just doing this for PR. Something Kobe understands completely. But this is beyond stupid, and it should be called out as such. It’s Stern’s obsession over the public image of the league run amok.

If this is how you want to play it, Stern, then be consistent. Rename every aspect of the game. Change all of the NBA’s historical records. Take down the NBA.com website now until you can reconstruct it without any reference to shooting. Stop selling all books that use the term. Re-write them. Stop selling all DVDs. Re-dub them. Never replay any game on the NBA Network where any variation of the term is stated by an announcer or displayed on the screen.

And maybe, just maybe, start being consistent. As the AP article points out, just yesterday, Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said: “We did not have enough bullets in our gun to make games of it.” Stern, are you going to fine him? Call it inappropriate? Or is your paternalistic hypocrisy reserved for young black men?