by Brett Edwards
One of the great things about the NBA is the not-so-secret party lifestyle of the athletes. Most are suckers for strip clubs, gambling, and hookering. Enter the Houston Rockets, who last week had a game Thursday night in Sacramento, and then nothing to do until their game Sunday night in Portland. I know! Why not take the team to Vegas for a couple of days?
Great idea, guys. Except that it violates the league's collective bargaining agreement, which prohibits teams from giving players anything that could be considered a benefit that's not in their contract. Why not just give the players a couple of days off, and have them meet up in Vegas on their own to avoid the fine? Stories like this are not helping the idea of the league putting a team in Vegas. If all of the players show up hung over and *ahem* "depleted" for the All-Star Game in 2007, that will be the end of that. I just wish I could see Yao at the craps table.
Stupid rule. NBA players visit Vegas as often as they test for STD's. The NBA should look the other way for this one.
Posted by: Craig | December 13, 2005 at 11:06 AM