it's purely political, imo. when they decided to fine mike, i bet the conversation went something like this, "hi mike. i hate to do this, dog (apparently randy from american idol has a job with the nba
), but we'll have to fine you for the oden/durant references you made." "ok."
to think that the nba
really cares is to live in an alternate reality, imo. as was pointed out above, they're just under a contract with the ncaa and wouldn't want to jeopardize that.
but it's a microcosm of the modern age, i think: we just say things and do things out of seeming obligation, not necessarily out of 'proper' morality or ethics. that's the whole thing- you can't watch a leader (whether he/she's the president of the united states or the commissioner of the nba) speak to those he/she leads because we're just so cynical (and rightfully so). these people aren't speaking to you/us as much as they're speaking
for themselves. the exchange of honest dialogue probably survives behind closed doors, but rarely out in the open (imo). that's too bad. i wonder when someone will bring a solution forward re: that issue.
peace