Suit claims Spurs violated state law - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

**Knicks4life** · 01-15-2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

The San Antonio Spurs are being sued by a lawyer who is alleging that the team violated the state's deceptive and fair trade practices law.

On Monday, Larry McGuinness filed a class action suit in Miami-Dade County, stating that the team's head coach, Gregg Popovich, "intentionally and surrepticiously" sent their best players home without the knowledge of the league, the team and the fans attending the Nov. 29 game against the Heat. McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, "suffered economic damages" as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn't cost more.

Before the game, Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green back to San Antonio, saying that he believed that resting his top players for their fourth game in five days was a smart decision.

Even though players aren't guaranteed to play at any time, the lines are a little more blurred since teams charge fans more to attend games versus better teams. When asked how he thought the fans felt, Popovich admitted at the time that it wasn't ideal.

"If I was taking my 6-year-old son and daughter to the game, I would want them to see everybody," Popovich said. "And if they weren't there, I'd be disappointed."

It's often assumed that fans might not see certain high-profile players because of injury, but McGuinness said this was different given that all of the top players were not available to play.

"It was like going to Morton's Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak," said McGuinness, who said he bought his ticket on the resale market. "That's exactly what happened here."

NBA commissioner David Stern apologized to fans for Popovich's decision at the time, calling it "unacceptable." Days later, the NBA, which is not named as a defendant in this case, fined the team $250,000.

Some could argue that the Heat fans got their money's worth. That's because the team barely beat the undermanned Spurs, 105-100 that night. McGuinness said that doesn't mean a game with the Spurs top players couldn't have been more exciting.

McGuinness said he didn't believe that the Spurs were served with the lawsuit yet. Team spokesman Tom James said he was not in the position to comment on the case.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/88...ng-top-players

**RollWithEm** · 01-15-2013, 01:33 PM

I can't imagine this going very far. Seems like an extremely suspect case.

**Krstic All-Star** · 01-15-2013, 03:48 PM

I'm no Florida lawyer, but no way in hell this succeeds.

**Basel** · 01-15-2013, 03:52 PM

I hate people sometimes.

**Krstic All-Star** · 01-15-2013, 05:09 PM

^ For me it's most of the time

**Floods** · 01-16-2013, 12:50 PM

What a whining sack of shit.

But I still don't understand why Popovich didn't just say at the time that they're all injured. Or one is injured and the other two have the flu or something. If he did, there never would have been a story, and he would have saved his team some fine money. Don't know what's to be gained from complete honesty in this case.

**Prince** · 01-16-2013, 12:52 PM

What a schmuck. This case will be thrown out.

**FreeMason Jr.** · 01-16-2013, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floods

But I still don't understand why Popovich didn't just say at the time that they're all injured. Or one is injured and the other two have the flu or something. If he did, there never would have been a story, and he would have saved his team some fine money. Don't know what's to be gained from complete honesty in this case.

Probably because the Spurs have done it multiple times in the past without drawing anywhere near as much attention. It's never really been a big deal before.

01-15-2013, 01:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
RollWithEm Never Argue with a Fool Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 28,233 Rep Power: 6035755	Re: Suit claims Spurs violated state law I can't imagine this going very far. Seems like an extremely suspect case. __________________ But that's just me. RWE's Random Questions: (Close Friends, Virginity, Home-Schooling, Wiretapping, Cheating, Piracy) RWE's Movie Rankings: (Coen Brothers, Stanley Kubrick, Top 90 of the 90's) RWE's Underground Update - RWE's SciFi Corner RWE's Smash Central - RWE's Culinary Cul de Sac 2015 FRSL Champion New Orleans Jazz Lawson - Thabo - Thad - Brow - Big Al - Manu - Jayson

01-15-2013, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,657 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: Suit claims Spurs violated state law I'm no Florida lawyer, but no way in hell this succeeds. __________________ LIPA delenda est

01-15-2013, 03:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Basel Legen-wait for it-dary! Legendary! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Age: 27 Posts: 68,494 Rep Power: 21474913	Re: Suit claims Spurs violated state law I hate people sometimes. __________________ Best there is, best there was, best there ever will be.

01-15-2013, 05:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,657 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: Suit claims Spurs violated state law ^ For me it's most of the time __________________ LIPA delenda est

01-16-2013, 12:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Floods -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 14,114 Rep Power: 15842309	Re: Suit claims Spurs violated state law What a whining sack of shit. But I still don't understand why Popovich didn't just say at the time that they're all injured. Or one is injured and the other two have the flu or something. If he did, there never would have been a story, and he would have saved his team some fine money. Don't know what's to be gained from complete honesty in this case.

01-16-2013, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Prince Formerly Known as Quite Frankly Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 11,779 Rep Power: 4606109	Re: Suit claims Spurs violated state law What a schmuck. This case will be thrown out. __________________ 2032 KVBL Champions: Milwaukee Bucks (Prince) Lineup - PG D'Angelo McMillian \| SG Eddy Sweet \| SF Cameron Clothier \| PF Mario Rogic \| C Greg Hope \| 6th man C Andre Wright Finals MVP: Greg Hope 2033 KVBL Champions: Milwaukee Bucks (Prince) Lineup - PG D'Angelo McMillian \| SG Joseph McDaniels \| SF Cameron Clothier \| PF Mario Rogic \| C Greg Hope \| 6th man C Peter Acres Finals MVP: Greg Hope Fear the Deer Minnesota Timberwolves

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