David Stern's Quest for Technical Fouls

 The NBA has announced that referees have been instructed to hand out more technical fouls for a variety of petty infractions this season. Refs have been ordered to call technicals for players making air punches anywhere on the court (Kendrick Perkins), demonstrative disagreement like raising hands or smacking his own arm to show how he was fouled (Dwight Howard), running directly at an official to complain about a call (Rasheed Wallace, Retire In Peace) and making excessive inquires about a call regardless of how calm the player is (Kobe Bryant).

 Players are also not allowed to say things like, "Come on!" to a ref. They're also no longer allowed to walk away from a ref to make their case. 

 So basically players should be docile servants to the czar and his minions of control.

 Ron Johnson, NBA senior vice president of referees, said that audience research was the motivating reason behind the crack down. He says that NBA fans don't want the fights of hockey or the childish behavior of baseball managers. 

 Who did David Stern, Ron Johnson and the rest of the top dogs in the NBA survey? Did you see a survey? Do they only survey the bluebloods in the luxury boxes? 

 Maybe the league really is strapped for cash as Stern claims and they're trying to get more fine money from moody players. Maybe Stern wants more free throws from techs to help increase scoring. Or maybe Stern and his ilk aren't comfortable seeing young black men express themselves passionately against the inconsistent calls of power hungry jackasses like Joey Crawford and Steve Javie.

 Stern tried to increase technical fouls in 2005-06 but repealed his law mid-season after complaints from players, teams, the media and most of all, the fans. Five years later, he's at it again and this time he plans to make it stick. 

 Rasheed Wallace has retired and Ron Artest is in therapy. Who's going to help Kendrick Perkins steer clear of the whistle happy refs as they compete to see who gives the most technicals? 

 In Stern's wet dream world, we'd see less passion and fire from players like MJ, KG and KB24. We'd have more players fined and suspended, even at the expense of putting the best teams and ballers on the floor during the playoffs. 

 And we'd have more players loving up on the refs like Charles kissing Dick.