Rajon Rondo served a one-game suspension last night for inappropriate contact with a referee. At the time, Rodney Mott didn’t think enough of the contact to throw a tech at Rondo, clearly thinking it wasn’t a big deal. Rondo today, addressed it before practice.
The league thought it was a big deal. I don’t feel there was a need to have an investigation. I know Rodney and that particular time with that play, I actually went up to him and I made a joke, he laughed and in the midst, I did touch him and the league I guess reviewed it, the media blew it up, on SportsCenter or whatever and I served a one-game suspension.”
Scott Souza added more in a couple of tweets.
So in a nutshell, here’s what happened:
Rondo made contact with Mott. Mott didn’t think anything of it. Both moved on. Danny Ferry flipped out and made his case to the refs (and got fined for it). The league called Rondo about it. Rondo was a prick on the phone. The league suspended him.
They are well within their rights to suspend Rondo for contact with the ref. I’m getting the feeling that had Rondo been a big more forthcoming about the bump, it may have just been a fine. But the “failure to cooperate” part is what chafed the league office.
That’s not the brightest move by Rondo. He can get prickly with media if he wants… he make my life hell the few times I get to interview him…. that’s fine. But screwing with the league office draws some ire from powerful people… people powerful enough to cost him a game check.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
