Miller criticizes union's action after brawl

Three days after fight night in Detroit, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller was poking jabs of his own — aimed straight at the head of the NBA Players Association, Billy Hunter.

On Saturday, NBA commissioner David Stern indefinitely suspended four of the primary participants in the melee that marred last Friday night's game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers.

Then, on Sunday, Stern set terms of the suspensions: the rest of the season without pay for Indiana's Ron Artest, who charged into the stands to fight with fans in The Palace of Auburn Hills; 30 games sans pay for Indiana's Stephen Jackson, who followed Artest and threw several wild punches; 25 games without pay for Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, who stayed on the floor but slugged at least one Pistons fan; plus several lesser no-pay punishments for others involved.

Soon after, union leader Hunter vowed that the suspensions of Artest, Jackson and O'Neal would be appealed. That has Miller riled, and Monday night he sounded off — with Hunter his chief target.

"I'm not sure what went through whose minds on Friday night," Miller said, "but there were lines crossed that I think were very severe.

"And I really believed — and I know Billy somewhat, from being in the last (collective bargaining) negotiations with him five years ago — that a common sense and awareness would emerge out of that whole office, starting with him, that would not have him oppose this, at least until they got to what I'm going to call a 'hearing process' of some kind."

Miller was appalled by the fight, and called the weekend action the commissioner took "perfect under the circumstances."

"He (Stern) had to send a loud message really clear really fast," the Jazz owner said. "He did that."

As for Hunter's decision to appeal the suspensions, Miller said that was "my biggest disappointment thus far" stemming from the brawl.

"There have been different issues over the years where we interact as a league, as owners . . . with the players union," Miller said. "And obviously there are situations where we disagree on different matters, especially in collective bargaining stuff. And I understand that.

"But to me, this is a perfect, perfect opportunity for Billy Hunter to step forward and say, 'You know what? It went too far. You guys (players like Artest, Jackson and O'Neal) were wrong.' . . . Instead, he did just the opposite. And I'm really disappointed in that, personally.

"My opinion is that it was a rare opportunity . . . to create a united front and let these players know that there are lines they cannot cross," Miller added. "This has to be a united thing, because the reputation of the league is at stake. And that's not just a special interest for the owners. The NBA Players Association is very much involved in that. They're partners in that with us."

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