From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s Gary Washburn
Danny Fortson returned from a two-game suspension Monday with fire for NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, calling the executive a “gangster” for the nearly $200,000 in fines Fortson was docked for his latest transgression with an official.
Jackson suspended Fortson for the second time this season. Fortson was angry that Kobe Bryant received the same penalty for a forearm shiver to Memphis’ Mike Miller.
“What Stu Jackson just did is criminal as far as I’m concerned, like a gangster, like somebody strong-arming somebody, taking their money,” Fortson said Monday before the Sonics’ 115-96 loss to Indiana. “Handing out (the same) fines and suspensions (for what) Kobe Bryant did and what I did, it’s unfair. It’s criminal. He needs to know that. It’s criminal fines in the work force.”
“I tried to work things out, but (Jackson’s) going to fine somebody $200,000 almost for something that a referee lied about,” Fortson said. “He lied. I am standing by what I said. I don’t care. He lied, as simple as that. He said I said something that I didn’t say. As a matter of fact, I had the GM Rick Sund watching the game. He read my lips. The man is going to sit there and not investigate people, my teammates, my coaches and just go off something that an official flat-out made up and lied about.”
“Just because he’s Stu Jackson, maybe I’m supposed to be scared not to speak my mind,” Fortson said. “But you know what? If I see wrong as being wrong, I am going to say it, as simple as that.”
The Tacoma News Tribune’s Frank Hughes quotes Forston as saying “I am not going to let Stu Jackson (above) gangster me out of money for something that wasn’t investigated. That is a gangster move. Gangster. That is gangsterism.”
To reiterate: gangster.
To further reiterate: In a little less than half an NBA season, Danny Fortson has racked up $200,000 in fines, distinguished himself as a Todd Jonesian meatball with his anti-gay sentiments, and cemented his status as the NBA player who most resembles a WNBA player. It’s a good thing he’s not as good as Ron Artest, or everyone would know what a jerk he is.
The referee, Stu Jackson, and probably Gary Washburn are just bagmen for Jerry Colangelo’s anti-Fortson cabal.
Forston’s been the victim of conspiracies every since he and the other Milli Vanili guy were screwed out of their Grammy Award.
To me, the scorned Canadian, it is shocking that Stu Jackson has a job in basketball.
Shocking.
He is only capable of causing pain and suffering.
He is far too stupid to be a gangster.
Hey, Stu Jackson! You ruined my life!