The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Dwain Price on a post-game punchup that wasn’t quite Kermit Washington vs. Rudy T.
While the NBA conducts an investigation, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tried to downplay a fight that occurred Saturday night between swing man Jerry Stackhouse and Utah Jazz rookie guard Kirk Snyder.
“If I was going to characterize it, I would say it was more of a catfight than a fight,” Cuban said. “It was more like the Miller Lite girls.”
(above, Stackhouse, below, Snyder)
Reached Sunday night, Stackhouse did not want to comment specifically about the incident until the league completes its investigation.
“I don’t want to say anything until it goes down,” Stackhouse said. “Whatever happens, happens.”
Stackhouse and Snyder were involved in an altercation after Saturday’s Jazz-Mavericks game at American Airlines Center near the ramp area leading to the Jazz team bus. After AAC security members rushed to help break up the confrontation, Mavs guard Michael Finley and forward Josh Howard hurriedly escorted Stackhouse back to the Mavs’ locker room.
“I came out and signed a few autographs and took a few pictures, and before I could even get to the situation, it had already come almost to an end, and I was just there to rectify the situation and try to get Stack away from the whole thing and just try to ease things down,” Finley said.
Apparently during the game, Stackhouse thought Snyder threw a couple of elbows that he believed were intentional, and he repeatedly told the referees about it. According to a source, about 25 minutes after the game, Stackhouse and Snyder were scuffling on the pavement, but no one knows whether a punch was thrown.