David Stern … not stern enough with ‘World Peace’

While my super knowledgeable sports-loving brother Brandon Eric Williams believes NBA commissioner David Stern was too harsh in handing Metta World Peace a seven-game suspension for his disgraceful cheap-shot on Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden this past Sunday, I vehemently disagree with my brother and highly disappointed that commissioner Stern wasn’t m ore, er… stern in doling out the punishment that Peace so rightfully deserves.

NBA commissioner David Stern failed to punish 

Metta World Peace for his elbow to James Harden's 

head the way he should have. Stern is no Roger 

Goodell, that's for sure. 

That’s right Eye On Sports NBA hoops fans, I’m calling Stern out to say that he really dropped the ball in a big way, by not slamming the man formerly known as Ron Artest, with a Roger Goodell-like suspension.

Let me explain why – if you didn't read my previous post on the situation – and this telling quote from a South Texas paramedic that took the time to answer some of my questions.

“Yes a person can die from being hit in the temple, we see it all the time in our profession. Depending on how they are hit, with what and the exact location of where they are hit, yes a quick or sharp blow to the temple could be very damaging, even causing death. The blow could potentially penetrate through the skin and bone causing brain damage or death. If hit with something flat or blunt it could potentially cause a hemorrhage or a skull fracture, thereby causing shards of bone to lodge into the brain thus leading to brain damage or death. – Anonymous paramedic

I genuinely believe that World Peace should have been suspended for the entire postseason, mostly because of the fact that his MMA-like elbow could have theoretically caused a lot more harm – even death – had it landed on another part of James Harden’s head – like his temple!

The fact of the matter is that World Peace intentionally threw his elbow at another player’s head and then ran up court as if nothing ever happened. Just from looking at the damning evidence, you can tell that World Peace intentionally threw his elbow – and I believe anyone who thinks otherwise needs to have their head checked – much like World Peace.

At a time when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell – and other sports figures all over the world – are now taking concussions extremely serious – NBA commissioner David Stern missed a golden opportunity to send a strong message that shots to the head will not be tolerated in any shape, form or fashion in the NBA.

Unfortunately, by giving World Peace just a slap on the wrist, it sends the wrong message that even if you go ‘head-hunting’ then you’re only facing a ban of about a half-dozen games.

Just think about it, let’s say, LeBron James is going nuts against the New York Knicks in the playoffs when New York center Tyson Chandler decides to give James a game-ending cheap-shot elbow to the head.

How could the league suspend Chandler for more than seven games? Exactly, they couldn’t now. As a matter of fact, almost any player in the league can do some really ‘ill’ stuff on court right now and get away with it, because their respective disciplinary resumes will undoubtedly be better than Metta World Peace’s ever was.

Commissioner Stern really dropped the ball in a big way – and now – every ensuing concussion-causing, cheap-shot elbow to the head can only be penalized by a maximum of seven games at best – or else the NBA players association will go nuts – and rightfully so.

If one of the league’s worst on-court offenders got off with a slap on the wrist, how can anyone else ever receiver a stiffer sentence from Stern?

Exactly…they can’t!

All I can say is that commissioner Stern really needs to take a cue from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and get tougher with doling out punishments in regards to serious cheap shots.

If Andrew Bynum got just five games for delivering a forearm shiver to an airborne and totally defenseless J.J. Barea – and now just seven games to World Peace for his concussion-causing elbow – I guess players now know they can do anything they want and won’t receive much more than a half-dozen game ban – and that’s just sad – for the NBA, its players, commissioner Stern – and most importantly, the fans.