The gruesome leg injury suffered by Indiana Pacers guard Paul George last week during a USA Basketball team scrimmage in Las Vegas has NBA owners and executives arguing whether or not their players should play in international events.
Some owners, like Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, are against the idea. They contend that the players and owners assume all the risk while the International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA, reaps all the benefits.
Others, like Marcus Thompson II of the San Jose Mercury News, say this is one risk NBA owners need to accept.
"No question, the George injury leaves the Indiana Pacers in a bad spot. But those are the breaks," Thompson wrote. "It's hard to feel bad for NBA owners since they get every other break.
"The NBA's priority first and foremost is risk aversion. Teams' investments and earnings always are chief priority, often at the expense of the players. So it's hard to feel bad for the owners because on this one instance they're exposed.
"They got an age limit installed to avoid the risk of picking the wrong high schooler high in the draft. They cut the maximum salary to negate the risk of paying big money to the wrong guy. They trimmed the number of years on NBA contracts to limit long-term commitments.
"At every turn, the rules are designed to reduce teams' risks. Now they want to make it so their "investments" can't play internationally. Get outta here.
"If a team wants to bar its star player from international competition, pay him to sit out.
"Teams are already getting a discount on their stars. Stephen Curry shouldn't have to miss out on selling his Under Armour shoes globally because the Warriors don't want him to risk another ankle sprain.
"Dallas owner Mark Cuban suggests the NBA should break away from FIBA and create its own World Cup of Basketball. Why should FIBA profit off NBA teams and their players?
"Of course, an NBA owner is willing to take the risk when a profit is involved.
"'The greatest trick ever played,' Cuban told ESPN, 'was the IOC convincing the world that the Olympics were about patriotism and national pride instead of money.'
"Isn't the same true for college basketball? Where is the push to sever ties with the NCAA?"
Bus stops here
The NFL exhibition season began Sunday when the Buffalo Bills played the New York Giants in the Hall of Fame Game, 23 1/2 years after they met in the Super Bowl.
"Just for old times' sake, the Bills' driver missed wide right parking the team bus," Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times wrote.
They said it
• Jack Finarelli of SportsCurmudgeon.com, after the Phillies' Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins tied an MLB "record" by starting their 886th regular-season game as a 1B-2B-SS tandem: "Mark that down as number 5,027,268 in the file 'Facts Not Worth Remembering.'?"
• Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, on why some standing-room only tickets at the 49ers' new Levi's Stadium cost $75 while others cost only $50: "For $75 you get to stand on both feet."
• Comedy writer Alan Ray, on the first injury scare at the Ravens' camp: "Ray Rice suffered a slap on the wrist."
• A headline from the satirical website SportsPickle.com: "Bengals sign Andy Dalton to 6-year, $115 million deal with team option to cut him Week 2."
Sports quiz
Where did Paul George play college basketball?
Answer
Paul played at Fresno State in 2008-2010 before being taken with the 10th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers.
Sports on 08/08/2014