Dallas Fined for Spoofs
The Dallas Mavericks were fined $25,000 for showing videos to fans in their arena that ridiculed the Sacramento Kings’ Chris Webber and Doug Christie.
Among the videos was a cartoon depicting Webber being showered with money at the University of Michigan and Christie being led on a leash tugged by his wife.
Webber last year pleaded guilty to lying to a grand jury about his association with a former University of Michigan basketball booster. Christie often gestures to his wife during games.
The skits were shown before Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, which the Kings won in five games.
The fine were announced in a statement from Stu Jackson, the league’s senior vice president of basketball operations.
Maverick owner Mark Cuban didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
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Minnesota Timberwolf center Ervin Johnson doesn’t have a broken left wrist and will play in tonight’s Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against Sacramento.
Johnson fell on his wrist during Sunday’s workout and had X-rays, which were negative. He returned to practice Monday.
Centers Michael Olowokandi and Oliver Miller missed Sunday’s workout because of flu but practiced Monday.
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The Charlotte Bobcats officially joined the NBA after owner Bob Johnson made the final payment on the team’s $300-million expansion fee. The Bobcats become the league’s 30th team and will begin play next season.
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