DeMarcus Cousins of Sacramento Kings and the Idiocy of the NBA

Not angry at the historically volatile center, but at the league, at the Association itself.

According to our own Allen Moll of THD, the big man was suspended by the league after confronting San Antonio Spurs announcer Sean Elliot in what was apparently deemed a “hostile manner.”

Achoo.

Sorry, I’m allergic to complete crap.

I understand Cousins has a bad rap, the Kings themselves would be the first ones to admit it. Yet the nature of this suspension was completely undeserved.

No, I wasn’t there, but I didn’t have to be. As Zach Harper of CBSSports.com put it, Cousins essentially just called Elliott “immature” in response to some previous sentiments he offered.

And what sentiments were those?

The sentiments that basically trashed (via Mike Monroe of Spurs Nation) the Kings from head to toe:

That’s why some humility is in order. You think you’re dominating Tim Duncan, you get it stuffed right back in your face. Timmy doesn’t like to talk trash. But if guys start talking mess to him, he’s going to respond. All that trash-talking was premature. I’m not about to let these guys off the hook. Young ballclub should learn from this. Don’t start talking and flapping your gums against one of the greatest players ever. He’s going to make you pay. Tell me who got the best of this exchange.

This is exactly where my problem lies. It’s not as if Cousins was confronting Elliott for no reason. He confronted him because the man verbally dismantled his team.

Some would call that protecting his teammates; some would consider that the chivalrous representation of a leader.

But not when it comes to Cousins. He has such a poor reputation that this has been blown as proportion. Quite frankly, he should have been given a warning, if anything. A suspension, though? That’s ludicrous. Especially when you consider Elliott has been fined or suspended from his post for making such rude, borderline snide remarks.

On the one hand, I understand Elliott’s stance. It’s not that I agree with him; it’s that I understand he has the right to express his feelings, verbally, how he sees fit. So why doesn’t Cousins?

I don’t care that he’s a player. I don’t care that the player Elliott was protecting was Tim Duncan. And I certainly don’t care that Cousins came off as hostile.

Why?

Because I agree with what he did—it’s what a leader should have done.

We can choose to take this as a sign of Cousins’ perpetual immaturity or, we can take it for what it is—a sign of his growth as a leader.

This wasn’t a personal, self-imposed vendetta; Cousins had a score to settle for his entire team, not just himself.

Sure, Duncan is one of the best big man to ever grace the court and deserves some respect, but if he can’t handle a little trash talking after nearly two decades of service, then that’s his problem.

But this isn’t about Timmy—whom I love. This is about the difference between right, wrong, and idiocy.

The NBA has already crossed the line this season when it implemented a 90-second limit on pre-game rituals and it will continue to infuriate the masses with his its new flopping policy. But make no mistake, this is worse.

???? Wow ….

— demarcus cousins(@boogiecousins) November 11, 2012

Call Cousins immature. Side with the NBA. Demand that the center become a better leader.

Then remember that he just exuded leadership, albeit brusquely, but a form of leadership all the same. Then also remember he was penalized for it, despite being provoked and despite the reality that the provoker came out unscathed.

Now, can you tell me how that’s fair?

You can’t. Because it isn’t.

But then again, in the NBA, sometimes it never is.