NEW YORK -- At a recent Wizards' shootaround in Los Angeles, drive-by enforcer Charles Oakley had to be restrained by a chain of coaches and players in mid-pursuit of (temporary) Clipper coach Alvin Gentry. Nearly two weeks later, David Stern's ruthlessly law abiding NBA has yet to issue so much as an admonishing peep or a snub-nosed punishment.

If I didn't know better, I would be utterly befuddled.

Flashback: A week before that incident, Indiana Pacers coach Isiah Thomas received a two-game suspension for trying to teach some manners to foulmouthed Raptor Morris Peterson. Shortly before that, Pacers forward Ron Artest was sentenced to four games of racking mothballs as a result of his confrontation with Pat Riley (among other transgressions) after being provoked by Heat assistant coach Keith Askins.