NEW YORK -- As I might have previously mentioned in this space, the referees were manifestly derelict in their duty for looking the other way and failing to dispense punishment to fit the crime when Cleveland's LeBron James cavalierly messed with the mind of Washington's Gilbert Arenas between Game 6 series-implicating foul shots.
So, I've been thinking; how, pray tell, can the NBA have a rule that assesses Dikembe Mutombo a taunting technical for wagging a finger in the face of an opponent whose shot he just invalidated, yet it's OK, cool, oh-so cute and considered gamesmanship by many for James to make contact with the shooter . . . and talk junk to him?
That's two civil rights violations, right there.