Monta punishment announced (30 games, 3mil)

by belli nellie on Oct 11, 2008 1:49 PM PDT Comment 55 comments

Check it out on realgm.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/54824/20081011/golden_state_suspends_monta_30_games/

Kawakami is going to talk about it too soon.

He is basically being suspended the extent of his injury time. Lets hope he didn't spend all of his rookie contract on pop rocks and skittles.

Seems pretty fair to me, but will there be a backlash? Is this an uber cheap move on Cohan's part?

It does pay for Turiaf this season.

********Kawakami originally said 4mil but then retracted. Maybe it is because the Warriors counted the preseason as part of the 30 games?

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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sweet

a free player!

by Foulacy on Oct 11, 2008 2:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't really think it's a cheap move

Although I do think that it is very steep. He made a mistake… kinda like Kobe did (which cost him a $4 million dollar ring). This is not only going to serve notice to the rest of the Warriors, but to the rest of the players in the league as well. What’s done is done though. He’s still getting $62 mil… so I’m sure he’ll get over not being able to buy a couple more houses/cars. Here’s hoping for a speedy and successful recovery.

by Mr. Monday Night on Oct 11, 2008 2:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BULLSH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 million is extremely excessive. i don’t understand why there isn’t a huge backlash from fans when players are fined on this scale. these are evil, super-wealthy white people taking millions of dollars away from players that come almost entirely from economically and racially disenfranchised backrounds. this isn’t like takin 4 million from some CEO from a wealthy white background who will be making millions for twenty+ years with a nice retirement package. these players are lucky to play for ten years, and they have MANY people counting on that money just to survive. any fine over 10 thousand should be excluded from the collective bargaining agreement. AAARRGHHHH!!!! COHEN=SCROOGE!!!

I'm keen on the professional basketball club The Golden State Warriors. I don't fancy other clubs.

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on Oct 11, 2008 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you insane?

66-4=62. how is that excessive? monta is not the right guy to feel sorry for—-he put his contract at risk when he engaged in this and injured himself. plus, the franchise got rid of the other star guards just to make him the starter, so he should’ve shown some responsibility. if he doesn’t regain his complete quickness (3 years??) he’ll be an easily below average starter in the L and have one of the worst contracts…and i don’t think you understand the money he’s making…no reason to ever defend a stupid kid millionaire; if he’s smart he’ll get some low risk investments in real estate or various things, and his bank will swell to 100 million in time. is that someone to feel sorry for? he undermined the franchise and the fans, and there is so much ignorant vitriol to the franchise for some reason

by steelekord on Oct 11, 2008 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

is that someone to feel sorry for?

Feel sorry for all the millions of kids playing on deadend blacktop courts, Montay caught the golden ring.

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 11, 2008 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

this isn't about sympathy, it's about ETHICS

first of all, 62/66=3.125% of his salary for engaging in MOPED RIDING. secondly, the warriors didn’t “get rid of the other star guards just to make him the starter”. robert rowell refused to allow the deal mullin worked out with davis’ representation to go through because rowell/cohen didn’t want to invest alot of money in an aging player with a history of injury. that, however, is beside the point. the point is that this is not your average 66 million dollar man. this is a 22 year old black man from jackson, mississippi, and taking four million dollars from him is not equivalent to taking four million dollars from the vast majority of people with $66 million. the vast majority of those people are from privileged families with THEIR OWN money, and most of that wealth is tied up in ASSETS rather than SALARY. this is because most people with $66 million rely pretty much entirely on their relationships with other wealthy white people to commit the various felonies which allow them their lifestyle. this man has no such ties. what he surely does have are family, friends, community who could have benefited from his philanthropy.

I'm keen on the professional basketball club The Golden State Warriors. I don't fancy other clubs.

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on Oct 11, 2008 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

what he surely does have are family, friends, community who could have benefited from his philanthropy.

and he also has neighbors and fellow countrymen who would benefit from getting paid a reasonable salary for their jobs instead of seeing the nation worship and pay the money to “superstars”. Montay has become part of the problem, not one of the real victims of our system.
If his breaking the contract reduced his effectiveness by 3% then he has not lost anything he deserves.

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 11, 2008 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait....what?!

Am I reading into your reply too much or are you actually playing the race card? And he got docked APPROXIMATELY THREE million. The problem here is not only that he got injured but he LIED about it. And regardless of how Ellis became our star player, he is our star player and he should have acted responsibly. Hell, when Radmanovic injured himself snowboarding and lied about it he got docked salary also, and don’t tell me he’s a “privileged white person with assets”.

People, he’s being suspended from the games hes going to miss anyways because of injury. That means even the preseason games count. Ellis will be allowed to come back after the Warriors 26th reg-season game on Dec. 17th.

by gunwing54 on Oct 11, 2008 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ellis is actually quite fortunate

If I were to violate my work contract, I would be terminated immediately, no questions asked. Monta should be celebrating the fact that he was only docked 3% of his salary.Are you advocating that just because he plays basketball or because he’s black that he should get some sort of special treatment? Simply absurd.

by dajrichshow on Oct 11, 2008 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Monta got off easy, white, black, who cares, he violated his contract, they could void it completely, ETHICS C'MON

Monta hasn’t even given back to his high school, neither time nor money, I love the kid but he is not a philanthropist with his money, he is a kid who deserves punishment so it doesn’t happen again, and to further set an example for other players. As far as not coming from a priveleged family with their own money, he should be thankful to get what is still coming to him and go out and earn it. He is still getting more than jax, and 95% of the other NBA players. I worked hard for my money and still do,and spent a ton on season tickets, I am not alone, what about what he did to us? 3% is very fair, he should not get paid for games he doesn’t play in, because of his reckless regard in violating his contract, he is a kid and I forgive him, but this is just a slap on the wrist…… nuff said…..

by warriorbum on Oct 12, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're a racist!

Let’s see if I can follow you reasoning: Most people with 66 million dollars are white people, and because anyone who’s rich and white is thus a felon, it’s okay to fine them for breach of contract, but not Monta because he’s black and thus doesn’t benefit from a system that favors white criminals.

Is that about right?

Monta got fined for violating the terms of his contract and then lying about it. And, your head is so far up your ass with your distorted world-view that you’re actually absolving him of his responsibilities. That’s beyond insulting.

Not to mention it’s pretty ignorant to assume that white people with assets rely upon relationships with other white people who commit felonies. Were you educated in prison?

Monta can invest his money and build assets with cavorting with felons, just like any other white, black, latino or asian man with $62 million. he can even set up a trust to benefit any number of people in his community.

YOU SUCK!

by Jeremy Belvins on Oct 12, 2008 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

your analysis, sans head-in-ass ASSertion (guffaw!), is accurate

i do absolve him by virtue of his ethnicity, as well as the economic disenfranchisement that results from it. did he violate his contract? absolutley. however, contracts themselves, within a free market economy, are inherently unethical. they are predicated on the concept that we must earn those things which should belong to all of us, and we will not be allowed a certain quality of life because of our heredity. he, like the rest of us, is essentially a wage slave. does his status afford him preferential treatment (i.e. he would not be “fired immediately” for violating his contract)? yes, however, most people with contractual obligations can’t potentially generate millions of dollars in revenue for their employer.
with regard to my assertions about the business methods of wealthy white people i offer you these fragments: military industrial complex, eugenics, and for a dash of modernity…enron. i just cannot imagine where to begin with such an innocent accusation. you’re like a frightened adolescent dreaming of his first kiss…

I'm keen on the professional basketball club The Golden State Warriors. I don't fancy other clubs.

by The Bimbo Coles Experience on Oct 21, 2008 1:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

tripping!!!

Monta messed up big time, he should be held accountable for his actions, this is not high school these rules are put in place for a reason. If a team pays me 11Mil a year. and has a few obvious restrictions, you betch your a$$ i will stay out of trouble ar riding motorcycles.

by DubsFanFromChi-town on Oct 13, 2008 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man...

I guess I’m a Dubs Fan From Fairfield!

by Tony.psd on Oct 13, 2008 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dubs fan from SF

the stop calling him "beans" movement

by pervisNeverNervous on Oct 13, 2008 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was the original Dubs Fan From

Representin’ yo! Don’t be hating.

I hate Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, and Russel Peters because they make fun of white people like me. They also make fun of other kinds of people, which hurts me deep down because my ancestry is so mixed that I don't know what my official "race" is... so I get offended for all races!

by Dubs fan in Boston on Oct 15, 2008 6:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or "in" or whatever

:-P. Don’t hate, imaginate!

by Dubs fan in Boston on Oct 15, 2008 6:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What would really boost

Monta’s persona as a potential leader of the team is if he cames out on his own and publicly state that he understands and accepts his punishment.

by IQofaWarrior on Oct 11, 2008 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sounds about right to me. And I agree, he would definitely put this all behind him if he just said I made a mistake and I’m taking my punishment, let’s move on.

by barrance on Oct 11, 2008 2:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

On yahoo its being reported at less than 3 million

by q00pster on Oct 11, 2008 2:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wow

fair…but we just shot ourselves in the foot for the season…but what’s new with gs not making playoffs. Why couldnt we just fine him $5 mil? but im assuming its cuz we want him 100% when he’s back…either way…ouch

by war i are. on Oct 11, 2008 3:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

monta can't even start rehabbing until the 3 months are up (December)

so far the time line we see most frequently is around 1 month of rehab. so he’s likely out till January regardless of this “suspension”.

by the evil monkey on Oct 11, 2008 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i read from sports.yahoo...

he can still use the training facilities of the warriors. he is just suspended from play, but everything else is there for him.

by japoyy on Oct 11, 2008 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a monta fan

but the Warriors did the right thing here. Letting him off easy would send the wrong sign, and he should have thought before jumping on the moped. Now that the punishment is dealt, he can get on with his rehab, and get back to the squad.

by bayareaballa on Oct 11, 2008 3:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Harsh?

Considering he may have seriously jeopardized his ability as a basketball player by riding and crashing a fucking moped of all things, a $3M fine doesn’t seem that harsh. The W’s had the right to void the whole contract if they wanted to. What if he comes back and is not his old self ? A loss of speed and explosiveness seems pretty possible if not likely after what all experts say is a devastating ankle injury. He will still be getting $59M of a $62M contract. That doesn’t seem harsh to me at all in that case. Does anyone know if the W’s have the right to any future punishment re: this incident or is it a one shot deal?

by Lifelong on Oct 11, 2008 3:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

isnt

it a 3 million dollar fine not a 4 mill?

by saintdee on Oct 11, 2008 3:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget pre-season

This seems about right. Apparently they counted the remaining pre-season games he’ll miss, meaning he’ll miss the first 26 games of the regular season. This was probably a smart move as well because it will remove any pressure for Monta to return to the court prior to that date (allowing a fuller recovery). It also lets the team know a minimum specified period it will be without Monta so that guys can better know their place in the rotation for at least a few months.

Finally, though it seems that most are already agreeing this seems pretty fair, don’t forget that this isn’t simply about Monta engaging in off-contract activities (and I’m pretty sure many players do even riskier things than riding mopeds :0). In terms of laying down a major penalty for Monta, he is being punished as much for lying about it at first.

I was wondering, does anyone know if this type of suspension means that he will or won’t be with the team at games…etc.? Also, does this have an impact on how many roster positions the Warriors have available in the meantime? Lastly (and perhaps this would be its own worthwhile poll) how are folks planning to treat Monta whenever he appears publicly, now that this has been handed down?

Personally, though I think a formal apology to fans (which I’m yet to hear of yet) would be both classy and a smart thing to do PR wise, in either case I’m ready to let bygones be bygones and welcome Monta back with open arms.

May he learn his lessons well and come back stronger and more determined than ever.

Go Monta!!!!!!! Go Warriors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by ikiru36 on Oct 11, 2008 3:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's about $4 million fine

($11 million divided by 82)x30=$4,024,390

by dajrichshow on Oct 11, 2008 3:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

$3m according to JHu (SFGate.com)

“The cooperation that we received from Jeff Fried (Ellis’ agent) enabled us to be very diligent in collecting all of the facts surrounding the incident,” team president Robert Rowell said in a statement. "This 30-game suspension is a result of that.

“From this point forward, it is the complete focus of everyone involved to provide Monta with all the support he needs to have a successful rehabilitation, and to get him back on the court as an integral part of this team.”

From the sounds of Rowell’s statement, Monta’s people cooperated and all parties are moving forward now. as sarangc and others have pointed out, this is all about Rowell taking charge of the franchise and we can expect more significant changes in team leadership by this time next year.

by hardcore on Oct 11, 2008 4:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d like to see Monta come out and make a statement. Something to close this all up.

by barrance on Oct 11, 2008 4:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

man gotta do what a man gotta do

@ least now i know when Monta will be back…

build a team & destroy the roof and

Sign Tim Hudson now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by nuttinbutnet

by Lat We N Trash on Oct 11, 2008 4:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

wow

Monta dumbass action cost him 4 million dollors. haha

by warriorfan4life on Oct 11, 2008 4:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

why not just a fine?

Can’t they just fine him for the same amount and not suspend him? Suspending him might make it that much harder for him to be a part fo the team once he’s back, and what if he comes back early and can’t play because he’s suspended? I just hope this thing doesn’t have any implications beyond this year.

by ERock386 on Oct 11, 2008 5:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

From CBSsportsline.com

The guard will be allowed to spend time at the Warriors’ training complex for rehabilitation during his suspension, but Golden State president Robert Rowell is taking a risk of possibly alienating the player expected to be the centerpiece of coach Don Nelson’s up-tempo offense after Baron Davis’ defection to the Los Angeles Clippers.

So he is still allowed to practice with the team. They probably chose suspension because it’s the easiest to base the fine on time he should miss. If they just call it a fine, the league probably will fight it more. So they called it a suspension, but he can still practice with them.

When the Warriors opened training camp last month, both Mullin and Nelson seemed to be leaning toward Ellis remaining with the team without punishment. Rowell apparently didn’t agree.

About whether they can fine him later if it is worse. Most likely not. In california once you setlle a case in some way, you close the book even if future problems come up. Only thing they could do, is if he could not play basketball anymore most likely then they have insurance pay the contract, which they have on all players.
Not only did Rowell fine him after Nelson and Mullin wanted to do nothing, I also read they he was fighting to void the contract all together. Be happy that didn’t happen, because then no one would have ever come here. I already worry Rowell will start scarring players off soon.
Mullin will be gone after this season now, most likely Nelson too. Lets hope Jackson resigns at this point because it just going to get harder for players to want to come here with Rowell’s strict stance on things.

by The Golden One on Oct 11, 2008 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the info. What I was more referring to about the future is that I hope Monta doesn’t get pissed and demand a trade or maybe Maggette fits in well with the team until Monta comes back. With Monta missing the entire preseason and training camp (along with another 26 games), who knows what could happen when he comes back? Also, the way I read it, it’s not clear how much contact he will have with teammates. He can rehab at the facility, but I can’t help but wonder how the whole “suspended” title will affect what he is allowed to do with his teammates and how he is viewed when he is there.

by ERock386 on Oct 11, 2008 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rowell, on Mullin & Nelson:

“Chris Mullin made it perfectly clear to both Mr. Cohan and myself that he didn’t think this was a big deal at the beginning. And we happen to think it’s a very big deal. We happen to think that it’s a big deal for our fans, it’s a big deal for our season-ticket-holders, it’s a big deal for our business partners, it’s a big deal for the Warriors’ organization.”

Nelson, Rowell said, “understands this is a contractual issue that needs to be dealt with at our level. He’s hired to coach our basketball team and he’s done a great job of doing that. And he knows that these decisions need to be made by different people.” GKnapp, SFGate.com

Rowell just threw Mullin under the bus dismissing him publicly like that, and Nelson’s role is being minimized as well. Big changes coming.

by hardcore on Oct 12, 2008 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn... thats crazy!

by Tony.psd on Oct 12, 2008 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

with rowell leading the way

as if his sh!t don’t stink…
rowell’s been here 6 years. he’s approved of all contracts issued in those years foyle, dunmurph, etc… this guy’s job should be on the line as well. it seems, though, he’s convinced cheap ass cohan (through nixing the davis deal, excessive ellis fine, tempering the successes of nellie/mully) that he actually knows what he’s doing. all evidence to the contrary.
while, under the immediacy of this moment, the ellis fine i’m ok with, but if you check out rowell’s history here with the W’s, he’s effectively moped’d them nearly every season.

the stop calling him "beans" movement

by pervisNeverNervous on Oct 13, 2008 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

excessive ellis fine?

He’ll still make 8 mil this year with a bum ankle. 8 mil is a lot more than anyone should get paid for playing a game. A real fine would be to make him go out and do the work most of us do for 3 months.

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 13, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish I had 8 million...

I’d buy Buds Burger in Vallejo

by Tony.psd on Oct 13, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

under the immediacy of this moment, the ellis fine i’m ok with

was what i followed it up with, though it is excessive. 3 mil even to spoiled millionaires is a lot of dough.
we can, however, debate whether or not kids who put balls in hoops deserve that much to begin with, though i’d suspect we’d be in complete agreement.
the crux of my argument lies in that rowell a jackass and that taking the tough guy stance, if that was indeed the way he had ALWAYS done, i’d have no problems with. but he hasn’t. he’s done little if anything for this team yet seems to believe he is above any questions put on the organization (why can’t we consistently win?). besides, it isn’t as if all the money they’re taking from monta will end up in any of our pockets. (as fans/ticket holders) it’s going back to cohan, who is the only person rowell cares about. not the dubs or its fans.

the stop calling him "beans" movement

by pervisNeverNervous on Oct 13, 2008 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to be superstitious

but this may have started with his 6-year 66-million dollar deal.

by GoldenBlue on Oct 12, 2008 2:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

They use a 110 game schdule to dock the pay. This is taking tonto consideration playoff games.

His fine is 2.9 million. I think it is the perfect fine. He had to fined and he is being docked pay for the time he will be out. His agent even worked on this and it was agreeable to all involved.

by smearthebeard on Oct 12, 2008 10:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL... (Just like Pimp C!)

by Tony.psd on Oct 12, 2008 2:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Awesome.

by faust10 on Oct 12, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Free Montay

Don’t worry, after he retires he can still be mayor of DC

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 12, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Or Kevin Johnson

…Future Mayor of Sacramento that eats at the Fairfield In-N-Out!

by Tony.psd on Oct 13, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mayors eat food?!?!?

Amazing!

by Dubs fan in Boston on Oct 15, 2008 6:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And they like the Jesus burgers?

by Dubs fan in Boston on Oct 15, 2008 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fairfield In-N-Out!?

Why isn’t he supporting the business’ in oak park?

Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me

by Skeptic con Urquell on Oct 15, 2008 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When it comes down to it, the Warriors are a business. They’re docking an employee for violating his contract. For all the games that Ellis is missing think about all the money the Warriors are losing through loss in revenue from ticket sales, jersey sales, etc.

by wily6 on Oct 12, 2008 3:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if he wasnt fined

we run the risk of him thinking he can get away with other things 2,3,4 years from now. better to keep him in check now to not worry about the future when playoff contentio comes back to oakland

by dancingchiapet on Oct 13, 2008 12:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

imo weak arguement

just b/c he messed up this year says nothing about what monta will do in the future. mistakes are mistakes and they don’t predicate future ones—folks who slip don’t continually fall for their entire life.
we know from our penal system that punishment or threat of punishment seldom deters crime. (insert penal jokes here) this is no different. you think that monta knew that he’d be punished, as does every pro athlete, if he was injured doing something out of contract? of course. did that stop him? no. live and learn is the lesson monta must absorb. and common sense. and stay away from mopeds.

the stop calling him "beans" movement

by pervisNeverNervous on Oct 15, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs