David Stern retirement date will be Feb 1, 2014

[Zackmorris]

Say what you want about Stern and his mistakes, but he has been the best commissioner currently in the four major sports. I don't think it's been that close either.

This. I also give him props on bringing the NBA out of the grave

[Sarcastic]

This. I also give him props on bringing the NBA out of the grave

That had more to do with Magic and Bird, than the commissioner with the porno stache.

[DJ Leon Smith]

**** David Stern. F*ck David Stern. F.u.c.k. David Stern and his mom.

[DJ Leon Smith]

That had more to do with Magic and Bird, than the commissioner with the porno stache.

This. Stern had nothing to do with the NBA's growth.

[jbot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ8FpWXL9v0

[Bigsmoke]

[BlueandGold]

Does it really matter when you have the same sheisty/corrupt/whore for ratings person coming in?

[ripthekik]

doesn't really matter that much. in fact, I do think he's done very positive things for this league. For the parts that you guys hate about him, I'm sure the next guy is going to do those things too "for the good of the league". So I don't know why the celebration.

Not like the next guy comes in and gets rid of the strict technicals, allows players to express more emotions all of a sudden

[Noof]

Silver better not get used to those cheers he gets at the draft!

[Celtics 1825]

YESSSSSS DICTATOR STERN IS LEAVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully I stop seeing rigged games now.

[Chapallaz]

It's remarkable that a league which barely features people of Jweish heritage has two Jewish commissioners in succession.

[ItsMillerTime]

Stern had nothing to do with the NBA's growth.

You have to be mentally retarded to think this. nothing?

Lmao

[Timmy D for MVP]

Say what you want about Stern and his mistakes, but he has been the best commissioner currently in the four major sports. I don't think it's been that close either.

Imo the best sports commissioner period. He stuck around too long for sure, but what he accomplished is no mistake, or error of circumstance. He brought the NBA from the brink and built an empire.

But the fact that he picked that date specifically is absolutely hilarious.

Stern will bow out in a manner that I think we can all agree truly reflects the man.

[Derka]

Might have overstayed his tenure some and wielded more dictatorish power than one man ever should have. Hopefully some new blood in NYC will be good for the game.

However...the NBA doesn't exist as it is today without him. Basketball around the world isn't what it is today without him. Can't pay the guy a much higher compliment than that.

[Rake2204]

You know, I'm pleasantly surprised reading through this thread. I was fully expecting 99% of the posts to be outlandish comments and celebrations of how "dictator Stern" would finally be ousted. I mean, I've seen some of those posts, but I'm glad to see so many others recognize that he did a pretty darn solid job.

I've personally always been a fan of David Stern. He's made decisions I didn't like and sometimes I think he flat out made the wrong decisions, but no commissioner who puts in 30 years of work would be perfect or anywhere near it. I think a lot of the tough moves Stern made were logical and correct, even in the eye of sharp criticism. Often, he seemed to make decisions based on reason instead of knee-jerk reactions, feelings, or popularity, so I respected that too.

And, as I mentioned on another board today, on top of everything else, I found his public persona to be likeable and at times kind of hilarious.