In response to Miami Dolphins situation, NBA sends memo to teams about bullying
By Jack Crosby
The recent bullying situation involving two members of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito, has certainly grabbed itself some national media attention. The whole thing has virtually taken on a life of its own as the ripple effects are shown every day where a new development comes out.
What it has also done is sent a message throughout all major sports that there are certain activities in locker rooms that need to stop.
Well, the NBA got that message loud and clear, and they want to make sure that all of the teams in their league do as well.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, all 30 NBA franchises received a memo Friday morning reminding them that no forms of bullying or hazing will be tolerated whatsoever.
He also said that the memo itself specifically referenced the situation involving the Dolphins, as if the NBA teams receiving the piece of paper this morning didn’t get that hint.
From that report, here are a list of things that the NBA pointed out as being intolerable:
"The lengthy list of potential violations, sources said, includes: any physical abuse or threats of violence; verbal abuse focused on an individual’s race, nationality, color, gender, age, religion, sexuality, etc.; destruction, defacement or theft of a fellow player’s personal property; engaging in any activity that intimidates or threatens fellow players with ostracism or inflicts extreme mental stress, embarrassment, humiliation or shame; and forcing an individual to engage in any activity or perform any task that violates federal, state or local law or NBA rules and regulations."
It also went on to say that making players unreasonably pay for dinners and other expenses won’t be allowed as well.
This was a good move by the NBA to make sure that their bases are covered and that message is clear. No one wants to see anything like what the Dolphins are going through happen ever again.