Wednesday’s Morning Mashup: Heat fan sues Spurs for resting top players

Welcome to Wednesday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

WEDNESDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NBA: Hornets at Celtics, 8 p.m. (CSNNE; WEEI-FM)
NBA: Rockets at Mavericks, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
NBA: Heat at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
College basketball: Miami at Boston College, 7 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-AM)
College basketball: NC State at Maryland, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Michigan State at Penn State, 7 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Pittsburgh at Villanova, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: Xavier at St. Bonaventure, 8 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: West Virginia at Iowa State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
College basketball: Purdue at Nebraska, 9 p.m. (Big Ten Network)
College basketball: Kansas State at TCU, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
College basketball: UNLV at San Diego State, 10 p.m. (CBSSN)
College basketball: Saint Mary’s at BYU, 11 p.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's decision to rest four key players for a November game against the Heat did not sit well with the league or fans. (AP)

♦ A lawyer from Miami is suing the Spurs for sending four top players home prior to a game against the Heat on Nov. 29, which he claims violates the state’s deceptive and fair trade practices law. Larry McGuinness filed a class-action suit in Miami-Dade County claiming Spurs coach Gregg Popovich “intentionally and surreptitiously” sent home Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green to give them some rest, causing McGuinness and other fans to suffer “economic damages” because they paid a premium price for tickets.

“It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak,” said McGuinness, who bought his ticket on the resale market. “That’s exactly what happened here.”

NBA commissioner David Stern apologized to fans after the game (a 105-100 Miami win), calling it “unacceptable,” and fined the Spurs $250,000.

Popovich acknowledged he was not doing right by fans when he said at the time: “If I was taking my 6-year-old son and daughter to the game, I would want them to see everybody. And if they weren’t there, I’d be disappointed.”

However, Popovich later made it clear he believes he did what’s best for his team: “I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again, I’m sure,” he said.

♦ The Knicks are in London for a game against the Pistons on Thursday, but the talk Tuesday was about owner James Dolan‘s decision to have audio technicians at both ends of the Madison Square Garden court over the weekend to tape all of Carmelo Anthony‘s on-court conversations. Reportedly, Dolan was trying to protect Anthony following the controversy over Kevin Garnett‘s alleged insult about Anthony’s wife during a recent game that led to the Knicks forward getting a one-game suspension for trying to confront Garnett after the game.

“I don’t care about the microphones,” Anthony said upon his arrival in London. “I wasn’t aware of it. I found out on the plane.”

Added Anthony: “I don’t think the mikes are going to stop what goes on out on the court. But it was funny when I heard it. No, I wasn’t upset. Not at all.”

♦ The former media director for the Syracuse athletic department pleaded not guilty Tuesday to four counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance for secretly videotaping male athletes in the locker room shower. Roger Springfield, whose real name is Roger Cahak, was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return next Tuesday.

Springfield was charged with videotaping football, lacrosse and soccer players four times, dating back to 2010. A total of 14 videos were found along with still images, but the charges were limited to the most recent four videos as the others fell outside the statute of limitations.

Springfield, a 57-year-old married father of three, was fired in the fall after a Syracuse athletics department employee discovered one of the videos.

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA: On Jan. 16, 1974, which Bruin became the eighth player in NHL history to record 450 goals when he scored in a 5-5 tie with the Blackhawks in Chicago?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I don’t think they love baseball. I think they like baseball. It’s revenue, and I know that’s their right and their interest because they’re owners. … it’s still more of a toy or hobby for them. It’s not their blood. They’re going to come in and out of baseball. It’s different for me. Baseball is my life.” – Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, on the Red Sox owners, in a forthcoming book

STAT OF THE DAY: 18 – Points 28-year-old Heat star LeBron James needs in Wednesday’s game vs. the Warriors to become the youngest NBA player (by more than a year) ever to record 20,000 career points

‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): The team at Bad Lip Reading takes on the NFL, and Tom Brady is featured prominently.

Baltimore’s Marriott Waterfront in Harbor East has a Ray Lewis light show on the side of the hotel.

At a high school basketball game in California, Crespi High’s Carter Gallo weaves his way through the defense and hits a half court shot at the buzzer to beat Loyola, 82-80.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Johnny Bucyk

SOOTHING SOUNDS: Barbara Lynn was born on this day in 1942.

4 Comments for “Wednesday’s Morning Mashup: Heat fan sues Spurs for resting top players”

1. spcenter Says:
   January 16th, 2013 at 8:27 am

   So if he is a top lawyer, does that mean he can be sued for taking a day off?

2. kozlodoev Says:
   January 16th, 2013 at 10:31 am

   “It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak,” said McGuinness, who bought his ticket on the resale market. “That’s exactly what happened here.”

   No, it’s not. What an idiot.

3. TT Says:
   January 16th, 2013 at 12:59 pm

   So, what exactly do lawyers do except cause trouble.

   When you buy a ticket does it guarantee players will be there?

   So, now if the porterhouse does not taste good can you sue?

   Funny how you can’t sue a lawyer for being an idiot or what kind of job they do.

4. hlbouley Says:
   January 16th, 2013 at 1:35 pm

   Hopefully the judge can spell FRIVOLOUS LOL

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