Trans. Jun 5 2:50 ET (Jun 5 2:50 ET ) While playing for under $700,000, Stephen Jackson helped the Spurs win the 2003 title. A free agent that offseason, Jackson wanted to be rewarded for his efforts, and San Antonio offered a three-year, $10 million contract. Jackson hesitated, and the Spurs yanked the offer, leaving Jackson with no better option than a one-year, $1 million…
I always feel a little dumb this time of year, because as someone who likes sports, I know I'm supposed to care (at least somewhat) about the annual running of the Kentucky Derby, because of tradition and mint juleps and fashion and the elusive Triple Crown and The Sport of Kings, and yet I pretty much never do. This year, though, I've got a slightly more vested interest, because there is a horse in the race that is named Palace Malice, which (as you probably know) has an NBA connection.
Sure, it's an awful NBA connection , relating as it does to the 2004 brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers that spilled into the stands, set the Pacers organization back for several years and indelibly marked Ron Artest/Metta World Peace and Stephen Jackson as Bad Dudes in the eyes of many NBA fans, but still: it's an NBA connection all the same, and is therefore something I'm interested in. Go, Palace Malice. Run like a fast horse.
It is, of course, worth clarifying that Palace Malice was not named for the infamous brawl, a question the horse addressed on "his" Twitter account:
@ simmonsclass My name andnickname for the brawl come from3 stooges short called Malice in the Palace. My mother is named Palace Rumor.
— Palace Malice (@PalaceMalice) May 3, 2013
("... a question the horse addressed on 'his' Twitter account." I love my job.)
SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker's return to the San Antonio Spurs' lineup offset the loss of Stephen Jackson, who was waived Friday. Parker scored 20 points and had 10 assists to lead the Spurs over the Sacramento Kings 108-101 Friday night at the AT&T Center.
NBA DRAFT LOTTERY SIM
MADNESS!
