The longest suspension ever levied by the NBA league office to a single player was 86 total games—73 regular season and 13 playoff games. The penalty paid by then Indiana Pacers small forward Ron Artest (now known as Metta World Peace) for his involvement in the worst in-arena brawl to occur in basketball history.
That suspension pales in comparison to penalty issued to New York Yankees’ third basemen Alex Rodriguez on Monday.
As Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson noted, it is quite a hefty penalty.
danggggg 200 games??? that’s alot of bank smh #ARod
— Gerald Henderson (@GhJr09) August 5, 2013
Rodriguez has been suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season (including the postseason) as well as all of the 2014 regular season for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy. MLB.com explained the severity of A-Rod’s punishment.
“Rodriguez’s discipline under the Basic Agreement is for attempting to cover-up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner’s investigation.”
A-Rod’s punishment totals a possible 211 games. Considering his salary, that means he would be losing out on nearly $43 million in salary. That truly is a lot of bank.
That is also why he is expected to appeal the suspension.
The appeals process has to be allowed time to complete itself before we will know for certain if and how long Rodriguez will be suspended from baseball. His actions—and the actions of former NL MVP Ryan Braun and the 12 other suspended players—and their subsequent punishment will serve as a warning against the use of PEDs…or, at least, that’s the hope.
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Michael writes the Tweet of the Day for SheridanHoops.com and is an Atlanta Hawks, Southeast Division NBA Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com.
Follow him @MBrumagin