David Stern is One Tough Jew

I have said before that David Stern is the most powerful man in sports.

No one has control over their league quite like Stern which is why rumors of coaxing the referees to get more marketable match-ups in the Finals and rigging the NBA Lottery to get future stars to desirable destinations have followed him for years. No one ever says these things about Gary Bettman or Bud Selig because no one thinks anyone listens to those jerks if they try to manipulate things.

Jim Rome brought up the rigged lottery issue and was met with a Stern retort of “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?”

Deadspin has the audio clip.

Of course Stern isn’t actually implying Rome beat his wife, he’s just implying that Rome is asking a leading question.
I can’t imagine any other commissioner making his point in such a cutting way. David Stern does not take any shit, especially not from a dipshit like Rome.

Of course, maybe Stern should have taken a page from Bryce Harper and responded with “Clown question, Rome.”