ESPN.com news services TORONTO -- Toronto Raptors coach Butch Carter responded Monday to criticism over his lawsuit against Marcus Camby of the New York Knicks by comparing it to last month's furor over coaches wearing microphones. Before Sunday's game against the Knicks, a league official handed Carter a memo written by NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik that read: "The idea of a coach suing a player over his public comments seems unprecedented and inappropriate." "The league is the league," Carter said after Monday's practice. "I'm not good at managing the league. I'm just good at trying to run a basketball team. "They said it was inappropriate when I didn't wear a mike." The NBA fined the Raptors $100,000 after Carter refused to obey a league mandate that ordered coaches to wear microphones during selected national broadcasts. The fine was later rescinded following an outcry from coaches. "I respect the fact they got to run a league, but history has shown they don't understand everything it takes to be in a locker room and coach a team," Carter said. Carter filed a $5 million defamation suit against Camby on Friday after the Knicks forward called him a liar and said the Raptors players don't like him. Carter said he expects more razzing from Knicks fans on Wednesday in Game 2. "I think the atmosphere of the Garden will be worse because all the stock brokers will be back from Easter vacation," he said. The Knicks won the opener 92-88. |
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. |
| |
