I have grown tired, over the past 36 hours, of hearing about how Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw should not have been suspended. Even the local radio host, Mark Howard, who is a former sports anchor for the local news in Nashville is defending that they shouldn't have been suspended. Sorry it isn't sugar coated but it is straight out of my mouth.

GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert Horry received his two game suspension as well he should but Amare and Boris were both guilty as well. No matter the intent or the result of the action, Stoudemire and Diaw left the bench during the altercation and were suspended in accordance with the rule. The argument is that there is gray area, there is no gray area. The rule specifically states that if a player leaves the vicinity of the bench during an altercation on the court, the player would be suspended for a minimum of one game and could face penalties including fines. The rule doesn't say if a player leaves the bench but doesn't do anything, it also doesn't say based on the result of the interaction, it says LEAVE THE BENCH.

There is no argument to defend them on and this is the reason why. There are 16 players on the Suns roster. When the altercation occurred, five were on the court meaning that there were 11 players on the bench. Of those eleven players only two (Stoudemire & Diaw) left the bench area. Those other nine players seemingly knew the rule, why didn't Stoudemire and Diaw?

I am not condoning what Horry did because it was disgraceful and stupid but the same lack of intelligence can be assigned to Stoudemire and Diaw for leaving the bench. I too did not want to see this series tainted with suspensions or injuries but every player in the league knows this rule and regardless what anyone thinks about the rule being stupid or having to deal with it on an isolated basis is insignificant. The players broke the rule and the punishment of that rule has been documented from the inception.

Simple solution, DON'T LEAVE THE BENCH FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN CHECKING IN. (and the bullsh!t excuse Stoudemire gave about checking in was an admission of his knowledge of the rule)