[ESPN] JVG Apologizes about remarks but will NOT call Stern

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2005/news/story?id=2055294

Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, who received a six-figure fine Monday for accusing officials of targeting center Yao Ming this postseason, admits he made a mistake but doesn't plan to call commissioner David Stern's office to discuss the issue.

Van Gundy told ESPN's Greg Anthony in an interview Saturday that he hasn't spoken to Stern, and won't unless he has to, since being disciplined. Van Gundy was fined $100,000 -- the largest ever for a coach -- for making the comments Sunday.

"It's up to them if they want to speak with me further," Van Gundy said. "They obviously have a difficult job ... The fine was stiff but I have to accept it."

Van Gundy got himself into trouble by telling three reporters at the team hotel in Dallas on Sunday night that a referee not working the playoffs called him after the Rockets went up 2-0 and warned that Yao was mentioned in an online evaluation from supervisor of officials Ronnie Nunn.

Van Gundy added that because Mavericks owner Mark Cuban "has been hard on" the league and officials, "he's gotten the benefit."

Earlier this week, Stern called Van Gundy's fine "an intermediary step," adding that an investigation will continue once the Rockets finish their playoff run. He said further punishment is possible, even implying that Van Gundy might face a lifetime ban.

Van Gundy, who joked about the fine the night it was issued, told ESPN he should have stopped at expressing his frustration with how the game was called.

"When you make a mistake -- and I think since I had to take a couple of days to review what I said and think about it more -- the only thing you can do is apologize," he said. "First, for using the word bias. I never thought about the implications that the word bias could have on the league.

"That was not my intent. ... I've been frustrated with how the game [had] been officiated. I should have just left it at that. I made a mistake by bringing someone else into it. When you make a mistake -- you can't run from it, you have to accept the discipline."

Stern said the league was furious about what Van Gundy said and about his refusal to divulge the official he claims told him that referees "were looking at Yao harder because of Mark's complaints" to the league office.

Cuban said the Mavs sent the league a list of plays they thought could've been called moving screens on Yao and backup Dikembe Mutombo. He said the league responded that "nine were actually moving screens and should have been called but were not."