BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

That's really the only suitable critique of Jerry Stackhouse's suspension for Game 5 of the NBA finals. Well, that or Shaquille O'Neal's:

"My daughters tackle me harder when I come home," O'Neal said. "I'm one of the last players of the old school, and you know, you just have to take a hard foul like that and keep on moving. It actually felt pretty good to get hit like that. Thank you, Jerry. Appreciate it."

That pretty much screams, "The league blew it."

Come on; it's the NBA Finals for chrissake--and a 2-2 series, no less. There had best be an injury or at least some drawn blood on a play to merit a suspension. Dallas and Stackhouse had already received their penalty--two Miami free throws and Miami possession. Since when does a flagrant foul mean two free throws, ball on the side, fine, and league suspension?

Flagrant fouls exist for a simple reason: penalize momentary violent impulses during game play. That was accomplished. Now had Stackhouse's violent impulse been particualarly vicious (e.g. clothesline, spear, chokeslam) or seemingly premeditated (switchblade in sock, snipers at the ready), then maybe further punishment would be necessary.

But this foul was nothing but an ordinary flagrant.