Stern: Pregame theatrics too much

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2008 | by Jon Saraceno; Chris Colston

CLEVELAND -- Increasing use of NBA pregame pyrotechnics and rising decibel levels are an "assault" on the senses and Commissioner David Stern said Tuesday that he plans to seek audio and visual relief for fans.

"I'm going to get into trouble for this: I think they're ridiculous," Stern said before Game 3 of the Boston-Cleveland Eastern Conference semifinal. "I think that the noise, the fire (and) the smoke is the kind of assault that we should seriously consider reviewing whether it's really necessary, given the quality of our game.

"It may be these are the maniacal rantings of a fan from a different era, and I recognize that. But I'm sitting there waiting for the next cannon to go off and then the fire heats up the arena, so the temperature rises by 15...