FanHouse Jason Caffey

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. TrueHoop: David Stern says McHale would have been suspended for the Rambis clothesline if it happened today.

2. Detroit Bad Boys: Coming around on the Michael Curry hire.

3. The Association: Secret photo of Lakers practicing to defend Paul Pierce.

4. The Sporting Blog: "Yao Ming is tall like rocket ready for take off."

5. D.C. Sports Bog: Caron Butler showing off some dance moves.

6. TMZ: Former Bull Jason Caffey has lots of kids, but not lots of money.

In 2003, Milwaukee Bucks teammates Gary Payton, Sam Cassell and Jason Caffey were charged with beating up a male exotic dancer outside of a Toronto night club. Nearly four years later this past February the case was finally dismissed, despite the fact the fact the presiding judge admitted that he believed Payton started the whole thing. From the National Post:

Mr. Justice William Bassel said he believed that former Milwaukee Bucks player Gary Payton instigated the fight outside For Your Eyes Only strip club on April 11, 2003, after Adrian Cimpean's girlfriend, exotic dancer Vida Asante, spurned his advances.

Mr. Payton, 38, along with teammates Sam Cassell, 36, and Jason Caffey, 33, were each charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm.

But Judge Basel questioned the severity of Mr. Cimpean's injuries and his claim to be an innocent party after he picked up his now wife at the King St. West club, where she worked as a dancer.

Ms. Asante's recollection of that night was also full of contradictions, Judge Bassel said.

"[They] all lead to my having some serious overall concerns about this case," the judge told an Old City Hall courtroom. "I'm left in a state of reasonable doubt as to what happened that night."

TrueHoop had more details of the trial, including some of Sam Cassell's testimony from last July. What's a guy to do when the courts can't help? Turn to the internet, apparently. Cimpean and Asante are determined not to let this incident simply disappear, going so far as to produce the following re-enactment (as well as additional descriptions of the night's events), narrated by a grizzled New York detective, no less. Make of it what you will, but it sounds like if these two had their stories this straight from the get-go the courts would have been a bit more friendly to their plight (Warning: the following includes some NSFW language):

After all but falling off the face of the earth since last appearing in the NBA in 2003, Jason Caffey is suddenly a regular in the news cycle -- though I'm guessing he wishes he could fade back into obscurity.

If you recall, Caffey was the third player (along with Sam Cassell and Gary Payton) cleared of assault charges last week from a 2003 incident outside a Toronto strip club. He dodged that bullet, but he couldn't miss this one from last Friday:

Former NBA veteran and two- time NBA Champion Jason Caffey was ordered arrested and incarcerated today in Fulton County Superior Court [Georgia] for his failure to pay over $77,000.00 in child support and attorney's fees. The Order goes on to say that he shall remain in jail until he pays the full amount and proves that he has medical, dental and life insurance for his child. Randy Kessler, lawyer for the child's mother notes that, "Mr. Caffey just isn't taking this seriously. He doesn't support or communicate with his child. Hopefully, now that he must face real consequences, he will realize the severity of the situation, and will live up to his obligations."

It's not immediately clear if these latest charges were the result of Caffey's brief return to the public eye, but I wouldn't be surprised. According to Basketball-Reference, Caffey, the 20th overall pick by the Bulls in 1995, made roughly $28 million over the course of his playing career, so I doubt he's going to get much sympathy from the judge for his failure to pay a "measly" $77 grand.

(via Ben Maller)