ESPN.com · Jan 2, 2020
NBA commissioner David Stern towered over the league he built
David Stern gathered about eight attorneys in the NBA's offices high above Fifth Avenue in New York. This was in the 1990s, and by then even the most distinguished men and women in the league's employ knew the commissioner was capable of making them feel small when he was in the mood.
Stern was in the mood on this particular day because something had gone wrong. Though he could be a compassionate and generous ruler, Stern often embraced a zero-tolerance policy for subordinates who allowed things to go wrong.
"We've got 26 lawyers," he shouted, "and I've got to do everything. You guys can't do s---. I've got to write everything for you. I've got to do it all!"