NBA Fines Nets $50,000 For Jay-Z’s Visit With Kentucky

99 Problems and a fine is one of them.

Last week when Kentucky beat North Carolina to advance to the Final Four, New Jersey Nets minority owner Sean Carter (better known and Jay-Z) stopped by their locker room for a congratulatory visit. Well apparently the NBA didn’t take too kindly to his appearance and fined the Nets $50,000 for a violation regarding contact with college athletes. Here are the details from espn.com:

Word circulated around the league Friday that an unnamed team — which sources confirmed to ESPN.com is the Nets — was fined for violating league rules that prohibit contact with players who still have collegiate basketball eligibility remaining.

The NBA’s investigation, first reported by CBSSports.com, was triggered by a video showing Jay-Z visiting with various Kentucky players in their locker room at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., after the Wildcats’ quarterfinal victory over North Carolina.

Jigga should know better. Yes the visit was harmless in nature on the surface, but Jay-Z’s interaction with the Kentucky players  was ill-advised. Current Kentucky head coach John Calipari coached the Nets previously so I’m sure he had a hand in Jay-Z’s appearance so he should probably shoulder some of the blame.

I highly doubt Hov is sweating a $50,000 fine though. He and Beyonce probably run through more than that one an afternoon trip to the Mall. Jay-Z should just send Donald Stern an email with a link to the video for “Money Ain’t a Thang”. Now that would be classic.

And I wouldn’t doubt if Hov’s appearance wasn’t provoked by Michael Jordan having a word with his Alma Mater Tar Heels earlier in the week. Jay-Z is known to be somewhat competitive and calls himself the Jordan of the Rap game. No word on whether Jordan and the Bobcats received a fine. Their poor play is probably punishment enough.

-ALR