One Game?

Kobe wanted to appeal his first one-game suspension for swinging at a player who was blocking his jump shot. He should be pleased with his second one. While Kobe tried to convince everyone that he didn't intend to smack Manu Ginobli, he'd look like an idiot if he tried to do it after throwing a backhand at Marko Jaric.

First, what is Kobe thinking? No one likes to get their shot blocked, but you don't take a swing at the defender.

Second, what is the league thinking? The first time, maybe it was an accident, maybe it wasn't. He gets a game for hitting Ginobli. Fine. One game for a second offense? That's ridiculous. The league should have sent Kobe a message this time. Oh wait, they did. Problem is, it was the wrong message. They should have sat him for at least 5 games for this second, absurd, offense. Instead, they gave him a slap on the wrist.

What is the league going to do if Kobe does this again? Is it one game per offense? Is it going to be a Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc.)? They really need to go against the precedent they set, and that's not really something you want to do.