Jim Rome and David Stern Offend Each Other; NBA Commissioner Asks "Have you Stopped Beating Your Wife?"

Radio host Jim Rome had an uncomfortable session with NBA commissioner David Stern today when their conversation turned ugly. Rome asked Stern whether the NBA draft lottery was fixed after the New Orleans Hornets won the draft, saying "Was the fix in for the lottery?"

To that, Stern, who was clearly offended, replied: "I have two answers for that - No; and a statement - shame on you for asking."

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Rome explained why he asked the question, because some people may wonder. Then stern asked Rome, "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

After a long pause, the talk show host answered:"Yeah, I don't know that that's fair."

Of course Stern wasn't accusing Rome of being a wife-beater. But it appears that Stern was using a loaded question to make his point.

After some more talk, Rome said he hoped the NBA commissioner didn't hold the lottery question against him. Stern replied: "I wouldn't hold it against you. You and I have been in more contentious talks than that. But it's good copy. You do these things for cheap thrills."

The radio show host was offended, saying: "I did not do that for a cheap thrill. That's not what that was."

Stern continued:  "Well, it sounded like it..Cheap trick..You've been successful in making a career of it, and I keep coming on."

"Making a career of what, though? Cheap thrills?" Rome asked.

Stern then asked if he was offended and whether he would hang up on him. Rome said he was out of time, to which Stern said: "OK ... Listen I gotta go call somebody important, like Stephen A. Smith, now. He's next."

Lastly, Rome said: "Alright, you go make that call and, I'll go talk to somebody else too I guess ."