"The NBA, in the name of a crackdown on post-whistle whining, is empowering its referees to treat its players with all the tolerance of a Chinese censor. Zebras are slapping dissidents with pre-season technical fouls and accompanying fines for the slightest of sideways glances, shoulder shrugs, dismissive waves, sarcastic smiles.

And for all those purists who are happy about this — and there is little doubt that the moaning and whining had become epidemic — you sometimes have to wonder if the league is targeting the wrong guys. Instead of fining players for complaining too much, wouldn't it be a better world if there were a way to penalize the schleps who care too little?

At least, this was a thought that came to mind on Sunday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre, where Hedo Turkoglu, in his first appearance in Toronto since his July shipment to Phoenix, was feted with the expected crescendo of displeasure from an announced crowd of 12,902. "