The Spurs Just Rewarded Internet Revenge

A Viral Breakup Probably Shouldn't Cost Someone Their NBA Career

There was a loud Thursday Glass Break from our friend Ryan at Front Office Sports:

Jacob Tobey is out as the Spurs’ lead play-by-play announcer after he was accused on social media of cheating on his girlfriend with the sister of a player on the team, sources told Front Office Sports. Reps for the Spurs and Tobey could not immediately be reached for comment.

Many were shocked that this was a firing offense for Jacob Tobey, including Colin Cowherd. He’s not alone. People I spoke to from other NBA teams didn’t expect the matter to be handled this way. That’s a different conversation, though, from whether the Spurs can fire an employee over this. Based on a broad-strokes understanding of the situation, NBA employee contracts and Texas labor law, this action is probably within the franchise’s rights.

That’s separate from the question of whether it should have happened. Barring some terrible yet-unknown detail, I’d say “no.” Just because someone ran to the Internet and made a relationship our business does not mean it’s actually our business. That should include the Spurs. That should also include, to a degree, Spurs player Lindy Waters, whose sister is filmmaker Loren Waters, the alleged “other woman” in this drama. She’s a grown adult. Jacob Tobey is a grown, unmarried man. There are no kids involved. Given what is out there, nobody has to pretend this is some serious scandal.

So why did the revelation get received as such? The reason irks me, and reflects a modern societal problem that I don’t blame the San Antonio Spurs for, but believe they are helping to further.