Phil Mushnick NBA’s strip club night debacle exposes sports commissioners’ PR hustles By Phil Mushnick Published March 12, 2026, 8:14 p.m. ET BA Commissioner Adam Silver speaking to the media. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post After rigorous examination and long reflection I’ve concluded that our major sports are in immediate need of commissioners in the great tradition of Spanky, president of the 1930s He-Man Women-Hater’s Club who was forced to resign in the sensational Darla Hood Scandal.
Until Spanky lost the courage of his convictions when the lovely and enticing Ms. Hood moved into the Club’s neighborhood, he ran a tight ship, leading with firmness, decisive actions and riveting polemics.
And given that Spanky’s reign was during The Great Depression – his supporters were broke and jobless – he could never be accused of being on the take.
This week, given weeks to act, NBA boss Adam Silver came to his narrowing good senses to pull the plug on an Atlanta Hawks “cultural” NBA game come-on tethered to an Atlanta strip club.
