Warriors publicly rub it in, adding insult to Ellis' injury

In the one scenario, he isn't paid for the games he doesn't play, but the meaningless word "suspension" isn't used and he isn't made to feel like more of a dope than he already feels. In the other, he gets suspended from games he can't play anyway, and weirdly, he might be paid for games he doesn't play, if his injury extends beyond the Dec. 17 date.

Now, what part of this gratuitous display makes sense to you? I mean, he's going to be embarrassed anyway, because that's what your faithful media/blogosphere gaggle is here for -- to point out the errors of others and have fun at the expense of the perpetrators. He gets to be Moped Lad, which is hardly good for the public image. There, he's an example to the kids.

Plus, and we can't say this often enough, he loses the money. He loses the money.

It's just that the extra effort the Warriors put into his punishment -- the needless wait to administer justice they could have meted out weeks early, and the public posturing designed only to embarrass a player they're going to need for years to come -- will turn out to be more damaging than the recouped cash will be gratifying. It's short-term thinking, by a franchise famous for it.

But as little value as they actually get out of it, they still enjoyed their afternoon in the sun. I'm sure they think it's worth it.

Ray Ratto is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle.