NBA's David Stern irked by radio host, asks: "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

National Basketball Association commissioner David Stern, center, speaks to the news media alongside deputy commissioner Adam Silver after a marathon meeting with the Players Association, Nov. 10, 2011, in New York.

/ AP Photo/John Minchillo

(CBS/AP) Jim Rome says he thought he was asking a "softball question" about the NBA draft lottery that led Commissioner David Stern to ask the radio host if he had stopped beating his wife.

Rome asked Stern whether the lottery was fixed. The New Orleans Hornets, recently sold by the league to Saints owner Tom Benson, won the No. 1 pick.

Stern responded that it wasn't, and after some debate over the legitimacy of the question, Stern said: "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

CBSSports.com: Listen to the Rome-Stern interview

Rome said later Wednesday on his TV show on CBS Sports Network that he didn't take great offense, calling Stern's phrase a "rhetorical device" that some fans may not understand but he did. He defended his question, saying he doesn't believe the lottery is fixed but that it was fair to ask.

Here is a partial transcript of the exchange, via CBSSports.com's Matt Moore:

Rome: "...was the fix in for the lottery?"

Stern: "No, and a statement: shame on you for asking."

Rome: "I understand why you would say that to me. I think it's my job to ask because I think people wonder."

Stern: "No, it's ridiculous. But that's OK."

Rome: "I know you think it's ridiculous, but I don't think the question's ridiculous, because I know people who think that. I'm not saying that I do, but I think it's my job to ask you that."

Stern: "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?"

Rome: "I don't know if that's fair.

Stern: "Why is that?"

Rome: "Because I know you read your emails and you probably follow on Twitter, and people really do think it, whether it's fair or not. You don't think it's fair to ask if your fans think it?"

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora and Yahoo! Sports' Kelly Dwyer joined Rome to discuss Stern's comments:

[johnnieonenote]

Never liked Rome, but Stern is in a position of authority and should have never said what he said. Stern should retire or be put out to pasture.

[Raygon64]

I agree that Rome comes at times strong, but as a journalist he simply asked what he knows is of interest to some. As the top man of the ASSOCIATION, Stern was completely out line by making it personal and offending Jim.
This just reinforces how I feel about David stern and the NBA. Laker fans know he is a crook when he killed a fair trade.

[ajjackson1]

I liked David Stern's answer to Romes question. You want to play with the big boys you better put your big boy pants on.

[ajjackson1]

I liked David Stern's answer to Romes question. You want to play with the big boys you better put your big boy pants on.

[hjay5]

Stern will apologize followed by an apology and statement of just doing his job by Rome.

[RealiteBites]

I don't know who either of these two guys are, but I think guy #2 was trying to get guy #1 to see things from his perspective (that the radio guy's questions were leaning, and therefore unfair).

[Godsmack4]

Stern just became the jerk. Are you two clueless?

[Godsmack4]

Wow, I applaud Jim Rome for keeping his cool. No reason for Stern to bring a personal question into it. The draft is not personal to Stern. If I was Rome I would have lost it and said, "I may have stopped beating my wife but I might start beating you"! I'll see you soon. Watch Stern quake in his shoes.

[nomorelibs]

Good for Stern. Rome is a jerk.

[Godsmack4]

Good for Stern? He deserves a punch in the face.