Referee Steve Javie's whistle was fast, and put him in a bind since Wallace continued to complain up and down the court in the following moments. If he deserved a technical for the first complaint, he definitely earned another for his continued jawing. He is lucky Javie wasn't brave enough to turn the warning into an early exit for one of the league's worst offenders of sportsmanship.

Afterward, Wallace complained that the NBA's crackdown on smack talk wasn't making the game better, but worse by taking some of the emotion out of the game. The player known for his boorish behavior has received four technicals already this year and has been ejected once.

He is right, the league is tired of emotion, of the negative kind.

Wallace isn't the only player feeling the effects of the emphasis. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there have been 122 technical fouls doled out in the first 51 games. Last year, 66 were given out in the first 50 games. The increase has union director Billy Hunter threatening legal action against the league unless officials back off in their eagerness to give out the fouls.

Here is hoping Hunter comes to his senses and the NBA doesn't let off in its effort. The league is working hard to overcome its out-of-control image.

If players such as Wallace are the subject of a few unjust whistles, we shouldn't feel sorry for them. His team's brawl with the Pacers two years ago did more harm to the league's image than any pain a few fines are going to cause him. The halfway amusing side note is that the brawl probably was one of the few times Wallace tried to act as a peacemaker rather than instigator.

The NBA is hopefully headed in the right direction of shedding its thuggish reputation. Picking it up is that other major pro league in season right now, the NFL.

The league has had its share of scuffles, outbursts and spitting incidents in the past, but bad behavior is reaching a new high mark this season.

We've had the stomping on one player's face by Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth, the kneeing to the groin of Seattle's Jerramy Stevens by Oakland's Tyler Brayton and a temper tantrum directed to the refs by Pittsburgh's Joey Porter that drew him a $15,000 fine.

Then there are all the transgressions made by Dallas receiver Terrell Owens, the most recent being the outburst he had after coach Bill Parcells admonished him for celebrating a touchdown by acting like he'd fallen asleep in the end zone.

So far the league has been quick to hand out fines and suspensions, but maybe it's time the NFL mirrors the NBA and sends out an edict to crack down on unsportsmanlike behavior and comes up with even longer suspensions or bigger fines.

Right now there doesn't seem to be much concern that each ripple of trouble is the sign of a coming tsunami. David Stern, for one, could tell the NFL otherwise.

lwodraska@sltrib.com