If you thought NBA officials were out of hand with technical fouls at the beginning of this season, you should see the shenanigans going on in the D-League. In the final moments of last night's game between the Colorado 14ers and the Austin Toros, Da Bull — Austin's mascot — received a technical foul for hanging on the rim, giving Colorado, which trailed by four, a last-ditch chance to win the game.

Loren Woods had just dunked a ball with less than five seconds to go to give Austin a 101-97 lead. When Colorado reached the other end of the court, Da Bull was waiting for them, on the rim. Time expired, but the referees gathered and decided to assess the mascot a technical… Things grew more embarrassing for Da Bull when he lost his mascot head as he dropped to the court in a scramble to avoid the oncoming Colorado players.

Did somebody kick the mascot's ass? It's always funny when mascots get beat up.

Toros officials announced a few hours after the game that Da Bull — whom team officials declined to identify — was suspended for two games and assigned to perform 50 hours of community service.

Really? That's the best they could do? They couldn't auction him off for piñata duty or have him fight Tito Ortiz for charity? Just once I wish front office people would think of the fans.

(Thanks to strapping WL reader Glenn for the heads-up.)