In Regards To The Crooked Referee Story

[RunawaySlave]

Surprisingly, mainstream media has picked up this story (along with the
Michael Vick story) on a full time basis. Not a day goes by without at
least one sotry on every broadcast I've watched. I even saw a piece on
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT dealing with this it.


What I've noticed, is that they are trying their DAMNDEST to make this
guy out to be some sort of "rogue" element among referees. The way they
were talking about him, I thought they were gonna say he was really the
guy in the grassy knoll that conspired with Oswald to assassinate JFK.

Looks like the NBA owners paid some dollars to get some spin off this.
Basically, they hug this guy out to dry. Circle the wagons and protect
the reputations of the other refs.

But we know that there's at least one other ref that's dirty. Thanks to
Cranrab's post last season about Crawford

Just wanted to point that out

 

[cranrab]

before the name tim donaghy was leaked, i guessed that it may have been zach zarba or robbie robinson. i was, of course, incorrect on both counts, and acknowledged my error.

even still, there is a short list of other officials who i wouldn't be very surprised to find out were betting on games. even veteran officials like joe de rosa.

 

[RunawaySlave]

Well, you know how I feel. I think they ALL are involved in this thing
with "organized" crime. Wouldn't be the first union to be controlled by
them.

But I feel like the owners are putting their money to work trying to
put their own spin on this....USING MASS MEDIA to protect their product.
In other words, the media can be bought.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

before the name tim donaghy was leaked, i guessed that it may have been zach zarba or robbie robinson. i was, of course, incorrect on both counts, and acknowledged my error.

even still, there is a short list of other officials who i wouldn't be very surprised to find out were betting on games. even veteran officials like joe de rosa.

Remember when Tim Hardaway used to call that one ref "Knick" Bavetta?

It was explained to me like this. No one wants to see a game with Jordan on the bench, so of course he got the benefit of the calls. Superstar calls are just part of the league. No one cared because at the time their favorite teams got the benefit.

I've noticed that in his quest to make foreign players competitive in the league, foregin players get away with MURDER.

I think that this is one of the reasons that players fot censored and fined. If players told how Stern and his gestapo did business I'm pretty sure it would be ugly.

 

[xfactor]

Good post Sista Luva

I don't think any other officials conspired to cheat or uplift certain teams and I don't believe the games are FIXED.

However, I do think that the officiating needs to be upgraded immediately. A lot of these guys are old, don't have the best vision, and don't have the quickest minds. That explains a lot of the missed calls, calls made from officials out of position, and late calls.

Officials are human but some (like Donaghy and Crawford) let their personal feelings affect how they officiate a team or player for that specific game. Personally, I think guys talk to the officials a little too much during the game but sometimes it's impossible not to because some officials are just flat out awful and have to be told exactly what to look for, when they should be seeing the whole floor anyway.

 

[cranrab]

I feel like the owners are putting their money to work trying to put their own spin on this....USING MASS MEDIA to protect their product. In other words, the media can be bought.

your position is not unreasonable. the media is a whore available to the highest (or most consistent) paying bidder. remember that agents (like rosenhaus and pelinka) use the media to carry out their schemes also.

 

[cranrab]

I think that this is one of the reasons that players fot censored and fined. If players told how Stern and his gestapo did business I'm pretty sure it would be ugly.

i'm not pro (or anti) david stern, but he gets a pass on this particular issue (fining vocally critical personnel). this business of fining players, coaches, and team executives as a means to censor or curb negative comments about officiating was around BEFORE david stern became commissioner. the practice goes back to larry o'brien and walter kennedy before him.

the reason given?

(their words, not mine)

it's like waiters standing outside their restaurant and talking about how bad the food is.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Good post Sista Luva

I don't think any other officials conspired to cheat or uplift certain teams and I don't believe the games are FIXED.

However, I do think that the officiating needs to be upgraded immediately. A lot of these guys are old, don't have the best vision, and don't have the quickest minds. That explains a lot of the missed calls, calls made from officials out of position, and late calls.

Officials are human but some (like Donaghy and Crawford) let their personal feelings affect how they officiate a team or player for that specific game. Personally, I think guys talk to the officials a little too much during the game but sometimes it's impossible not to because some officials are just flat out awful and have to be told exactly what to look for, when they should be seeing the whole floor anyway.

In my opinion, this year is shot to hell. Every call will be scrutinized by fans. Only time will make this go away.

I went on youtube last night and looked up "NBA ref" and a ton of videos from every conspiracy nut pops up..especially from Phoenix Suns fans.