Archive for May, 2009

After I made the earlier post outlining how the integrity of the NBA was at question due to poor and somewhat questionable officiating, I came across a conversation between Bill Simmons aka The Sports Guy and Malcolm Gladwell.

Please tell me you’re following the current officiating debacle. The two most-watched regular-season games (both Celtics-Lakers games) were ruined by officials. Game 7 of a classic Boston-Chicago series was ruined by officials. The Mavs’ season was ruined by officials. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to flagrant fouls and how they are called, just that the ongoing indecision has compromised the quality of the games. Bill Kennedy had such a heated incident with Doc Rivers in March that both were fined; somehow, Kennedy worked two Boston playoff games (both must-wins on the road). Dallas went 1-14 in its past 15 playoffs games that Danny Crawford officiated; somehow he worked one of their 2009 playoff games (inevitably, a loss for Dallas). Joey Crawford got suspended two years ago for baiting Tim Duncan, then blew last season’s season-ending Spurs call … and somehow, he worked a must-win San Antonio playoff game in 2009. And the number of competent refs is so bad that Violet Palmer worked a Round 2 game last week. For a league that vowed to clean things up post-Donaghy, why haven’t we seen any real results yet?

And how can you explain a system that relies on officials in their 50s and 60s — well past their physical peak, with undeniable deterioration (however slight) in motor reactions and eyesight — to successfully perform in a profession that hinges solely on motor reactions and eyesight? Shouldn’t this job be performed by people in their 20s, 30s and 40s? You’re telling me Dick Bavetta (69), Bennett Salvatore (59) or Joey Crawford (57) can run around for 150 minutes, then remain at peak physical capacity to make a game-changing call on a split-second reaction? My father is two years older than Salvatore and we won’t let him push a baby stroller for three blocks. I don’t get it. How would you revamp this moronic system? A little birdie told me the NBA’s crew chiefs (the lead official for each game) consist of referees who were hired at least 10 years ago. In other words, the league hasn’t hired an official competent enough to run a game in more than a decade. How is this possible?

Growing up, I was huge a fan of the NBA. Year after year, my team was fighting in the playoffs for the chance to win the title of World Champions. However over time, my interest waned and I became more apathetic towards the league. Once I got to college and had the chance to witness the same sport, but played by unselfish kids who wanting nothing more than to excel and win as a team, my love of the NBA was officially dead.

I remember a playoff game between the Knicks and Heat, where the Knicks were down thirty points going into halftime. My friend, with whom I was watching the game, wanted to turn the debacle off. Instead, I was able to convince him to continue watching the game by uttering the popular sentiment, “The game is on NBC… the refs will make it close with two minutes left.” The Knicks went on to win the game.
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