NBA Refereeing

Convicted felon Tim Donaghy may be doing the NBA a favor by focusing attention on the refs. He says that several series were thrown in the past few years by crooked refs conspiring with the league.

While that may or may not be true, what is true is this: rules in the NBA are interpreted from night to night, based on location and player involved. As a result, of course viewers (and players and coaches) are going to think there's a conspiracy.

The real conspiracy, if there is one, is that the league gives refs way too much leeway from game to game and even minute to minute. Or perhaps even tells them to cal the game based on the situation.

Case in point, Game 2 of the Finals. Even during a game in which the Celtics were beneficiaries of crowd-pleasin' refereein',the worst call went against them. In the midst of the fourth quarter Laker rally, the refs ate their whistles while a Laker took five steps from mid-court with nary a dribble on the way to a dunk. Any elementary school player would have expected to hear a whistle on the play. But not in the NBA. Why break up a potentially historic comeback?

Why make the call at that point? Easy. Because it's the right call. And it'll make the next call - no matter how difficult - much more palatable for fans, players and coaches. The real challenge for the league is to have the refs achieve game-to-game consistency without regard for venue, situation, score or player status.

We can use more like him

Ok, I’ll admit I hate David Ortiz. He wears a uniform of the enemy. He was a nobody until he was claimed off the scrap heap from Minnesota and now that he’s in Boston he’s sold his soul to the Green Monster. Now, he’s a real “Godzilla” not to mention bearing a strong resemblance. Batting in front of who may arguably be one of the top five right handed hitter of all-time Manny Ramirez, they form an imposing challenge to anyone who toes the rubber. But remember I hate him.

But I have to take off my Yankee hat and stand and applaud this man. He chose to become an American citizen. He went all Red, White and Blue. He gets it. It’s great to see an athlete with some skill above the neckline. He’s not abandoning his native Dominican heritage; he simply has shown the understanding and appreciation what the United States has allowed him to accomplish both professionally and personally. In the fouled up sportsworld we live with, he’s providing a great sense of leadership. Keep it up and bring a few more in from the cold.

Next time though he digs in at the Stadium though…hard up and in.