Wanted- A few good ref's

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

This is almost a week old but makes some interesting points:

D'Alessandro: 
Same referees should work an entire series 


Sunday, May 25, 2003



BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO 
Star-Ledger Staff 

Everybody hates the referees this month, which is basically a rite of spring, 
but we think we have arrived at a solution to everybody's crabbiness: The NBA 
should fire 75 percent of them every year during the first week of May. 

Wait, that didn't come out right. Let's say that 75 percent of them should be 
decommissioned, just as the conference semifinals are about to start. 

After watching a good referee, Bennett Salvatore, butcher two games in three 
days (Game 6 at Philly, Game 1 at San Antonio), it seemed clear that something 
was wrong -- this is a smart, veteran ref, and he had no feel for the 
players, the pace, or even the personalities. And even though Danny Crawford and Bob 
Delaney gave the Western Conference finals back to the players Friday night, 
the discontent with the officiating this postseason has a major issue since 
Lakers-Wolves. 

The only way to change that is with familiarity and consistency. Submitted 
for your approval: The league should consider selecting the 12 best refs, 
splitting them in four groups, and assigning each group to a conference semifinal. 
The best six would work every game of the conference finals. And the best trio 
works the big show. 

"Years ago, in the 70s, they let the same refs work an entire series," says 
one coach, probably referring to the Richie Powers-Mendy Rudolph duo. "It makes 
sense. The good part is, all the players would know how each game is going to 
be officiated. I know the league would say, 'You have to give other guys a 
chance, we have more than a few good ones.' But you know what? We really don't. 

"And I know the league would also say, 'What if there's a conflict between a 
ref and player? It can escalate.' Well, then just substitute one of the three 
guys. Their embarrassment is a small price to pay for consistent officiating." 


The last time operations boss Stu Jackson spoke publicly was early April, and 
while this specific issue wasn't discussed, he did seem a little preoccupied 
with avoiding hurt feelings. 

"Everybody needs to be treated fairly," he said. "Certainly in the first round
 when you have so many games, referees are going to work multiple series. 
Other referees are going to work back-to-back in the same series, or at home 
back-to-back in the same series, so they're all treated the same and treated 
fairly." 

But we're still wondering why the league feels a need to keep, say, Eddie F. 
Rush in the mix during this postseason. Did anyone notice Rush at Nets-Detroit 
Game 3? Nobody did: Ken Mauer blew his whistle about 20 times in the first 
half; Rush made exactly one call. 

Another coach told us, "Did you know that the referees get a halftime stat 
sheet every game in their locker room? In fact, they demand one. Tell me, why do 
officials need a stat sheet? They have the game tape in their locker room to 
review calls. They have an observer on hand. What possible need for stats do 
they have? 

"As a coach, you don't want them looking at the total fouls of one team 
against the other or how many fouls certain players have. They are supposed to be 
neutral, and the game is supposed to just play out -- not be manipulated at 
halftime. That bugs the hell out of me." 

We've said this before: These are the best officials in the world, period. 
But there has been a large turnover in the last five years, and the players and 
refs need to be reacquainted if they are to interact with trust and 
familiarity. One encounter every two weeks doesn't do that. 



SUBTLE 

Two blocks down the street from his public-housing complex in Akron, LeBron 
James saw a billboard last week that screamed, "Do you want to be the next 
superstar?" He drove his Hummer a few more blocks and saw another that read, "Will 
you use fame to change the world?" There were a few others throughout the 
city, with messages such as, "Will you improve the life of one person, one 
family, or an entire community?" 

Turns out those ads were taken out by Adidas, which was in its gloves-off 
recruitment fight with Nike and Reebok for the spokes-teen's services at the 
time. There were 69 signs in all, and 40 more on the sides of buses. LBJ signed 
with Nike for $90 million instead. Let's hope that doesn't in any way reflect 
the kid's attitude toward these personal issues. Let's also hope that Adidas can 
find a more productive way to waste millions of dollars than a futile bribe 
that littered an entire city. 

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