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Ref's rights and making the right call.
First, a moment of background in case you missed it: last Wednesday night,
near the end of a game between the Denver Nuggets and the L.A Lakers, with
Denver leading 111-109. The Nuggets barely averted a shot clock violation,
and had secured the rebound off the miss, but referee Michael Henderson
blew his whistle. The whistle was ruled "inadvertent", and a jump ball
called between Shaquille O'Neal and Nene Hilario. Guess who won the
tip. The Lakers made a three point shot with three seconds left and won
the game.
On Thursday, Stu Jackson officially acknowledged the call was blown, though
he pointedly stopped short of admitting that the error was directly
responsible for costing Denver the game. Henderson was suspended for three
games.
Today, other officials--including those working the Celtics/Raptors game on
ESPN--protested by turning their shirts inside-out and stenciling
Henderson's #62 on their backs. NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik issued
a statement that any refs participating "will be subject to appropriate
discipline."
I can understand other refs supporting their guy--but if a player, coach,
manager, or owner made that kind of protest, a fine would be a dead
certainty. I hope they follow through here.
I also don't think the refs are right in their assertion that the penalty
was too severe.
NBA refs have the sweetest deal in sports. If you look sideways at them
during the game, BANG--out you go. God forbid you should have anything
whatsoever negative to say AFTER the game--you can expect to be fined
thousands of dollars for expressing a negative opinion.
In return for this de facto declaration of infallibility, we have every
right to expect them to hold to a higher standard. Frankly, I don't think
Granik went far enough. The game should have--in some manner or
other--been replayed, or the Nuggets declared the winner. I also think the
whole notion of these automatic fines for criticizing refs should be tossed
out. The quality of officiating in the NBA has dropped to the point where
the Official's union has been citing the high turnover in their membership.
Oh, I'm sorry--they're not incompetent, they're just inexperienced.
So why the hissy fit by the league when they keep blowing calls? Take the
steps necessary to remedy the problem, and put a more open system in place
to address problems when they arise.
For some time, many people looked askance at the likes of Mark Cuban and
Tommy Heinsohn. Now they look in bemusement as their complaints are echoed
across the NBA.
Henderson DID cost Denver the game. Deal with it, or come playoff time, it
might happen again.
Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website