New CBW Editorial

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle]

There's a new editorial on the CBW, and I'd appreciate it if people 
went there to se all the neat stuff I'm catching up on.  But for 
those who just can't stand the suspense,  here's the text:

Oh, by the way...this doesn't apply to Tommy Heinsohn, or me.  We're 
obligated to complain loudly.  Really.

Foul Play?
There's a report from the Associated Press that the NBA Player's 
Union has had enough of the so-called "zero tolerance" crackdown on 
demonstrative behavior by players and/or coaches following a foul 
call by assessing technical fouls.

This directive was made in response to the out of control behavior of 
some players and coaches in recent seasons. There was an increase in 
situations where players or coaches were berating the refs, and 
tempers flared on several occasions.

But the new policy stopped short of being considered a rule change, 
described instead as a more aggressive enforcement of existing rules.

In looking at the official NBA rules, under "Officials and Their 
Duties", it reads under Rule 12-Fouls and Penalties: Section 
V-Conduct: "An official may assess a technical foul, without prior 
warning, at any time.  A Technical foul(s) may be assessed to any 
player on the court or anyone seated on the bench for conduct which, 
in the opinion of the official, is is detrimental to the game...A 
maximum of two technicals for unsportsmanlike acts may be assessed 
any player, coach, or trainer.   Any of these offenders may be 
ejected for for committing only one unsportsmanlike act, and they 
must be ejected for committing two...A technical foul shall be 
assessed for unsportsmanlike acts such as: (1) Disrespectfully 
addressing an official (2) Physically contacting an official (3) 
Overt actions indicating resentment to a call  (4) Use of 
profanity...Cursing or blaspheming an official shall not be 
considered the only cause for for imposing technical fouls.  Running 
tirades, continuous criticism or griping may be sufficient cause to 
assess a technical.  Excessive misconduct shall result in expulsion 
from the game.

A look at Section III-Elastic Power, states: "The officials shall 
have the power to make decisions on any point not specifically 
covered in the rules."

This means that according to the rules, the officials are well within 
their rights to assess a technical for the behavior described.  Over 
the last 15-20 years, the officials, for the most part, became much 
more tolerant of the occasional passionate outburst.  But some 
players, including Celtics players ranging from Danny Ainge to 
Antoine Walker, raised bitching to an art form.  We saw people 
literally whining and yelling at officials, following them around 
even after play resumed in some cases.  Things got totally out of 
control when Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was getting on the 
court and yelling at officials during a playoff game.

The zero tolerance was made with the best of intentions, designed to 
reinforce that there was recourse against the worst offenders.  The 
problem was if you only called certain people, someone would be bound 
to complain about preferential treatment, so they went after everybody.

Last season, there were 66 technical fouls assessed through the first 
50 NBA games.  So far, one week into the new season, there's been 122 
called in the first 51 games.  I'll be the first to admit there's a 
few people who abuse the officials and deserve a technical, but this 
is silly.  I almost think the refs are venting a bit after all the 
abuse of past seasons.

Too bad.  It's their own fault.  Had they simply taken a firmer stand 
years ago, the antics tolerated until so recently would never have 
been tolerated to begin with.

Now, Union leader Billy Hunter is discussing possible legal action 
for unfair labor practices.  Keep in mind, the tech fouls come with 
fines.  Players are fined $1,000 for each of their first five 
technicals, an amount that increases by $500 for each five after 
that, capped by a $2,500 penalty for each one starting with the 
16th.  A one-game suspension also comes at that point and for every 
other technical thereafter.  At that rate, Ron Artest and Rasheed 
Wallace may surpass Mark Cuban for the amount of fines levied by the League.

Basically, the players want things to ease up a bit, and they have a 
point.  The message has been received.  Now, let the officials 
exercise the discretion they have and let the guys vent 
reasonably.  If someone overdoes it, hit him with a "T".  But an 
emotional reaction to the moment doesn't merit that kind of 
reaction.  Nobody wants to go to war over this, they just want some 
reasonable tolerance.

But the players--and coaches and owners--also need to be 
reasonable.  The officials have to make the calls and once it's done, 
it's done. Let's move the game on.  You're getting paid to play the 
game, not complain about it.  It's one thing to comment "you called 
this on my guy but not on the other guy."  but after that, let it 
go.  Some of the histrionics--sadly including some Celtics 
players--are totally out of proportion to what's going on.  I've 
always said that the best way to deal with a bad call is to score 
enough points that it doesn't matter in the end.  Don't let the game 
depend on the officials.

We've had a preseason and a week of regular season gone by now.  It's 
time to relax a bit and play the game.

And that's the view from the doghouse.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website