Speaking as an NBA-ignorant person who watches maybe five games a year, even if Donaghy can give credible evidence of collusion (and consider the source), that's a separate problem than bad calls made due to either a)incompetence or b)a ref's conscious or unconscious bias. Obviously you'd want to root out any collusion, but if the ultimate goal is better officiating, you have to deal with all three problems separately.
As a fan, frustrated yet seeking real justice, I would like to propose a three-step solution to the matter regarding Tim Donaghy's claims. Step one. Take the Sacramento vs. Los Angeles Game Six of 2002 video-tape and have the three refs of the game sit down at a table, in an open (C-Span style) press conference. Each referee will have a monitor in front of them replaying the game- while on the sides of the room large monitors will play the same video for the press. Step two. Everyone watches while the refs give their shpeel, defending every call or non-call throughout the game. *Important - The press can not interfere or ask questions until after the game. Step three - Open it up to press discussion - while a moderator controls the video to aid review of any area in question. In other words, if David Stern wants to stand by the outrageous officiating of game 6 in 2002, then let him stand by it, and send his boys in there to do the same. I do not agree with Marcos Brenton's (SACBEE 6/12/08) assertion that complaining should be immediately recognized as "whining," and I do not fear the labels of conspiracy theorist or whiner. Because it is not the whiner who is propelled to positive action, and who demands justice. It is precisely the whiner who does nothing, demands nothing and is as easily forgotten as he/she is dismissed. NBA fans who truly love this game, should therefore demand justice and restitution in this regard. As fans, while our very love and loyalty wavers, should we expect no less? The NBA should be thankful to have such fans! And finally, to make my point. Let us look to last year's Superbowl in the NFL. Nationwide sports fans witnessed the triumph of an underdog, and more importantly saw fruition in a team who knew how to dream and believe. When this championship occurred, while many in Boston were dismayed, many more nationwide were enlivened and engaged. It was (to coin an oxymoron) a very real, magical event. This is what is at stake, to know that a similar dream in Sacramento, was tarnished by the greed and self-motivated interests of a higher authority is simply unsportsmanlike and unAmerican! We as sports fans, as dreamers and believers, should demand no less. Let's get it done. Sincerely, Justin P. Nash
Time to apply the ET test. This is where you explain something to an extraterrestrial and try to illustrate why it's important. Me: "Well, this is a game where people throw a bag of air through a hoop. The men in the striped shirts have to make sure the rules are followed. They sometimes aren't very good at it and we want to know why." ET: "Is this game part of a religious ceremony?" Me: "No" ET: "Do you kill and eat the losers?" Me: "No" ET: "Do governments fall or is anyone forced into slavery as a result of the outcome of the game?" Me: "No" ET: "So it's just a bunch of people throwing a bag of air through a hoop and you're worried that someone might not be making them follow the rules for throwing a bag of air through a hoop?" Me: "Some people get really upset about it." ET: "Please leave this planet. We need the space for useful things."
Did you know that this is a website where people discuss current events in the world of sports?
So you think a current event couldn't possibly be that people are taking entertainment way too seriously?
joaquim, I'm a little confused by your post. How do you think the dialog should go on this particular thread? I sort of look at this myself as the possibility that there could be cheating at the officiating level in the NBA. Not exactly small taters. I don't think anyone has commented irrationally or has acted like there is a bee in their dress. And why in the name of God are aliens talking to you?
'Hue Hollins, who retired in 2003 . . . said [FBI] agents inquired extensively about Bavetta. They asked if he ever noticed that Bavetta "was making sure that the home team would win, and I told them I had no idea because I didn't work with him a lot."'
I remember my father a professional gambler winning sports bets while justifying his betting selections by saying stuff like the league wants a seventh game or too much money at stake for this or that to happen, or its not good for business for certain team to win by too many points. He use to say there was too much money at stake gambling to trust that it wouldn't influence if not to total outcome, at least the margins of victory. Well I used to think he was just doing the conspiracy theory thing a lot regardless of how many times he was right. Now I wish my father were still alive to see that he has been proven right and yes in horse racing, boxing, basketball, football and baseball his theories about cheating, and money being the real motivation for most of what happens were correct.
THX, my point is that it IS exactly small taters. It's entertainment. I can choose to watch or not. No matter who wins this series, I'll still have my job and I'll still be worried about why my dog's limping. Where did I accuse anyone of commenting irrationally? You and bender seem to be perplexed that I'm not sufficiently concerned about this matter and want my comments to follow a certain style in order to match a preconceived formula for thread dialog. Others posted their suggestions (turn the channel, give up the NBA entirely, convene an inquisition) for resolving the issue; I suggested that maybe we not take it so seriously. If my suggestion upsets you, I don't have any problem with the admins deleting my comments. Your call.
joaquim, while the current betting issues in the NBA might not rise to the importance of the state of the economy, or the war in Iraq, keep in kind that sports are a very important part of life throughout the world. Beyond the pure entertainment value, sports comprise a significant financial empire. Cheating in professional sports goes beyond worrying about the ethics/behavior of a Hollywood starlet. Lindsey Lohan getting drunk causes a stir for a day, then we can all move on. A ref getting caught fixing games IS a big deal, as it changes the outcome of what was supposed to be a fair contest. Betting, future games, etc. are all influenced. That's the difference between entertainment and sports. As to your limping dog, are you still beating it?
Since you asked, dviking, when I got home tonight I learned that they had to put the dog to sleep. That's neither here not there for you, I know. You have to attend to the serious stuff like games. (Tell me, is it the FBI or the CIA that forces people to bet on these games?) Next time you go to a game, don't forget to throw a beer at that 7-year-old girl rooting for the other team because this is Serious Business and you're just the bestest fan in the whole wide world, aren't you?
hmmm.... it seems that NEARLY every single fan has more insighnt than the NBA, the referee's union, and the comissioner.. Thank you all for making clear the muddling b^**sh)$ that as been awakened by Tim D.'s accusation. I am so thankful that so many uninformed sources have the enlightentment to wage judgement without facts, dates, proof, and real judicial data to wage decisions. How can I ever thank you? Your closed minded adjuication has been instumential in swaying my opinion...NOT. How was I ever to find out now I was to believe that the facts were supposed to weigh the hearing, instead of your beliefs? Please sign me up for the next "make a decision before the hearing bunch of predisposed jury members" so I join your klan; "yep, I said klan" (not kidding) I find your entire rhetoric pathectic to say the VERY least... so go ahead.....post away to your malcontent.... I neither await or will review your replies becaue in today's society, it is OK to rebuke to combatants without fear of retort... juat see Maury Povic's and others sites. Any answer I would post will only fuel your futile retorts; so bring it on, judjemental A$$ho!@....
wow, not sure at all how to respond to knowsalittle. Anyway, to joaquim, sorry to hear about your dog. Truly. As to whether it was the CIA or the FBI that forces me, or others, to bet on the games...I haven't the slightest idea where your question comes from. No one stated that the only value of the NBA was to place bets on the outcomes of games. I personally don't go to many NBA games, however I go to quite a few professional sports games each year. If I know that the games are being fixed by any of the participants, I would stop going. As to throwing a beer at a 7 year old girl, again, not sure where that comes from. I cherish any beer that I paid $8.00 for, and I would never waste it on a 7 year old.
THX, my point is that it IS exactly small taters. It's entertainment. I can choose to watch or not. No matter who wins this series, I'll still have my job and I'll still be worried about why my dog's limping. And you've hit on exactly my point. Has there ever been a story discussed on this site that jeopardized your job helped take care of your dog (sorry to hear about that, by the way)? Sports are entertainment. You could write something similar to your extraterrestrial test for practically everything discussed here. They are important to society because of their popularity and because they are a huge business. If the league or refs or anyone is influencing the outcome of games for any reason, that is completely against the spirit of fair competition that the league is supposed to represent. If you're not interested in this story, then that's fine, but considering that this is a site for discussion of interesting sports current events, this is absolutely relevant and worthy of discussion.
Geez, bender, talking about sports at a time like this. There are kids starving in Africa!
Geez, bperk, talking about people at a time like this. We're nearing the heat death of the universe!
You guys are all judgemental A$$ho!@'s.
Hopefully all of this attention will force the NBA to raise the level of officiating. And it's good to see that many fans out there realize that poor officiating CAN affect the outcome of games. I always cringe when the naysayers use the defense of "it was only one bad call, get over it". Obviously, one bad call in a crucial situation can matter.
And I don't know how anybody could be wasting their time posting silly comments on the insignificant internet with the impending alien invasion and all. I hear there's a freeway going through here or something.
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Please sign me up for the next "make a decision before the hearing bunch of predisposed jury members" so I join your klan; "yep, I said klan" (not kidding) Bishop??? Is that you? Where've you been???
Hopefully all of this attention will force the NBA to raise the level of officiating. Agreed. I've always believed that NBA has the worst officiating of the four major American sports leagues.
Thanks for all the fish.
The big four sports leagues meaning Football, Basketball,Baseball and.....Soccer???
Simply amazing that the game 4 FT totals were 28 for Boston and 29 for LA. Takes the same amount of "control" to end up with an equal total as it does to have a lopsided total. Then again, it could be the conspiracy theorist in me.
It what you her all the time. SOMEONE GETS IN TROUBLE AND THEY WANT TO PULL EVERONE THEY CAN DOWN WITH THEM. Thats how it is obvious he is guilty. Now he will try to bring down anyone he can. (I say this even when i dilike David Stern)
