Ref Scandal Not a Big Deal to this Basketball Junkie

I love basketball. So why in the world isn't this story hitting home with me?

For some reason the ref story isn't that big of a deal to me. Unless of course it comes out that the ref is 2006 Finals MVP Bennett Salvatore. I feel like there are bad apples in EVERY organization. So it's not a surprise that one ref out of all of the refs in the history of basketball decided to go down the gambling route.

As well, if you have played basketball competitively you have probably run into your fair share of referees that have some sort of bias. Either they want to keep the game close for entertainments sake or they are friends with someone on the other team.

My Point: On every level there are natural biases that basketball refs have. Everyone has an agenda. But in most cases the best team always seems to win. For example, even with the Wade/Salvatore situation in 2006, the Mavs still had every chance to win games 3-5, but they choked in the clutch and at the free throw line.

This "scandal" is probably just a case of a ref making deliberately bad calls in the final moments of a regular season game that has already been decided. Most games probably have spreads in the 3-5 point range. So a ref could seemingly do what he needs to do for his gambling buddies and still not change the outcome of the game.

The real truth is that for the most part the NBA have some of the best referees in the business. I've been at several games where I've seen head of officials Ronnie Nunn perched in the stands taking notes on every single call made by his refs. If there is any sort of scandal, it was never to the point where it could have changed the outcome of a game.

Of course this story is going to become bigger than it should because everyone and their mother is going to report on it. But until I hear all of the facts, I can't really get excited about it. As a REAL basketball fan, I'd rather be getting my NBA off-season fix watching summer league ball and classic games on NBA TV. Maybe I'm just too naive to care about this?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-20-2007 @ 7:06PM

thomas.engelen said...

I agree Nate.

7-20-2007 @ 7:57PM

Phxfannatic said...

Uh Nate, sorry dude but you just made anything you say about Basketball irrevelant to me after seeing how you are dismissing this increadibly important topic. The ref in question was involved in some major games (THE BRAWL, game 3 SUNS/SPURS etc.) If in fact as Stern says these are the most watched and studied group of employees on the planet and the mob still got to them, we have a major problem that has implications in the idea of sports in general. This should be a big deal to not only Basketball junkies but sports junkies in general.

7-20-2007 @ 8:39PM

Jason said...

Nate,

It sounds like your going with the "Even with a bad call they had a chance to win" - reasoning. You are completely discounting the importance of momentum. More than almost any other sport, basketball is such a mental game that one call can change the complete flow of a game.

7-20-2007 @ 10:59PM

nba wagering picks said...

Wow this is a first. I guess the reputation of the game doesn't mean anything to you, or the chance of the team making a stunning come from behind victory. Do you remember Reggie Miller vs the Knicks in 95? With the way some of these teams shoot free throws a 3-5 point lead in the last minute of the game is by no means a lock.

7-20-2007 @ 11:27PM

RichHein said...

Yeah, who cares? Who cares if the cashiers at your supermarket adds $5 or $10 to your bill for stuff you didn't buy? Who cares if a cop busts you for doing 70 in a 55 zone when you were doing 55? Who cares if are thrown into the jug for a crime you didn't commit? Life is unfair, Nate, right?
Well I care. A lot. It makes me wonder a lot what makes someone like you tick, Nate.

7-21-2007 @ 12:08PM

Kevin said...

You are one sick, amoral fool Nate.

People like you have turned the NBA into the boring "Air Up There" league it has become.

7-23-2007 @ 11:18AM

ChrisH said...

I'm with you on this Nate for 2 reasons.
1) this story isn't that interesting so far, so much info is still missing.
2) this is not at all surprising. people break the rules get ahead every day. what is surprising is this hasn't happened before...well except for the refs cheating on their taxes a couple years back. How can people be shocked by Donaghy's actions after that?

7-23-2007 @ 8:40AM

crownheightscane said...

This has to be the most simpleminded take on the referee scandal yet, and that's saying something. Calling Donaghy a bad apple is like calling 9/11 a minor incident. These are the so called most scrutinized employees on the planet and yet no one higher up, nor his fellow referees had an inkling about this guy's proclivities. Wait, I've got it, Nate's been kidnapped and instead we've got David Stern posting in his stead. This is ridiculous and frankly I'll refrain from taking anything this Nate character writes seriously until he rethinks his position.

7-23-2007 @ 10:05AM

Larry said...

Nate, how sheltered and clueless can you be? Think about a couple of things here:
-At some point in the 130 or so games Donaghy officiated in the last two years, do you really think none of the officials working with him thought there was something strange about the calls he was making? You think NO ONE said anything to him?
-Imagine you are a player/owner/fan of the Suns who may have gotten literally robbed by Donaghy in the playoffs this year. If you are the owner how much potential revenue did you lose?

This isn't rec league ball, this is BIG business. And its a big business that fans have been questioning for some time. Its a shame you don't think its a big deal. It makes me question how you can say you love basketball.

7-23-2007 @ 1:05PM

chhart said...

Nate, Dave Berri has a similar take. History show's, these scandals don't effect ticket sales.

7-23-2007 @ 1:58PM

ben said...

Are you serious? Your logic decriminalizes every point shaving scandal in sports history. Did the NBA put you up to this?

7-23-2007 @ 3:01PM

sorry, forgot the link
http://dberri.wordpress.com/2007/07/22/some-needed-perspective-on-the-nba-referee-scandal/

7-23-2007 @ 4:32PM

Todd said...

Nate,

Your logic that a ref's calls will not affect the outcome of a game, because point spreads are only 3-5 points is flawed. A 3 point, one possession lead is very different from a 4 or 5 point two possession lead. A foul call late in the game that increases one team's lead will affect the the strategy the other team uses to come back. It can mean the difference between having to shoot a low percentage 3 or driving to the bucket for a layup. Depending on a team's strengths and weaknesses this will completely change the outlook of a game and could mean the difference between a miracle come-back or a devastating loss.

7-23-2007 @ 5:10PM

David Stern said...

Nate,
You're right. There is nothing to see here. Don't look behind the curtain. Basketball is MAGIC.
Sincerely,
David Stern

PS I'm the greatest commssioner ever!