NBA referees often serve as punching bags for the fans, especially in the playoffs. Every call or non-call is analyzed; since so much of NBA play is subjective and contextual, bleated opinions can come after every close game. FanHouse's Matt Moore did a great job admonishing fans who choose the easy way out.The league, with its lack of sunshine on referee oversight, hasn't helped matters. But even further, the media itself perpetuates these rumblings. In the most recent case, a writer tossed some kindling on the fire ... with no disputed call even at stake.
Boston Globe writer Frank Dell'Apa offered the following passage in his Monday morning notes column:
An NBA source pointed out before the game that two of the referees were Chicago natives (Bill Kennedy and Dan Crawford). Kennedy also was involved in an incident with Rivers during the Bulls' St. Patrick's Day win in which both were fined by the league for jawing. The source also said that after the game family members of both referees departed wearing Bulls gear.Again, there were no disputed calls discussed in the context of Kennedy's suggested Bulls favoritism. For Dell'Apa and his source (a person of Celtics employ, one can only assume), what's the point? No one alleges (in this notes column or around the league) that Kennedy missed a blatant call, unless the discussion of the Glen Davis-Brad Miller dust-up is meant to invoke sympathy for the plight of the Celtics.
The dust-up in which, you know, Davis pretended Lennox Lewis had hit him with a right cross.
To the credit of the Celtics, no one seems to be whining. That makes Dell'Apa's decision to run with this inflammatory but otherwise useless material even more irresponsible.
(Monday morning inquiries to Dell'Apa had not been answered by time of this post's publication.)
UPDATE, 3:08 PM ET: It appears that, contrary to Dell'Apa's report, Kennedy is actually from Phoenix. Born there, attended high school there, and went to Arizona State. In fairness to Dell'Apa, Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald got the same tip from a Celtics employee regarding the families of Crawford and Kennedy ... and published the same inflammatory but useless material.
UPDATE, 10:57 PM ET: Dell'Apa responded to a request for comment, and relayed that Globe beat writer Marc Spears contributed the Kennedy material. After publication, Dell'Apa said he and Spears were told Kennedy lives in the Chicago area, but is not necessarily a Chicago native. The Globe's story has not been updated with that information, however.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
I wish people would start talking more about the actual games than talking about refs, even when officiating is not an issue, like yesterday's game betweeen the bulls and celtics. And really, there will always be people complaining about the refs since basketball is one of the toughest games to officiate (THE toughest in my opinion and it's not even close) and is filled with jugment calls that can go EITHER WAY, so there will always be someone upset about certain calls. The league and refs can't do ANYTHING about it. It's just the nature of the game and knowledgeable fans already know it. Casual fans and homers? Not so much. So, as a fan of the game it's frustrating to see homers always blaming the refs. And it's even more frustrating when some homer columnist tries to blow things out of proportion writing about the refs' sons or other family members wearing Bulls gear. Seriously, is there a rule that states refs' family members can't have a rooting interest and can't wear their favorite team's jerseys? No there isn't.
This is not an issue but I know someone will blow it out of proportion and will start saying there's a league-wide conspiracy against the Celtics (lol, a conspiracy against the Celtics. Suuuuuuuuuure).
Come on people, I wish fans were more knowledgeable about the game of basketball instead of making excuses all the times.
Thanks for pointing out how irresponsible Dell'Apa's decision to write about it was, Ziller.
Celtics fans are already blowing it out of proportion: http://www.redsarmy.com/home/2009/04/refs-spotted-wearing-bulls-gear.html
Most of the comments in that fan blog you linked us to were along the lines of "the refs are not why we lost". Also, no one on the Celtics team has blamed the referees. And if you listen to any talk radio in Boston, you won't hear anyone blaming the referees.
Why do you and Pollakoff and Steinmetz continuously try to turn everyone against the Celtics and the Boston fans?
The Celtic talk in Boston right now is all about strategy and lack of execution, i.e, why didn't they foul before the three point shot?, why didn't Rondo drive on that last play?, etc.
For what it's worth, this "Frank Dell'Apa" who wrote this crap is a SOCCER writer. No one ever seeks his opinion about basketball. He's not someone who you ever see or hear on Boston TV or radio when it comes to Celtic talk. Believe me, he is NOT a Bob Ryan. So, please don't interpret this garbage as a typical Boston article (like Ziller wants you to think).
Dell'Apa writing about basketball is a recent assignment and yet another unfortunate result of our poor economy. The Boston Globe is cutting expenses left and right to avoid being shut down by the New York Times (it's owner). The Times spent a billion dollars to buy the Globe and now the Times is in a financial mess of their own. It's sad to see what's happening to newspapers around the country.
Glenn, as noted in the update, Mark Murphy also covered this. And on contact, Dell'Apa said Marc Spears (the Globe beat writer) provided this info.
Interesting. Marc Spears recently came to Boston from the Denver Post and I like him. But notice that Spears didn't bother to write about this himself. I wonder if he intended for Dell'Apa to write it, or if it was an informal comment?
Hey Tom, Thanks for your respectful answer. Sorry I went off on you a little bit.
Celtics fans will begin with the excuse and justification machine since they can't conceive of a world in which their team could possibly lose, after all, they're "The Celtics". Accompanying it as par for the course will be:
1. We're short handed...they didn't mind the Lakers being short handed when they won the ring but for them it's a reason why the Bulls are winning.
2. Ref conspiracy...every fan thinks their team walks on water and a)can do no wrong and b.) the other team gets the breaks. Bull...If Anything the Refs have been letting the Celtics get away with murder on grabbing, banging and the ridiculous "block" attempt on Miller in the last game...had that been against a Celtic, the perpetrator would have received a flagrant one at least...but nope..the technical went AGAINST the Bulls the same as the one against NOAH when he objected to Ray Allen's punch to the groin...and while Allen got suspended for a meaningless final game of the season, He should have been dropped for at least two games but NOPE he's a Celtic...
So, Celtic fans, you can whine in your beer all day long, just like you did when your "Patriots" lost to the Giants in a game you couldn't comprehend they could lose in...Boston, you need to switch from beer to Whine, since it's your favorite drink...
Take it up with the writer. I'm a life-long Celtics fan (less so Patriots, Red Sox) and I thought there were a number of questionable calls, but they didn't favor anyone. The refs were a non-factor forthe most part. I'd like to know which team you root for because no matter which city you support, you haven't had anywhere near the success, long-term or recently, that Boston has had. SO WHO'S WHINING NOW?
Michael, "Whining" is not the correct term for the reaction of Patriot fans after the Super Bowl loss. There was pain and mourning. It hurt. But there was no "whining". It may seem like I'm picking on semantics, but I feel that there is a clear distinction. "Whining" usually means that you feel you were ripped off, or that something was unfair - injuries, bad referee calls, etc. It is making excuses. That was NOT the feeling in New England at all. The feeling was that the Patriots were beat fair and square. It still looked like they would luck out a win, but then the catch by Tyree was like a knife in the heart. ANY fan of ANY team in the country would feel pain if their team had an undefeated season and then lost in the last minute of the Super Bowl. But whining?-no, you're wrong, it didn't happen.
I agree for the most part it was a fair game.. no bad calls were made but that is my opinion
Have you checked out the Blazer Houston games in play-offs? Ming parks in the key on both ends of the court. & the Blazers are getting called for a hell of alot more fouls than Houston. Ming rarely if ever gets called for fouls or anything else it seems. AND YES IM A BLAZER FAN! However I do not normally blame the refs for games we lose,but it's been so bad during the play-offs that I do think there is maybe something to the complaints. BLAZER FAN DB
well, any team that doesn't win, tends to call the refs as a conspiracy...two years ago it was Mark Cuban and the Mavs fans after Nellie's Warriors soundly beat them...ALL team's fans call it that way when they lose and while some fans see it as even, especially in replays when they get to see their own guy get away with some, most like to have some reason to believe other than the fact that their team got beaten. Guess it must be too hard for them to take. As for me, even when the Lakers lose, I'm clear they get their share of "good/bad" calls by the refs, and it all balances out...
To Boston Celtic, you are going down, down...big time, so shut up go fishing with Barkley and Kenny Smith. Because you loose the game you blame on the refs, the fact is that you are old and can not keep with the young Bulls. If the Bulls dont blow you away, the Cav will send you and your coach down the river..Rivers The coach. Or may be Doc could come up with another faked injury like Pual Pierce taken out of the court in a wheel chair and came out running to play again, that a bunch a fake injury I ever seen or may he can suit up Garnete to play game 5 so you can win the game,,,not.
We don't want to hear about the Jail Blazer...you are not ready yet.
Portland has a good young team and they're very exciting...I've watched them put a whupass on Lakers every time they come up to Portland...however, they're not quite championship calibre yet...soon, but not there, AND they do get their share of calls in their favor regardless of the "bad calls" that Blazer fans only seem to see.
dj kahn...
LAKERS RULE.................!
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Come on Celtics fans...When you can't win games fair and square it is typical for you to blame the refs....The one year "DYNASTY" of the Celtics is going down..you will be wating for years and years for another championship
I don't think that there's a grand conspiracy favoring either the Celtics or the Bulls in this series. The referees in the NBA are just plain terrible. Check out my post on the subject:
http://timm84.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/the-nba-has-a-credibility-problem/
Do a little research on Tim Donaghy the N.B.A. ref caught giving out information and BETTING ON GAMES HE WAS A REF IN!!! Terrible is not the word. 15 months jail time is what he got and deserved a lot more. The N.B.A. declines to comment. THAT'S TERRIBLE ALSO