Cleveland center Shaquille O'Neal -- with his four championship rings -- threw his considerable weight Friday morning behind the NBA referees union, which is facing a possible lockout after the latest contract negotiations with the league broke down.O'Neal said Friday that he was surprised and disappointed the league was asking the officials to make significant concessions and take reductions in their pension benefits.
O'Neal knows first hand what can happen during a lockout when the league turns to replacement officials. People get hurt."The refs have been vital to this league for a long time. They should be treated accordingly. We need perfection out there. We don't need second best."
-- Shaquille O'Neal
The NBA used replacement officials at the start of the 1995-96 season, and they were rounded criticized for being unable to control the games. During a particularly physical exhibition game that season, O'Neal had his right thumb fractured when he was karate chopped by Matt Geiger before he went up for a dunk. It was the start of O'Neal's final season with the Magic. Geiger was playing for the Miami Heat.
O'Neal had surgery two days later, and he missed the first 22 games of that regular season.
Lamell McMorris, lead negotiator for the union, told FanHouse Friday that a potential lockout "should scare everyone because of what could happen.''
"The refs have been vital to this league for a long time. They should be treated accordingly,'' O'Neal told FanHouse Friday morning. "We need perfection out there. We don't need second best (replacements). The league needs to get this done.''
O'Neal was back home in Orlando, preparing to play golf in his favorite charity event -- his mother's fundraiser that provides nursing scholarships at several colleges in Florida and New Jersey -- when he was asked Friday about the officials.
"I feel for them. They work hard out there, just like we do,'' he said. "When you look at all that's going on with the league. This is a big year. We need them out there.''
Without a new deal, replacement officials will be used when the exhibition schedules begins Oct. 1. The NBA has not begun a season without its regular referees since 1995.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-18-2009 @ 1:08PM
richcantwell109 said...
Smart man, Shaq. Start kissin' up early. Old big men need all the help they can get.
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9-18-2009 @ 1:23PM
dmtrsh said...
I agree with you richcanwell lol...Shaq kissing butt big time without even using chapstick! Shaq knows that he's geting up in age and will need all the help going up against Howard and the Western conference. I wont be surprised if Shaq contributes to the Ref's pention fund. Lakers again NBA Champs! But nice try Shaq Cali still Loves ya.
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9-18-2009 @ 2:32PM
mthbwu said...
Heres wondering if they allow tim donaghy back as a replacement ref. after all they do favor tax evaders on the staff
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9-18-2009 @ 3:25PM
Lakergregg said...
Good riddance.NBA officials suck and the replacements couldn't be any worse.
Dick Bavetta, Joey Crawfors and Steve Javie time to stick your whistles where the sun don't shine.
As for Shaq he knows that new refs aren't going to allow him all the fouls he needs to play the game at his diminished skill set.
Does Cleveland think his playing on tv the entire off season is really going to help them in the playoffs.
Lock It Up...Shaq is injured most of season and Lakers Repeat.
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9-18-2009 @ 3:36PM
valleystream said...
NBA Officials need a wake up call! They are not professional and they made a mockery of last years's playoffs. Joey Crawford and Steve Javie enjoy the television coverage more than the players do and they shoukd not be a talking item at all. I say out with old and in with a new more diverse group of officials.
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9-18-2009 @ 4:22PM
cnakao534 said...
THEIR CALL ARE SLOW JUST LIKE SHAQ IF RIMS WAS HIGHER HE BE A NO BODY . I CAN SHUT MY EYES AND SHOOT FREE THROW BETTER THEN THIS B/S.
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9-18-2009 @ 6:25PM
Johnny said...
Hey Tim I saw your article last week on David Vaughn. I have been trying to find you because I have some good news for him that could very well help him financially. Please contact me via the email address. TRhanks
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9-18-2009 @ 8:32PM
Virgil M Hollins said...
I never comment on these articles but today is special. The crazy thing is that all of you people who have never competed in any sport on any level past high school make these stupid comments as if you know anything about basketball just like most writers and so-called analysts.
I've played basketball for 24 years and reached the NBA level a few years ago before getting hurt 3 games into the Summer Pro League and one thing I can tell all of you people is that Shaq is one of the greatest centers ever and even at his age he still is a force on the court. I've played with so many 7' footers that were absolutely ineffective that it is amazing.
You try playing basketball since childhood and then competing in a long and exhausting NBA season for all of those years and not see yourself start to slow down and then you can talk. It will never be the case because you can only run your mouth and have no talent to play the game you speak on.
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9-20-2009 @ 9:23AM
lalakerfan520 said...
shaq used to be good,now he is all washed up should just retire,maybe after this season nobody will want him,so he can just fade away,time to step aside,good luck l.james you are going to need it
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9-20-2009 @ 9:21PM
Giles said...
Shaq used to be a has been, playing down to the expectations of those who thought he never moved his feet, but he studied under Bill Cartwright at the university of Phoenix, started moving his feet again, became an all star again. With Yao in rehba, and Howard, Duncan, Gasol, etc. formerly listed as forwards, scary poor quality for the nba or not, Shaq is argueably still the best pure center in the nba, even after 17 seasons, the 18th about to begin.
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