The labor dispute between the NBA and its referees may come to an end later this week, and the regular season may start with the regular referees calling the games.According to a report from Howard Beck of the New York Times, negotiators for both sides agreed to the basics of a new deal on Tuesday, and it's one that's expected to be ratified by the referees' union when they vote on it later this week.
The money quote from the Times piece:
... the new agreement, reached during a meeting at the N.B.A.'s Midtown Manhattan offices on Tuesday, was intended to meet the referees' remaining concerns, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations.This is excellent news for anyone who follows the league in any capacity, as officiating -- even when done by those with many years of experience at the NBA level -- is often a controversial topic. No one wanted to see regular season games marred by the additional foul calls and situational uncertainty that has clouded some of the contests during the preseason.
"It's highly likely the referees will be back on the court in time for the season,'' the person said.
If all goes as planned and the original referees are indeed installed in time for next week's season-opening slate, then David Stern's tough stance -- which might have been an effort to strike a little fear into the players' union in advance of their upcoming negotiations two years from now -- will have worked to perfection, without sacrificing the integrity or outcomes of any regular season games.
