Dick Baveta

[celtics792244]

That I, or anybody else, knows this name is troublesome....

Referees are not part of the show. In fact, I wish I didn't know any of their names. A game in which a referee is not even noticed is usually the best games to watch. This guy... Bavetta, takes it to another level. Watch this old goat... I especially can't stand the dramatic dance, or exaggerated movements, this guy makes when making a call. Give him some pom-poms!

It reminds me of the movie "Loaded Gun", when he (Leslie Nelson?) finds himself behind homeplate as an umpire. He calls strike 1, looks around apprehensionally, gets cheers from the crowd.... calls strike 2, more cheers from the crowd, calls strike 3 (on a pitch that the catcher has to jump up for) and does a little victory dance for the loving crowd. That is how I feel Bavetta is when calling a game. HE EXAGGERATES EVERY SIGNAL A REFEREE HAS TO MOTION AND IT DRIVES ME NUTS!

You are NOT part of the show, so do be as descreet as you can be when calling a foul.... DAMIT! And what bothers me most is that the younger refs probably look up to this dinosar as how one should act.

I turned the game off Thursday night after 3 straight calls Bavetta made. 1st one was a baseline out-of-bounds call he made, which he was out of position and a different ref WAS in postition to make the call (you could totally see he was blocked from making the call), the 2cd one was on Pruitt when Williams was dribbling up the court (replay clearly showed no contact), and the 3rd was immediately after with one the C's bigs setting a screen (can't remember hich player). Awful ref. Awful, awful, awful. Who can remember that non-call he didn't have the sack to call in game 6 against Cleveland in the final minute last year. He's blind and it is time to retire.

Enough venting.... out.

[MaxwellSmart]

you are preaching to the choir my friend... In the history of this league--has anyone ever bought a ticket or tuned in to see the refs?
The game in Utah was RIDICULOUS.

[GreenGrizz]

I wouldn't trust him. He is getting senile. He is a regular game-changer.

[giambijuice]

was he linked with donaghey ?

[Jammer]

WEll, he broke his accused "reputation"
of being an NBA "company man" who lets the home team win
last week in Dallas, when the Celtics managed a victory.

And I don't think anyone complained in game 1 or 2 of the Finals last year,
with Bavetta in Boston.

But yeah, I tend to think he phantom fouls visitors,
in line with accusations about his modus operandi

[UGA Hayes]

I'm not sure overall about his quality, he is probably middle of the pack as far as refs go, but like Jammer says he as an amzing propensity to make up calls out of thin air. Anyway, I always throw games in Utah out the window. Forget Donaghy, the real red flag about NBA officiating is the way home Utah games are officiated so different from the rest of the league.

[War of the Lamb]

Having been a C's fan since 1958, I can honestly say that there have been
several games lately where the reffing has been beyond belief

The Utah game was handed to the Jazz on a platter. There must have been 15 calls
that were Blatantly wrong. I am saddened by what is happening.

Refs should keep the game from getting out of control, not determine the outcome.

[MaxwellSmart]

Having been a C's fan since 1958, I can honestly say that there have been
several games lately where the reffing has been beyond belief

The Utah game was handed to the Jazz on a platter. There must have been 15 calls
that were Blatantly wrong. I am saddened by what is happening.

Refs should keep the game from getting out of control, not determine the outcome.

Well, we've all seen the NBA promo (Piano playing)..."Where Lakers vs. Cavaliers Happen".....it's been a theme ALL SEASON LONG-----so, they gotta make sure it happens....Kobe vs. LeBron----David Stern and the boys from marketing are salivating all over themselves.

[sully00]

I don't buy the conspiracy theory stuff, I believe that Bavetta is just incompetent and the game has passed him by. But it is embarrassing to watch.

[GreenGrizz]

Is NBA gonna let him to drop dead in the middle of the game? He is showing his age. I am not sure what NBA is thinking.

[Red2]

the sad part is that Bavetta is actually one of the BETTER refs out there. Yesterday against Phoenix we actually had about 5 calls in a row go our way and on review they were all correct so I guess maybe it evens out in the long run

[MyInsatiableOne]

was he linked with donaghey ?

Yes he was but he flat-out denied it, which was good enough for Stern but not for me...

Remember, wasn't he the one who picked a fight with Duncan last season just to toss him out of the game? (if I am remembering correctly?)

[sully00]

^ Nah that was Joe Crawford.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^ Nah that was Joe Crawford.

OK...I didn't think it was Bavetta, I remembered a chubby bald head (which is Crawford)...still that was another egregious example of a ref making himself the star of the show...all things like that do is slide the NBA closer to WWE (the fan perception is already there...)

[MasterRyu]

Lol I don't think you'd ever be liked as an NBA ref. Any given night, fans of one team are gonna hate you, while the others appreciate your work.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^Not if you call it FAIRLY and straight up. There have been loads of C's wins and losses where I don't even consider bitching about the refs, win or lose...THOSE are the best kind of games...