Lulz internet hugz 4 Davdi Addrige!

moofs · Post #1 » by **moofs** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:11 pm

I figure this has gotten enough press the last 3 years, not least of all from me, to have a topic.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/d ... index.html

Glad to hear I'm a nut. 'Sif no one knew. :cheesygrin:

He misses the angle of attempted influence somewhat, but good points anyway.

Psssh, facts. Who uses those anymore? Srsly.

spolgar · Post #2 » by **spolgar** » Thu May 28, 2009 5:08 pm

I really like that article. Thanks for pointing it out.

There was an SI.com article the other day pointing out that there is indeed a perception problem with the league's image. Since Donaguy, even Bill Simmons has pointed out that the league will take decades to recover from how the public perceives their officiating woes. One bad apple is really a hop, skip and a not even a jump away from a supposed massive conspiracy, especially when said conspiracy involves less than 10 people.

The fact that the NBA publicist arm decided to do a formal rebuttal on their own site is HILARIOUS. It has gotten really really bad. For example, the English Royal family does not have to respond to criticisms that they are indeed NOT blood sucking reptillian aliens whom desire beautiful blonde females. The league having to rescind about 5 techs thus far is telling that the officiating arm have a disconnect with the rest of the rulings body of the league. As far as we the fans are concerned, officiating has been as bad as ever, not because fouls aren't called, but because consistency is questioned. And if there is a lack of consistency, then surely preferential treatment is just... well you know what I mean.

I think the problem lately, has been that the league officials have been asked to curb possible instances of violent escalation due to incidents in the past, but are juxtaposed with the environment of playoff basketball, which is inherently intense. With this inherent internal tension, with the colossal amount of uncertainty thrown into officiating a playoff game already, this just makes it worse. Compound that with Nike and Vitamin water having absolutely no scruples in their advertising campaign, and conspiracy theories are just inevitable. I think the league is responsible for the bad officiating. No doubt. But I'm not sure their intent is to sway the games outcomes. I think honestly David Stern has no idea how to regulate officiating properly to a cold science (that's fine, nobody does). I think we have inherent issues with certain players whom are unsportsmanlike, and they reflect poorly on their peers. I think we have far too few senior refs, and it's the same 3 or 4 that get sent to every playoff game. These guys get worn down just as fast as the players do, and they are drastically older. We need more refs, we need instant replay and we need to somehow balance fairness of the game without having a basketball be about the refs instead of the players.

moofs · Post #3 » by **moofs** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:58 pm

Aaaaaand the rebuttals

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ortCat=nba
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_12466192
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ortCat=nba

spolgar, response forthcoming if/when I get time - can't seem to sit down today

(yes, yes. The irony is noted.)

PocketRockets · Post #4 » by **PocketRockets** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:04 pm

Some of the best athletes in the world....being ref'ed by the worst referees in the world. They ref by looking at the back of jerseys. I loved when Lebron went to FIBA and they called traveling on him every time he touched the ball. You can complain all you want, but he does, but has gotten somewhat better now. The league is a joke and if we didn't pay so much money to our players, how many people would actually want to come over here and play?