So true. It could be a jungle out there especially in the post-season. Still Crawford’s gotta go. We need new blood.

They ought to have try-outs then teams could draft them or something. Those performing poorly should be given the boot at season’s end. With this, we would avoid another Donaghy episode. Then again, it’s too radical for jurassic Stern. And when will he be put to pasture?

There should be term-limits for that position too. Or they could be elected.

I ref’d for our local basketball league during the (our) Summer. Eight teams, eight players each. I knew at least six players in every team. Many, I knew very well. A lot of those players owed me money that I didn’t plan to collect. I missed a foul or ten, and they cursed at me like I just stole their bike. (One friend actually got his bike stolen that summer). Not easy, that refereeing.

On the other hand, these referees (or, those locked out ones) are professionals. Dunking on ten foot high rims with seven foot defenders blocking your way is difficult too, but we see NBA players (not Spurs) do them everyday. Grey can be the first three quarters. During end games, during the final minutes, the final seconds, we expect those professional referees to get the calls right. As in black and white. If it means Finley’s three doesn’t count, so be it. A game should not be won or lost because of a blown call or non-call.

And a player should not be thrown out because a ref doesn’t want him to share jokes with his teammates.

vespaguy, I enjoyed this to no end. I’m completely with you as far as the respect for the artistry of the Ref. I love the James Joyce reference. I am, in fact, with you every single argument you make — except for your conclusion.

And perhaps I’m completely alone here, but I’m not in a hurry to get the “real” refs back. I so hate the established norms of the NBA as it exists between the refs and the stars, that I think it’s worth it to suffer for a while, as players and officials reach a new equilibrium. At the worst, we’ll wind up with younger refs making the same calls — and that’s still an upgrade.

Good post, even though I wouldn’t mind some control on the Joe Crawfords and Dick Bavettas of this world.

Wonderful post, Vespa. I’ve had the privledge to sit in a variety of seats over the years. When you’re that close to the court, you really do appreciate the brilliant and thankless job done by the refs.

And although I hate agreeing with JRW, I’m with him on this….

And perhaps I’m completely alone here, but I’m not in a hurry to get the "real" refs back. I so hate the established norms of the NBA as it exists between the refs and the stars, that I think it’s worth it to suffer for a while, as players and officials reach a new equilibrium. At the worst, we’ll wind up with younger refs making the same calls — and that’s still an upgrade.

Part of the reason that we’ve seen so many calls in the preseason is because the replacement refs are following a little thing called the rule book. And they’re treating everyone on the floor like a player instead of treating some like superstars. I won’t miss that aspect of the game when the others refs return.

Very well expressed and thought provoking post, vespaguy.

I hate me some Joey Crawford just as much as the next guy. I don’t in this post mean to imply that I’m endorsing all NBA referees, no more than I would endorse all NBA players. There are clearly refs with biases (Crawford) and there are clearly refs that are crooked. And I think one reason for this is that it’s so hard to find people who can do the job well. I also believe that it is in the NBAs best interest to have an aggressive talent identification program, and to groom a new generation of refs, adding new blood each year. But a lockout like the current one shows us how much the talent suffers if you have to replace everyone in one fell swoop, just like the talent in the league would suffer if every team was replaced with all rookies.

This is a really great take on the refs, vespaguy. While I agree that referees probably have the worst job in the world at times, I can also see other reasons why fans get upset at them for bad calls – primarily, what everyone in this thread has been saying about superstar calls. I don’t like the Mavs, but the foul calls in favor of D-Wade during the 2006 finals were atrocious and they really got the shorter end of the stick, much like how I believe that the Spurs got the bad end of the deal during our series with Dallas that year.

And then of course, I hate refs who think they are “bigger than the game” and put it upon themselves how they want the games to turn out. There goes the image of Joey throwing out Tim for laughing.

I agree with your suggestion about having some sort of succession plan with the referees. Bavetta’s older than a dinosaur, and hacks like Crawford feel like they know it all on the simple claim of having a long officiating tenure, which simply isn’t fair for the players.

speaking as someone who reffed local leagues for about 6 years, and did 2 years of state junior league (including a weekend tournament when i was 15 when i had to ref under-18s – basically guys a step below australia’s national league level), this

The problem is that they live in a world of grey that is pretending to be black and white

is true at all levels. you simply cannot call every single thing, or the game would be the most disjointed pile of crap of a sport on earth. you’ve got to let a little bit of stuff go, because no one wants a whistle every 10 seconds. in my opinion, its something you learn as you ref more and more.

the thing i’m curious about – do many nba refs get shown the door? i know some have (at least one of the replacements was a former nba level ref), but it seems to me there isn’t enough of that happening as skills either diminish, or coziness with the players gets too high.

Loved this post. Put a link up yesterday on twitter.

great piece. I never thought of it that way. If I were a ref, i would probably call every travel I see. Fans would hate me.