Post#74 » by SpeedBump44 » Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:22 am
Rosen several times that he doesn't like Bavetta.. also mentioned the race that Bavetta ran against Barkley was a joke. One other topic he hit on was that he feels that refs often hold grudges, and that was also a reason why refs were against certain teams or certain players in particular. He mentioned a story about how it went back all the way to the ABA games.. when refs used to hang out with players and chase after the same women... and how that was one way that grudges started. I don't remember all the examples, but he pointed out how there was one ref that absolutely hated Rick Barry.
Maybe Bavetta didn't like the players.. one or all of them. Maybe he's a diehard Republican and he hates Herb.
I do think that the grudges explanation makes a lot of sense.. maybe it works in conjunction with refs wanting to make Stern happy. Some have suggested that refs not be employed by the NBA, and maybe rather just be independent contractors of some sort. If Stern is their boss, and they know that Stern will be happy if they help a big market team win, does he really have to actually give a mandate?
OK.. say the NBA gave funding to company X to provide refs to the NBA games. Company X hires, trains, and monitors the refs. Refs get paid based on job performance, as employees at company X.
Management at company X uses footage of games, evaluations by players and coaches and statistical analysis (similar to the stats in this thread) to ensure the competency of the ref and the lack of bias. Refs are judged on their performance, and not by how happy they make Stern. The NBA would obviously have to have power over the rules, but that's where the control would end. I know it's not a perfect concept, but there has to be something better out there than having them be puppets of the commish.
All I know is that I've felt for years that the Bucks have been getting hosed. I'm a fan of the Brewers, Packers, Marquette, Wisconsin, UWM, etc. .. and I don't feel the officiating/umpiring/reffing is a negative factor to any of their success. Bad calls are made, and that is to be expected.. but we shouldn't have to play 5 against 8 every night.