[eroe39]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
Eli,

I'm not sure exactly what you're saying, honestly. Are you saying that there is no preferential treatment given to the star players? Because if that's what you're saying, then it's been documented to be false. I posted this previously, but maybe you missed it. I believe it was 2 seasons ago, although it may have been 3, an NBA ref got into quite a bit of trouble because he called a foul. The player he called it on complained to him about it. The official said, "I know it was [star player]'s foul. But you only have one, so I gave it to you." This comment was overheard by a player or coach on the other team, who (SURPRISE!) went nuts.

It's a documented fact that the officials try to help the star players stay in the game. It's better for the flow of the game, and better for ratings.

I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about officials conspiring to prolong a series, or to help one team win to get a better matchup in the next round of playoffs. The one thing that I think is true of officials everywhere is that they don't care who wins.

Not trying to pick a fight here, just trying to figure out exactly the point you were making.

Chuck

Chuck, good point about giving a foul to a different player, but I don't believe this makes it a documented fact that start players are given preferential treatment. If Steve Nash goes to the hole and Michael Jordan and Christian Laettner converge on him and both foul him and Jordan has 4 fouls and Laettner has one I would probably give the foul to Laettner as well. I think officials at all levels would do this. Now if Laettner never touched him and the official choose Laettner to give the foul to then I do believe this would be wrong. If the official did this in your above comments I hardly think you can blanket this to the whole staff and say the whole staff gives prefential treatment to stars.