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Originally Posted by Scrapper1
Apparently, Mike is channeling Old School. 
What exactly do you suggest in the handling of this matter? You want Stern to immediately reprimand/suspend/fire every official that Donaghy names, regardless of evidence to back up the claims? If there is evidence produced by the FBI or by the NBA, then I have no doubt that officials will be reprimanded. But they're not going to be reprimanded on Donaghy's say-so, and they shouldn't be.
Do you want officials fired for casino gambling, which is contrary to their collective bargaining agreement but otherwise legal? Stern would clearly be within his rights to do that, but I don't think he will. That's just my guess. Those officials will be reprimanded, maybe fined, but (if there really are 20 of them) there are too many to simply let all of them go. They'd have to immediately replace a full third of their work force. Not a pleasant thought for Nunn and Stern.
So how would you clean up the filth on your side of the street? |
You
may not be able to fire all of them at the same time but you can put ALL of them on "probation" and fire any on the spot that violate the collective bargaining agreement again. I would also not give any of those officials a play-off assignment during their probationary period. If, when the play-offs roll around, they complain about being on the outside looking in...simply tell them they should be thankful they still have a job. If some choose to quit, let them.
Also, by saying you cannot afford to fire them all you are, in a way, saying that currently you cannot find 20 officials with the skills necessary to work in the NBA...personally, i find that hard to believe. Would the level of officiating decline...probably. However both teams have the same set of officials...in theroy the playing surface is level. The quality of officiating may not be the same from game to game...but I doubt you have that now.
While I think the rule that officials cannot gamble in a legal casino may be foolish it is a rule with which they all agreed. If suspended or put on probation...shut up, take you lumps, learn from the "mistake" and move on.