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Originally posted by Self
The officials are instructed how to call in the NBA and what to let go. They very much stretch the intent of the rules. They have ruined the game by how they are instructed to officiate.
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I really have to disagree, Self. They don't stretch the intent of the NBA rules. The rules are written with a particular philosophy, just as the NF rules are. The officials are then instructed (by their director of officials and the Officials' Manual) regarding that philosophy and how the game should be called, just as NF officials are (by a board interpreter and the Officials' Manual). The officials do not, in my opinion, "stretch" the intent at all. They simply call the game the way the league wants it called. Now you may take issue with the league's philosophy, but I don't think you can put that on the officials. There's nothing wrong with being instructed how to call a game.
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Upper Mgmt. has made a big mistake, that is why attendance is down and still dropping. Not to mention the lack of any real icon or role model.
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You might be right about the league's philosophy. But my personal opinion is that they are on the right track to making the game more fun and more watchable. Pat Riley's Knicks and Mike Fratello's Cavaliers really dragged the league down into ugly, unwatchable basketball. But the new rules in the last couple years have started to turn the tide back toward opening up offenses and discouraging the thuggery that passed as defense in Riley's system.
As far as role models, oh well. Nobody pays them to be role models, much as we might want them to be. Old time players weren't role models either. It's just that now, the media attention is so much greater that we get to see all their "faults" much more than anybody did even 20 years ago. And even though there are certainly a large number of players that I wouldn't want to hang out with in polite company, there are also a LOT of athletes (in all sports) who do good things out of the spotlight. Even Alonzo Mourning (who I personally can't stand) is supposedly a great guy off the court who has his own charity that does amazing work.
Again, just my opinion.
Chuck