The Associated Press released a story today that replacement refs are starting to be trained next week in New Jersey. It said the NBA has been interviewing for over a week. Apparently, first year officials make about $150,000 and long time veterans around $550,000 annually. Apparently, the two sides were fine with salaries but not with pensions and severance plans. Currently, referees receive a retirement bonus of up to $550,000 on top of pension benefits that can reach as high at $2,000,000. Also, the league wanted to tighten up travel allowances and per diems.
Heck - I'd do that job for half of that.
