[tballump]

Seems like Shaq is the only one giving the regular officials their due and realizes their importance to the NBA game and the game itself. This carries over into realizing the importance of all officials at all levels and their contribution to the game.
Once again, don't let the NBA drag other experienced officials in the farm system or in the amateur system into the controversy to do their bidding for them. Let them negotiate. If they need people to officiate during negotiations, let them get people off the street and put them through a 2 week training course (since they think so little of officials just think officials are just a necessary evil and expense anyway). The replacements can work until the strike is over and then decide if they really like officiating and could sign up with their local officiating group and then later apply to be a regular NBA ref and go through the minor league system themselves.