So Scrappy are you saying that if maybe 1, or 2 or even 3 officials had violated the gambling clause then Stern could easily fire them? But he won't fire 20 because it's just not practical?

And that's an example of NOT hiding your head in the sand? Puh-leeze.

btw, IMO Stern can't fire 20 officials for violating the gambling clauses in their contract because it would be a PR nightmare for the league. Period.

I agree with that completely. In fact, I may have mentioned quite similar earlier in this thread: "Additionally, I think any refs caught casino gambling will get a slap on the wrist with a "stern" warning not to do it again." ;)

Possible, but the playoff officiating is already under so much scrutiny that I don't think they can afford to use "lower tier" officials.

Not exactly, but close enough.

And you agree with me! :D

I disagree...a good "spin doctor" could sell that. Telling your customers that you are doing everything necessary to ensure that the officials assigned to the game are abiding by all the necessary codes of conduct and ethics would not be a nightmare. You may have some complaints early on related to call selection and overall quality but the fans would get past that...and the players should be talented enough to adjust.

Besides...the league is already dealing with a PR problem. There is something to be said for dealing with all the issues at once. It is not always the best approach...but not always the wrong approach either.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying and I guess I didn't really think of it as hiding your head in the sand. I think of "hiding your head in the sand" as ignoring a problem or pretending it doesn't exist. He's not doing that. He's got a problem and he knows it. But firing a third of your staff is probably not the best way to solve that problem, is it? It's probably better to show that you're serious -- by fining everybody or suspending the worst offenders -- and then let everyone know that the consequences will be worse if it happens again. JMO.

You mean it isn't already a PR nightmare for the league? Come on.

Which nightmare headline do you think the league prefers:

"One NBA Official Fired In Gambling Probe"

or

"20 NBA Officials Fired In Gambling Probe"

This one sounds bad also:

"NBA Refuses To Fire Officials For Ethics Violations"

Phrase your second this way...

"NBA Comes Down Hard on Ethics Violations"

...all in how you spin it. :D

Prefers? You're kidding, right?

The nightmare is not the headline anyway. The nightmare is that a referee intentionally manipulated the outcome of a game! (And oh by the way, that's illegal!)

Even if they fired 20 refs for gambling, it's (most likely) for casino gambling, which is -- say it with me -- LEGAL. The nightmare is not the gambling, it's fixing games.

The PR problem is NOT that the refs go in and blow a couple grand at the poker table. The PR problem is that the league fixes it's games. So which one do you think they prefer now?

And, let me throw the same question to you that I asked Mike. How do you think Stern should handle it if you think he's not handling it properly?

Donaghy's guilty plea did not mention anything about "fixing" games in any way. It only mentions giving inside information to the Sopranos.

Those who wondered how he could have actually manipulated outcomes without detection aren't really going to get answers, it seems.

A skill of great value in the WWE. :rolleyes:

Go back & re-read what I wrote. Keep a sharp lookout for the letters "PR" which modify "nightmare".

In case you don't knmow, PR = public relations.

(In case that's too subtle for you no, I'm not kidding. It's all damage control from here on in.)

Is that when you take a lawnmower to your brain? :confused:

Actually, it would explain a lot. :D

C'monm, nmo nmeed to go there. It's onmly a typo.

I completely understand what you're saying, but simply disagree. The bigger PR problem is not that lots of refs gamble in casinos. The bigger PR problem is that the league or its officials are fixing games.

Well no, you don't understand what I'm saying.

Very few people will get (or care about) the distinction between refs casually going to casinos and refs with serious gambling problems influencing games.

That's why it's a PR issue.

TXMike - you sure seem to have it in for the NBA officials? Someone piss you off? Do you not consider NBA officials your peers simply because they work at another level?