NBA Refs Off the Hook?

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

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 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.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Odd Duck

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 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."

I would also not give any of those officials a play-off assignment during their probationary period.

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

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...

Not exactly, but close enough.

Would the level of officiating decline...probably.

And you agree with me!

[Odd Duck]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

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 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.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

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.

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.

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.

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

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

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"

[Odd Duck]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

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.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

Which nightmare headline do you think the league prefers:

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?

[Adam]

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.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

The nightmare is that a referee intentionally manipulated the outcome of a game!

A skill of great value in the WWE.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Prefers? You're kidding, right?

The nightmare is not the headline anyway.

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.)

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

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

Is that when you take a lawnmower to your brain?

Actually, it would explain a lot.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Is that when you take a lawnmower to your brain?

Actually, it would explain a lot.

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

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

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.

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.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

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.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by TXMike

Looks like NBA refs are off the hook..Stern has apparently decided to stick his head in the sand...

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?