Jimgolf ESPN's True Hoop blog will be running a series of articles detailing an interview Henry Abbott had with NBA official Salvatore Bennett. The first of the series is at http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-28-286/The-Salvatore-Side-of-the-Story--Referee-Bennett-Salvatore-Speaks.html I ask him if he has ever made the wrong call. "Sure! Absolutely! I remember one, it must have been 15 years ago. I had a call in Sacramento. It was at the end of the game, and I had scored it a three-point basket, and in fact it as a two. I was wrong. I didn't know I was wrong until afterwards. But it cost the team a game, and I was sick about that. We go in the locker room afterwards, I was sick. I can't repeat on the tape what I said. And I think maybe that's the thing that the general fan doesn't understand the most -- and that's how much we care about our job. And we do. There is no one more upset that the referee if they make a mistake, than that referee. Whenever I talk to anybody, rule number one is -- we make mistakes. We don't want to, but we do."
Jimgolf Parts 2 through 4 of the Salvatore Bennett interview are at: http://myespn.go.com/nba/truehoop?tag=The+Salvatore+Side+of+the+Story
JugglingReferee As an FYI, his name is Bennett Salvatore. His # is 15. I believe Salvatore is Italian for Savoir.
Jimgolf JugglingReferee wroteAs an FYI, his name is Bennett Salvatore. His # is 15. I believe Salvatore is Italian for Savior. You're right of course. Senior moment. Next thing you know I'm gonna think Yao Ming's last name is Yao. ;?