NBA Replacement Refs
 

I have not watched an '09 NBA pre-season game yet. How are the replacement refs doing? They are coming mostly from the D-League and WNBA with a smattering of college guys. This list of replacement refs is updated daily and includes photos and game assignments.

Steve Anderson
Riel Banaria
Dan Beauchamp
Scott Bolnick
Michael Bobiak
Michael Borgelt
Lorenzo Bronson
Nick Buchert
James Buntin
Deldre Carr
Marcus Clayton
Sir Allen Connor
Andre Crawford
Greg Dandridge
Mike DiRenzo
Jerrald Drummond
Edward Gaines
Carlos Gonzalez
Tim Greene
Eric Hanspard
Michael Henderson
Wilson Holland
Don Hudson
Ivan Jackson
Byron Jarrett
Larry Killips
Karl Lane
Roberto Marquez
Tre Maddox
Jose Martin
Glenn Mayberry
Corey McCray
George McDaniels
Marty McEachean
William Mensah
Victor Montgomery
Jaime Morales
Matthew Myers
Brett Nansel
JT Orr
Robbie Robinson
Hector Sanchez
Kevin Scott
Garrick Shannon
Brian Shelley
Lamont Simpson
Clifford Sims
Jeff Smith
Kevin Sparrock
Crathman Stephens
Tom Sterner
Ben Taylor
Scott Twardoski
Art Vaulk
Kurt Walker
CJ Washington
Ken Washington
James Williams
Jeff Wooten

Out of curiosity, do these D-League and WNBA officials have a choice on whether or not they want to be replacements?

So....if you give this guy an argument, he lops your head off with his sword? :eek:

Interesting question -- I don't have an answer. One of the contract issues is that the NBA wants to use WNBA and D-League refs for some regular season NBA games as part of a development program.

Is that to say that the WNBA is also a developmental league for referees?

In fact, that has been the case. The following referees officiated in the WNBA before getting a shot in the NBA.

Mark Ayotte
Matt Boland
Tony Brown
Derrick Collins
Pat Fraher
Dee Kantner
Bill Kennedy
Courtney Kirkland
Ed Malloy
Tommy Nunez, Jr.
Violet Palmer
Jason Phillips
Eli Roe
Kurt Walker
Zach Zarba
Gary Zielinski

Just a prediction, as we get close to season opener, watch the media reports on how bad the replacement refs are.

All indications thus far are that the replacements are doing well.

I seriously doubt it. And that in itself might help those feelings of the current NBA Officials. Now if these were simply officials from the high school to college ranks, you might have a different reaction.

Peace

Yes they do have a choice. I know of one highly respected D1 official who was on the fast-track to the NBA. He said "no" and chose not to work as a "scab" because many of his mentors are NBA refs. Because of his decision, he may never reach his goal of working the NBA.

The NBA administration did not look highly of him turning down the offer to work during the lockout. After the lockout is over, it will interesting to see if he gets invited back to work the D-League.

Disagree. Every team's media office will be threatening to cut off access to players in response to stories like that.

If what you say is correct, then essentially they don't have a choice. They either work the NBA games or risk losing their D-League/WNBA jobs.

My idea of choice as it pertains to this scenario is "can they choose not to work NBA games now and still remain in the D-League and WNBA programs?"

So far I haven't heard a peep like this. Matter of fact, I overheard a local sportscaster comment he thought the replacements were doing better than the regular officials. :eek: The anchor asked if he'd been watching the movie "The Replacements" too many times. The sportscaster said no, and shockingly he said he was telling the full truth. :cool:

This is exactly the reason for my question. That doesn't seem like much of a choice unfortunately.

How do they have a choice if the NBA was not happy on their decision? That sounds like if they want to keep their job or standing, they have to work. If they want to give it all up, they do not work. Technically they have a choice, but it is the end result of that choice that is going to matter.

Peace