Letter to Big South Commish regarding Joe Forte

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Commissioner Kyle Kallander
Big South Conference
7233 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 100
Charlotte, N.C. 28226

October 17, 2009

Dear Commissioner Kallander:

Greetings. It is with great displeasure that I am writing you about an issue that some officials feel is unfair and unprofessional treatment that is being displayed on and to some of your officials within your conference regarding officiating men’s basketball.

Unfortunately, the National Basketball Association and its referees are at odds pertaining to contract negotiations. Due to the fact that no agreement has been reached, the NBA has decided to lockout its officials until a contract agreement can be reached. In the meantime, Joe Forte, the supervisor of officials in the Big South Conference and current NBA referee, has decided that he would either fire or not assign games to any NCAA official who decided to take the opportunity to assist the NBA and gain invaluable experience by working the lockout for the NBA.

Joe Forte’s actions lack integrity and scream unprofessionalism by disregarding the fact that NCAA officials are independent contractors and have no obligation to honor the negotiation disputes that the NBA referees are currently experiencing with the NBA by not accepting an opportunity to officiate in the NBA during the lockout.

The NBA is a dream for many NCAA officials just as the NBA is a dream for many NCAA players. For Joe Forte to take a personal agenda against officials who have been identified by the NBA should be cause for him to be fired immediately or at the very least, publically reprimanded for his actions. Joe Forte has shown that he cannot separate his personal agenda from business and his actions are denying the Big South Conference from having some of the best officials it can have on the floor because he is mad about the NBA using some of the Big South’s referees.

We request that the officials who Joe Forte has fired or denied games be immediately reinstated or given games. To sit back and do nothing would be condoning his actions and allowing him to take out his personal agenda against officials who had nothing to do with the issues that are between the NBA and its referees.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

CC: David Stern, NBA
Ron Johnson, NBA
John Adams, NCAA
Dawn Turner, Big South
Joe Forte, NBA and Big South
USA Today
Yahoo Sports