'Environment of hostility' festering between NBA players, refs?

The referees' union is crying foul about the way some NBA coaches and players treat its members. The union cites 27 incidents over the past two seasons that resulted in coaches and players being suspended or fined for their behavior toward referees. (Related item: Incidents from past two seasons) (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-28-referees-abuse_x.htm#list)

"Our greatest fear is that we're a step away from a referee being physically assaulted," Lamell McMorris, executive director of the National Basketball Referees Association, says. "That's where we are. That's the environment that's being created."

McMorris calls it "an environment of hostility." He says it is being created because the league "isn't putting down as heavy a hand as it could and should" when incidents occur. He cited a Jan. 10 incident during which Carlos Arroyo bumped a referee and drew a one-game suspension. McMorris said Arroyo should have been suspended for multiple games.

"Refs should be untouchable," he says. "At some time that message has to be sent. The Arroyo case was a good opportunity to send the message, 'don't bump referees. Don't touch referees.' They have to know if you touch a referee in a hostile manner and he feels threatened, it won't be tolerated."

Seattle SuperSonics forward Danny Fortson has been penalized more than any other player the last two seasons for his actions towards referees, having been suspended three times for a total of five games.

Sacramento Kings point guard Mike Bibby has paid $25,000 in fines for two incidents.

"I remember an incident overseas about five years ago where a player punched a referee and knocked him cold," New York Knicks swingman Jalen Rose says. "I don't think anything like that will ever happen in the NBA. Emotions run rampant. The games are so intense, and the stakes are so high. (But) At the end of the day, players and coaches really respect officials and really appreciate that they try to do a good job."

Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who has been an officials' watchdog since purchasing the Mavericks, says McMorris is off base.

"He is creating a situation that doesn't exist," Cuban says. "Maybe he should request that the league release results of officials' performance evaluations so fans, players and owners can see how wonderful a job they actually do. The officials do a good job overall. This would be his opportunity to confirm it to all."

Knicks coach Larry Brown has been the most heavily fined coach for his interactions with referees the past two seasons. Brown has been fined three times for a total of $70,000.

"The emotionally charged and highly competitive nature of our games is one of the things that makes it compelling to our fans," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle says. "The fine line you walk as a player or coach is that you have to channel those emotions in a way that's not harmful to your team or the game. That's the situation we're dealing with. My sense was it was getting better year to year."

Stu Jackson, executive vice president, operations for the NBA, says the league closely monitors the relationship and method of communication between referees and players and coaches, and that it has improved in recent years.

Still, the league has taken measures this season to protect referees and improve their relationship with players and coaches, imposing stiffer penalties for unsportsmanlike technical fouls as a deterrent toconflicts.

The first five technicals a coach or player receives are $1,000 each, up from $500; technicals 6-10 are $1,500 each, and the 16th technical carries a $2,500 fine and an automatic one-game suspension. Also, any ejection carries at automatic $1,000 fine.

Jackson says the number of fines and suspensions this season is "more of a function of our increased scrutiny of players and coaches, and referees for that matter, and how they handle conflict on the floor. We're scrutinizing players and coaches very closely in maintaining a certain level of decorum on the floor. "Every indication we have is they have been helpful," Jackson says, pointing out that 661 unsportsmanlike conduct technical fouls were called through 828 games this season compared to 809 through 829 games last season.

Six coaches — Brown, Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers, George Karl, Mike Montgomery and Lawrence Frank — have been fined this season for inappropriate behavior to ward referees. There were four such fines last season.

"We're working on it," Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan says. "Both sides are working on it. We need to have a (good) working relationship with the officials no matter how much we disagree, and fans must see it."

Referees are not allowed to talk to the media about such issues. But privately two veteran referees say that fines are meaningless because of the amount of money NBA players and coaches make. These two would like to see suspensions.

"The league needs to be a bit more forceful, as they have been in other rules and regulations, when it comes to the protection of referees," McMorris says. "If you have to be held back from charging after the referee, you've crossed the line. Fining isn't enough."

A major complaint among referees is how coaches and owners can go directly to Jackson and Ronnie Nunn, the supervisor of officials, with complaints about officiating issues. They say that practice un dermines their authority and diminishes players' respect for them.

"Instead of blaming officials for their teams' deficiencies and shortcomings, individuals need to keep their eyes on the prize and focus on the game and their teams responsibility and failures and stop blaming the refs," said McMorris.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-28-referees-abuse_x.htm

There wouldn't be any issues if they just called the game correctly.

Exactly. When they stop trying to steal the show, there will be no more issues. Fuck officals.

They should get rid of Violet Palmer. That dumb bitch.

They should get rid of Violet Palmer. That dumb bitch.
I'm all for equality in the workplace and all of that. But an NBA Official is one position where I don't see it necessary.

And get those female reporters out of the lockerroom, get the cameras out of the lockerroom. Hell, get all media people out of the lockerroom, that's not where they're supposed to be. Guys are coming out of the shower and there is a camera in their face. Eli Zaret wrote a blog story of how Rip had to get dressed in front of several members of the media, including women and cameras. It's just wrong.

I agree with Skelly. I understand why Sheed is the way he is tward the media. Fuck that. I wouldnt want to talk to them either. Atleast let them get dressed, for crying out loud

I like this line by Mark Cuban.


Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who has been an officials' watchdog since purchasing the Mavericks, says McMorris is off base.

"He is creating a situation that doesn't exist," Cuban says. "Maybe he should request that the league release results of officials' performance evaluations so fans, players and owners can see how wonderful a job they actually do. The officials do a good job overall. This would be his opportunity to confirm it to all."

Here is the link to the Zaret thing I mentioned, pretty interesting.

http://bluecollarblueprint.typepad.com/blue_collar_blueprint/2006/02/addressing_the_.html

Here is the link to the Zaret thing I mentioned, pretty interesting.

http://bluecollarblueprint.typepad.com/blue_collar_blueprint/2006/02/addressing_the_.html


You get out of the shower and there are 15 relative strangers anxiously watching you put your clothes on.

In my case, I’m watching Rip’s every move

[smilie=anxious.gif]

It's a league policy issue because I'm pretty sure men cannot interview in womans lockerrooms - though I could be wrong. How is it done in college for example?? I don't believe reporters are allowed in dressing rooms? Tennis and Golf don't have the dressing room interview either. Does the WNBA??

Why can't the guys have a dressing area seperate from the reporters?? Is it because guys will hide there and cool down(emotionally) and the reporters won't get their juicy comments??

Teams should make a rule - you can interview in the dressing rooms if the reporter gets nekkid as well, if not you have to wait until the players are dressed.

I liked reading that article from Zaret as a media man point of view. He talked about some of the added advantages he saw now that women reporters are allowed in there. His main points were that players used to walk around naked and swear all the time, but now it's more civilized. I'm sorry Eli, but it's a LOCKERROOM!

If I came out of the showers with just a towel on and saw 15 media members including women, cameras, and a gleamy eyed Eli Zaret, I would probably go off on them. Get the fuck away from my locker, don't fucking look at me, get the fuck out of here. I would say all of that, and realize it would appear on Sportscenter and all media outlets the next day.

Besides, when has there ever been a worthwhile lockerroom interview? Besides Sheed's guarantees, I can't think of any. There is no juice there.

I see the lockerroom as a sacred place, no media person should have ever been allowed in there.

And I'm sorry H1Man for hijaking your thread.

I like this line by Mark Cuban.


Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who has been an officials' watchdog since purchasing the Mavericks, says McMorris is off base.

"He is creating a situation that doesn't exist," Cuban says. "Maybe he should request that the league release results of officials' performance evaluations so fans, players and owners can see how wonderful a job they actually do. The officials do a good job overall. This would be his opportunity to confirm it to all."

Same here. Leave it to Cuban to use the article as a vehicle for something he's been calling for for years.

I think the officials are just fine.

The players need to chill out and play the game, and realize that the refs are not after them. They're human, they are going to make mistakes and fuck up. All refs suck, and they will continue to suck, so deal with it.

I'm slightly worried about what's going to happen with these refs if we're in an elimination situation in the playoffs. we really can't give them that chance.

The refs are foolish. They're worried about players assaulting them, the only player i can think of that ever did that was Rodman though.

They should worry about their safety, but the fans will stomp that ass out way before a player would.

Agreed. Especially in Detoilet ... wait ... what did I say?

The refs are foolish. They're worried about players assaulting them, the only player i can think of that ever did that was Rodman though.

NVE assaulted quite a few refs back when he was a Laker.

Just saying.

Agreed. Especially in Detoilet ... wait ... what did I say?

I think you just said Detriot.

Agreed. Especially in Detoilet ... wait ... what did I say?

I think you just said Detriot.

Detroit ain't shit. We wouldn't whoop their ass because they made bad calls, we'd whoop their ass when they didn't give us a quarter while we kicked it on the curb with a fifth of erk n jerk.

Lakers actually have the craziest fans though. I could see LA doing something like that for a bad whistle. Not the celebrities at the game, but refs better have one of 50cent's bulletproof hummers ready to leave the staples center if they ever plan on robbing kobe and smush.

It's the NBA's fault that this situation occurs. If they stopped giving superstar's calls (like Wade, MJ and Miller back in the day) all the time, then players wouldn't have any reason to complain to officials. Since they make this a superstar league, players feel like they are entitled to certain calls. they lobby all the time. if they would just call the game fair (a foul is a foul, regardless of player status), then you wouldn't have players "earning" calls, or complaining when they don't "earn" a call. I blame the NBA, or officials union for making the calls so lopsided for superstars.

Rasheed cries foul on referees
Increase in technicals baffles Wallace, who says the officials are to blame for some of the hostility.

Rasheed Wallace read the story in USA Today on Wednesday, about how referees believe there is an increasing "environment of hostility" between officials and players.

Wallace, who has been whistled for 15 technical fouls this season (only 12 count toward a suspension), said the hostility isn't necessarily coming from players.

"In the five games since the All-Star break, we have two games where we've had three or more techs called on us," he said. "And they say we're hot-headed?"

The Pistons have been called for 10 technical fouls in the last three games, but Wallace points out that several of those were instigated by the officials.

"In Cleveland (Monday) I was trying to keep Dyess (Antonio McDyess) from getting thrown out after he got his tech for that crazy delay of game," Wallace said. "I am trying to keep him from getting thrown out and (referee) Jack Nies is telling me to get away from him. I'm like, 'Jack, I am trying to keep him away from you.' And he's yelling at me, 'Get away.' I should've just let Dyess go after him. It's crazy."

Wallace earned a technical foul from Nies later from laughing, after Zydrunas Ilguaskas had thrown him to the floor.

In the previous game, referee Joe Crawford slapped early technical fouls on Tayshaun Prince and Flip Saunders for trying to have a conversation with him.

"They say, 'Don't say nothing to me,' " Wallace said. "What, I can't talk to you? I can't even say, 'Watch out for that ball boy on the floor behind you?' It's like they want the attention to be fixed on them."

The head of the referees union, Larnell McMorris, told USA Today that the referees feared they were a step away from being physically assaulted. Wallace and other Pistons said that was a ridiculously overdramatic statement and further evidence that the referees have become detrimentally paranoid.

"In my opinion, I think they do (have a chip on their shoulder) and I don't know why," Wallace said.

"But it makes you think. It's what makes a lot of fans think, are the games fixed? This is just my opinion, but just for some of the stuff they do call, it makes you scratch your head."

Worse, said Wallace, it's taking some of the joy out of playing the game.

"You get two good adversaries out there and they are going at it. They respect each other and you are just playing hard," he said. "Then you start to feel you're not getting treated fairly, or whatever.

"I mean, there's no hostility towards the other players, but when the refs call that little ticky-tack foul at one end, then you go down at the other end and get murdered, it takes the fun out of it.

"Now you can't even laugh because you'll get a tech."

Wallace said he would like to see referees held as publicly accountable as players are. Presently, performance evaluations and reprimands are kept behind closed doors by the league.

"If they reprimand officials, it should be in the paper," Wallace said.

"I've always been a firm believer in that. They put all of our stuff in the paper: how much we make, how much we're fined. They never put that stuff out there about the refs."
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/SPORTS0102/603020330/1127