I will get to the Lakers-Celtics Game 3 summaries on my next post, but I just thought I should bring up the wonderful news of Donaghy's allegations in regards to the foul play involved in the NBA in terms of officiating and superstar treatment.
Well, well, well. This is some news! I, for one, love it. I love the fact that this is out in the open, and I would think that the Sternbot is shook right now. The NBA, those greedy bastards, asked Donaghy's team for $1 million in reprimands for "damaging" the league's reputation. From ESPN:
"The NBA claimed that it was forced to spend the nice round sum of $1 million investigating Donaghy and the damage he caused, and the league wants its money back. Clearly enraged by the unexpected demand from the NBA for $1 million, Donaghy and Lauro retaliated with detailed accusations of manipulation by other referees. It is the worst nightmare for the NBA, which might now be reconsidering a withdrawal of its demand for restitution. "
Newsflash to the Sternbot: Your referees haven't had credibility in the past 2 years, and even before then it was quite shaky. However, since the 2006 NBA Finals, it's gotten much, much worse.
The Sternbot, being himself, responded to these allegations by constantly repeating that his old pal Donaghy was simply trying to get a lesser sentence, and that the allegations were "baseless". Yes, SO baseless that people (columnists and fans alike) STILL cite that Game 6 as one of the worst officiated playoff games of all time, if not THE worst. So baseless that something that fans have been suspecting for YEARS is finally coming into fruition with actual proof by someone who was actually a part of the NBA's inner working circle. Donaghy has nothing to lose at this point, he will get a prison sentence no matter what. I love the fact that he's spilling the NBA's dirty laundry because if thousands of fans have been suspecting it in their minds that the NBA is sometimes fixed, then there's no way so many collective minds can be wrong.
It's not that the NBA does it that's a problem (although that is obviously wrong on so many levels). What's worse is the WAY they do it. They make it so blatant that fans watching the game KNOW that its being handed to a certain team (usually the home team). And that's where the NBA is getting it wrong. If you're going to fix games through referees, at least do it in a more subtle and less obvious manner. If you're calling phantom fouls in crucial moments (Dwyane Wade! 2006 Finals!), calling superstars for tick tack fouls in the first quarter (Kobe Bryant! Game 2!), sending bench players to the line more than an entire team (Game 2!), then there is a problem.
Game 3 was fine. The officiating, while shaky at the start, was good. I'm glad the league told its officials to be consistent with the calls, although there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they only called it this way due to the allegations surfacing and because Stern has an unwritten rule about not letting his referees make things lopsided two games in a row. That would be too obvious, of course. I'm not sure if Stern is going to utilize his referee controlling powers for any other game this series due to the allegations surfacing, but I will GUARANTEE you it will come up in next year's playoffs for sure, and even at some points in the regular season.
If one team's fan base is saying it, then yeah, there may be homerism involved. But the fact that fans of the league as a WHOLE have been complaining about officiating for years now - despite whatever team they support - speaks louder then any bullshit that Stern can provide as an answer to these allegations. The product on the court speaks for itself. Need proof? Watch Game 6 of the 2002 Western Confernce Finals. Tim Donaghy recommends it.
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