It's About Time!

Am I the only person that is actually excited about the possibility of replacement referees being in place when the NBA's pre-season starts, with the possibility of going into the regular season like that? Now my bitterness and anger is pointed at anyone that wants more money when they don't deserve it. Sure, the current contract between the officials and the NBA expired on September 1st. Sure the officials have the opportunity and the ability to negotiate new contracts. But what I don't get, and I never will, is why do people wait until the deadline to get the negotiations started?

So now we might actually have some officials who give a damn. Some officials who realize that the people came to the arena and paid good money to watch the players, not the refs. Maybe we will actually get some time away from Dick Baveta and Joey Crawford. Both of these guys are like 90 and they are still trying to showboat with every call they make to placate to the crowd. Also, doesn't Baveta remind you of the rich guy that Hanibal Lecter ate in the movie Hannibal? What about Crawford, he looks like the 90 year old version of Bruce Willis trying to make Die Hard 20. These guys are worthless and honestly can't keep up anymore.

What about grudges that they hold on to? Like Crawford and his love affair with Tim Duncan and just this past season when Billy Kennedy and Doc Rivers got into it and the next time Kennedy officiated a game the Celtics, they were called for fouls three times the amount then the other team was called for. Now I'm also not trying to say that the NBA doesn't have their role to play in this foul up. I mean, why would Kennedy coach 3 of the first round playoff series games that involved the Celtics? Why would Crawford be officiating Spurs playoff games still? And don't even get me started on Tim Donaghy. That was a royal fubar for the NBA as well.

So, while I empathise with the officials, especially in light of the economic times, I won't lose any sleep over them and their situation. Hey I haven't gotten a raise in two years because my company couldn't afford to do it. The NBA is willing to give them a raise in year two of a two year deal and keep the same salaries this year. NBA officials better watch out. You never know how good your replacements are going to be if you let them take your job. Just ask Wall Pipp how that went!

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