How to become an NBA referee?

JDOldSchool · 05-02-2005, 08:23 PM

How can I do this? I have no doubt that anybody on this board could be just as good (bad) as these idiots who don't know how to work the whistles properly. Where do I sign up?

Jeff Van Gundy is 150% right. The NBA knows how to fix their games. They know which refs to use in certain games. It's no surprise that teams that are just outmatched manage to win when they're able to thug it up on defense and get phantom calls on offense. It's ridiculous.

I have never seen such unprofessional officiating. It's terrible. Watch any game. You'll see, no lie, at least 25 calls that make you go "WTF was THAT?!" High school games have better officiating.

UngratefulDead · 05-02-2005, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

Watch any game.

No.

TheRockCT · 05-02-2005, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

No.

^^^^
Gets it. I've just found that I can't watch a whole NBA game anymore.

rangers85 · 05-02-2005, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

How can I do this? I have no doubt that anybody on this board could be just as good (bad) as these idiots who don't know how to work the whistles properly. Where do I sign up?

Jeff Van Gundy is 150% right. The NBA knows how to fix their games. They know which refs to use in certain games. It's no surprise that teams that are just outmatched manage to win when they're able to thug it up on defense and get phantom calls on offense. It's ridiculous.

I have never seen such unprofessional officiating. It's terrible. Watch any game. You'll see, no lie, at least 25 calls that make you go "WTF was THAT?!" High school games have better officiating.

For a while one day, Mark Cuban had the Mavericks record according to who was ref each game. One ref they had either right at the end of the season or at the start of the Houston series they were 0-6 with and yes, they ended up losing the game. Cuban didn't have the records up long though, some are thinking Stern pressured him to remove them.

abailey3313 · 05-02-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

No.

If it were up to me, that would've been a +3.

Davey Eckstein · 05-02-2005, 09:29 PM

They all obviously googled easy reffing jobs.

(I'm a thief, sue me).

abailey3313 · 05-02-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davey Eckstein

They all obviously googled easy reffing jobs.

(I'm a thief, sue me).

PM sent from my lawyer.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 05-02-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UngratefulDead

No.

Yeah, I started that policy this season and haven't missed it a bit.

sebastian0622 · 05-02-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eckstein 4 Prez

Yeah, I started that policy this season and haven't missed it a bit.

"

Crapshoot · 05-02-2005, 10:07 PM

A former NBA player worked for someone I knew, and was fairly candid about it- he said with a fair deal of certainty that results were "suggested" at times.

Spielman · 05-02-2005, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aadik

A former NBA player worked for someone I knew, and was fairly candid about it- he said with a fair deal of certainty that results were "suggested" at times.

Uh huh.

There was a Kings/Lakers game six a few years back which was just about the most obvious thing I've ever seen in my life.

I don't trust basketball anymore, so I don't watch.

-Spielman

Crapshoot · 05-02-2005, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spielman

Uh huh.

There was a Kings/Lakers game six a few years back which was just about the most obvious thing I've ever seen in my life.

I don't trust basketball anymore, so I don't watch.

-Spielman

Funny, that was the exact game I was referring to - this guy played in the 80's, but he said it had all the hallmarks of something suspicous. Keep in mind, he never participated in one, but I tend to believe there's at least guidance, if not outright orders.

canadiancreed · 05-02-2005, 10:50 PM

same. i watched one game a while back, and these jokers made NHL refs look good

Johnny Slick · 05-03-2005, 02:17 AM

Wow. I think I am the only person on the planet who believes this, but the refs ain't all that bad, and they sure as hell do not fix games. Consider:

- Home court advantage. The fans are closer to the action in the NBA than in any other sport. Far closer, actually. Hockey may be #2, but even hockey has a plexiglass wall separating angry fan from ref who just made a call against the home team. Interestingly enough, basketball used to have cages around the courts too. Anyway. The bottom line is, refs feel more pressure from the fans - I'm talking physical pressure here, not to mention mental, which is huge too - than in any other American team sport. You can't help but expect that refs will occasionally give a couple close calls a game to the home crowd. In fact, I am surprised that it doesn't happen more often.

- Star calls. They just don't happen. Instead, what is the case is that some players in the NBA are better at circumventing the rules than other players. Some examples: Karl Malone used to love to deck guys in the chops with The People's Elbow, but he never, ever, ever did it when a ref was looking. And he did it in such a way that it would look like he was just jostling for position with the guy he decked. Reggie Evans has this move that goes back at least to Zelmo Beaty where he'll grab a guy's pants and tug on them when he starts to go up for a basket. All the refs see is the second guy slap at Reggie and boom... foul called. Allen Iverson draws a lot of fouls because he's so little, when he goes into the air and is touched by a big, he spins around 17 times and lands on his face. How can you not call that?

If you really take the time to look at it, you'll find that the best floppers in the NBA aren't stars, they're role players who are only in the league because of guile. It's a little bit like the game control pitchers play with the strike zone in baseball, widening it in the early innings so it's as big as the moon come the 7th. We all know it's done, and if you appreciate it it's just a part of the game rather than a travesty.

- Shaq is a whole 'nother matter. I am a huge Shaq fan, but I will readily agree that the refs swallow the whistle when he has the ball down low. However, this works both ways. The zebras only call fouls on Shaq's defenders when they're really blatant about it. Conversely, they're then more or less trapped into giving Shaq the same kind of leeway. Personally, I think he would benefit from tighter calling on both sides. He is not, contrary to popular belief, a guy who can do nothing but dunk. I've seen his mini hook and his little 8-foot jumper, and they are solid.

- MJ vs. Bryon Russell. Utah fans will never agree with me on this, but I insist that Jordan's play to end the Finals and his career was within the bounds of the game. He had Russell turned around, he knew the refs didn't have a good angle on the two of them, and so he gave Russell a little shove. It's not that the play was clean; it's that he legitimately got away with something that's a part of the game.

- One thing I will admit to seeing: it's better than it used to be, but you still very rarely see guys get called for travels when they are driving the lane. Some players even seem to have as a signature move a little thing where they do a bunny hop to the middle of the key in the low block and then shoot it. It's annoying as F, kind of like the phantom tag in baseball, but it's also for similar reasons never going to be removed.

jazzrack · 05-03-2005, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spielman

Uh huh.

There was a Kings/Lakers game six a few years back which was just about the most obvious thing I've ever seen in my life.

I don't trust basketball anymore, so I don't watch.

-Spielman

arghhhh ............... Shaq, kobe & 3 refs.

the 7 game first round is the Lakers protection rule.

NBA fixed?

yep

Yyzlin · 05-03-2005, 03:03 AM

Games have been fantastic this year, and it's a shame that people are missing out. The game pace has been quickened and there's much more offense than previous years' defensive oriented snooze fests. Yeah, the referees have been a little off this year, but I haven't seen favoring of any kind. I really can't believe that someone would believe conspiracy theories or team biases. I mean, come on, are you really saying that the NBA doesn't want a team like Houston with Yao Ming, the player with the largest fan base in the world, to not succeed? Please.

jazzrack · 05-03-2005, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yyzlin

Games have been fantastic this year, and it's a shame that people are missing out. The game pace has been quickened and there's much more offense than previous years' defensive oriented snooze fests. Yeah, the referees have been a little off this year, but I haven't seen favoring of any kind. I really can't believe that someone would believe conspiracy theories or team biases. I mean, come on, are you really saying that the NBA doesn't want a team like Houston with Yao Ming, the player with the largest fan base in the world, to not succeed? Please.

I have no doubt the NBA will make every attempt to make the series a better product. With no lakers this year I doubt you will see anything like the Sahq, Kobe & 3 refs of a few years back. but a few swallowed whistles, fouls being called on some no-name instead of the star, ect to keep games/series interesting? yep.

Yyzlin · 05-03-2005, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzrack

I have no doubt the NBA will make every attempt to make the series a better product. With no lakers this year I doubt you will see anything like the Sahq, Kobe & 3 refs of a few years back. but a few swallowed whistles, fouls being called on some no-name instead of the star, ect to keep games/series interesting? yep.

Can you point out any specific examples?

jazzrack · 05-03-2005, 03:34 AM

see post 11. it was pretty blatent.

everything else is pure opinion

Yyzlin · 05-03-2005, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzrack

see post 11. it was pretty blatent.

everything else is pure opinion

I meant this year.

05-02-2005, 08:23 PM	#1
JDOldSchool Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,023	How to become an NBA referee? How can I do this? I have no doubt that anybody on this board could be just as good (bad) as these idiots who don't know how to work the whistles properly. Where do I sign up? Jeff Van Gundy is 150% right. The NBA knows how to fix their games. They know which refs to use in certain games. It's no surprise that teams that are just outmatched manage to win when they're able to thug it up on defense and get phantom calls on offense. It's ridiculous. I have never seen such unprofessional officiating. It's terrible. Watch any game. You'll see, no lie, at least 25 calls that make you go "WTF was THAT?!" High school games have better officiating.

05-02-2005, 10:07 PM	#10
Crapshoot Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: watching: DArwin's missing link in action Posts: 3,112	A former NBA player worked for someone I knew, and was fairly candid about it- he said with a fair deal of certainty that results were "suggested" at times. __________________ Senior Senor Member of the OOTP Boards Pittsburgh Playmates- OTBL

05-02-2005, 10:50 PM	#13
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660 Blog Entries: 1	same. i watched one game a while back, and these jokers made NHL refs look good __________________ PT21 PT22

05-03-2005, 03:03 AM	#16
Yyzlin All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Triangle Favorite Band: Iron Maiden Posts: 759	Games have been fantastic this year, and it's a shame that people are missing out. The game pace has been quickened and there's much more offense than previous years' defensive oriented snooze fests. Yeah, the referees have been a little off this year, but I haven't seen favoring of any kind. I really can't believe that someone would believe conspiracy theories or team biases. I mean, come on, are you really saying that the NBA doesn't want a team like Houston with Yao Ming, the player with the largest fan base in the world, to not succeed? Please. __________________

05-03-2005, 03:34 AM	#19
jazzrack Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still kicking Posts: 3,229 Blog Entries: 25	see post 11. it was pretty blatent. everything else is pure opinion __________________ . "Never confuse composure for ease" Was once Head Cheese of Corporate League Baseball

05-02-2005, 09:29 PM	#6
Davey Eckstein Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Laundry Barn Favorite food: Bran flakes. Posts: 1,283	They all obviously googled easy reffing jobs. (I'm a thief, sue me).

05-03-2005, 02:17 AM	#14
Johnny Slick Banned Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,012	Wow. I think I am the only person on the planet who believes this, but the refs ain't all that bad, and they sure as hell do not fix games. Consider: - Home court advantage. The fans are closer to the action in the NBA than in any other sport. Far closer, actually. Hockey may be #2, but even hockey has a plexiglass wall separating angry fan from ref who just made a call against the home team. Interestingly enough, basketball used to have cages around the courts too. Anyway. The bottom line is, refs feel more pressure from the fans - I'm talking physical pressure here, not to mention mental, which is huge too - than in any other American team sport. You can't help but expect that refs will occasionally give a couple close calls a game to the home crowd. In fact, I am surprised that it doesn't happen more often. - Star calls. They just don't happen. Instead, what is the case is that some players in the NBA are better at circumventing the rules than other players. Some examples: Karl Malone used to love to deck guys in the chops with The People's Elbow, but he never, ever, ever did it when a ref was looking. And he did it in such a way that it would look like he was just jostling for position with the guy he decked. Reggie Evans has this move that goes back at least to Zelmo Beaty where he'll grab a guy's pants and tug on them when he starts to go up for a basket. All the refs see is the second guy slap at Reggie and boom... foul called. Allen Iverson draws a lot of fouls because he's so little, when he goes into the air and is touched by a big, he spins around 17 times and lands on his face. How can you not call that? If you really take the time to look at it, you'll find that the best floppers in the NBA aren't stars, they're role players who are only in the league because of guile. It's a little bit like the game control pitchers play with the strike zone in baseball, widening it in the early innings so it's as big as the moon come the 7th. We all know it's done, and if you appreciate it it's just a part of the game rather than a travesty. - Shaq is a whole 'nother matter. I am a huge Shaq fan, but I will readily agree that the refs swallow the whistle when he has the ball down low. However, this works both ways. The zebras only call fouls on Shaq's defenders when they're really blatant about it. Conversely, they're then more or less trapped into giving Shaq the same kind of leeway. Personally, I think he would benefit from tighter calling on both sides. He is not, contrary to popular belief, a guy who can do nothing but dunk. I've seen his mini hook and his little 8-foot jumper, and they are solid. - MJ vs. Bryon Russell. Utah fans will never agree with me on this, but I insist that Jordan's play to end the Finals and his career was within the bounds of the game. He had Russell turned around, he knew the refs didn't have a good angle on the two of them, and so he gave Russell a little shove. It's not that the play was clean; it's that he legitimately got away with something that's a part of the game. - One thing I will admit to seeing: it's better than it used to be, but you still very rarely see guys get called for travels when they are driving the lane. Some players even seem to have as a signature move a little thing where they do a bunny hop to the middle of the key in the low block and then shoot it. It's annoying as F, kind of like the phantom tag in baseball, but it's also for similar reasons never going to be removed.