Is the NBA trying to take away free speech (ie heckling)?

[Q_FBE]

Witness this silly exchange between the ref and the fan at last night's Game 2:

Official throws basketball at fan in Game 2
By Shannon J. Owens / The Orlando Sentinel
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - Added 13h ago

ORLANDO, Fla. - Players were not the only ones getting physical on the Amway Arena court. The NBA will review a confrontation between veteran referee Joe DeRosa and a fan that occurred at halftime.

Referees DeRosa, Marc Davis and Bill Kennedy walked to the scorer’s table at midcourt after the second quarter to retrieve their jackets to a chorus of boos and fans chanting "Refs you suck."


Comments (11): 
 

Do you know who I am? I'm rich and I know Doc Rivers! If I said you suck, well you must suck! I always get my way!
 
The fan, probably "graduated on paper" from Harvard and decided to "mock" the referees like Barry, another Harvard graduate mocks those who oppose him.

I think that most refs are biased and of average ability. Having watched basketball games from third grade on up for a long time, when you compare NBA refs with middle school, high school and college refs, they don't seem that much better. They still call too many "It must have happened" fouls. Maybe we need a replay system similar to the NFL. One per time out.
 
Who does this official think he is? Ron Artest? Everyone knows that fans say a lot during games. If the official can't keep his cool in a mild confrontation with a fan, how can he call a fair game?
 
There were some pretty bad calls, and most were in the C's favor. That said: It goes both ways, the refs are people and make mistakes. Maybe game 3 will be the "make-up" with bad calls against the C's.
<Q - I really don't believe that most calls were in the C's favor. Orlando was decisively outplayed again last night and the final margin of victory probably should have been 10 points. Seems like Orlando got all the breaks late in the 4th quarter again but could not capitalize on them>

Also, there's no excuse for throwing the ball at the fan. That guy needs to be fired. Period.

<Q - I couldn't agree more> 

What will David Stern say about the issue. Cleary the ref lost his composure and overly exerted his authority. I have never in my lifetime of watching sports, seen a ref interact with a fan that way. Where the NBA quickly hands out fines to players and coaches bad-mouthing the refs, this ref needs a fine and a supsension. I'm sorry David Stern, you got it wrong. Fans watch the games, we don't need the players/coaches post game interviews to know that the refs are inconsistent and make numerous bad calls and numerous "that's not a foul" calls.

<Q - I bet we don't hear boo in the media on this. Perhaps a memo from David Stern's office that the league has investigated the incident and reprimanded the official who threw the ball at the ref. And DeRosa will be taken out of the rotation and given low profile games next year like Minnesota vs Sacremento. >

The NBA has beefed up security at arenas following the Ron Artest incident at the palace to make sure there are no more altercations between those directly involved in the game and the fans.

[Fafnir]

Heckling on private property (assuming the arena is privately owned most are) is not free speech.

I don't like what Joe Derosa did, but I also can understand how heckling fans can grate on officials. You'd think he'd have a thicker skin for a veteran though.

[incoherent]

I can't explain how upset I would be if I was that fan... he should get free tickets IMO.

[fairweatherfan]

The NBA is trying to make Congress pass a law abridging the freedom of speech? 

Don't know what was up with DeRosa and that fan but I agree with Mark Jackson - give him the same penalty you'd give a guy like Sheed for doing the same thing.  I doubt that'll happen but he should get some kind of significant penalty for his role in it.

[Lucky17]

DeRosa should face some sort of disciplinary action for confronting the fan. You just don't do that.

As for the fan, I agree with JVG's comments during the game: buying a ticket to a sporting event does not give you license to act with impunity like an idiot.

The fan deserves nothing: no apology, no free tickets, no coupon for 10% off a clearance-priced Hedo Turkoglu jersey from the Magic gift shop. Act like an asshat, be prepared for the consequences.

[Chris]

Heckling is actually against the NBA Fan Code of conduct. 

http://www.nba.com/celtics/tickets/NBACodeConduct.html

Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.

They are generally very lenient with this, however, they have every right to enforce it when they want.

As has been mentioned many times on this site, the right to free speech does not mean you can simply say whatever you want, whenever you want, without any retribution.  If you are in an establishment, you must abide by the rules of that establishment.

[LB3533]

NBA and all its fines for player/coaches commenting on the refs....seems like Stern is trying to squelch freedom of speech.

[ACF]

Also, there's no excuse for throwing the ball at the fan. That guy needs to be fired. Period.

No matter what the fan said, that's six on DeRosa.

[Q_FBE]

Presenting the NBA Fan Code of Conduct

NEW YORK, NY (February 17,2005) -- The National Basketball Association today issued to all teams a revised set of Arena Guidelines, according to NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Russ Granik. The Guidelines include policies dealing with the deployment of security personnel, alcohol sales and a new Fan Code of Conduct.

The Arena Guidelines were prepared in consultation with NBA teams and arena operators, crowd management and security experts, law enforcement officials, members of the concessions industry and representatives of TEAM (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management).

The NBA Fan Code of Conduct, which sets forth expected standards of decorum for all fans attending NBA games, will be posted prominently in all NBA arenas, and public address announcements concerning some of its key elements will be made during each NBA game. Guests who fail to adhere to these standards will be subject to ejection and revocation of season tickets.

The new Guidelines also set forth minimum standards regarding the serving of alcohol, including the provision that alcohol be served only until the start of the fourth quarter, restrictions on the size (24 ounces) and number (two) of alcoholic beverages sold per individual customer, the training of arena personnel in effective alcohol management, and the maintenance of designated driver programs in each NBA arena.

The Arena Guidelines will go into effect for all NBA games beginning with the All-Star Game in Denver on Sunday, February 20.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The National Basketball Association, Boston Celtics, and TD Garden are committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable sports & entertainment experience. NBA fans have a right to expect an environment where:

Players will respect and appreciate each and every fan.
Guests will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all arena and team personnel.
Guests will enjoy the basketball experience free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
Guests will consume alcoholic beverages in a responsible manner. Intervention with an impaired, intoxicated or underage guest will be handled in a prompt and safe manner.
Guests will sit only in their ticketed seats and show their tickets when requested.
Guests will not engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the court, and those who engage in any of these actions will immediately be ejected from the game.
Guests will smoke in designated smoking areas only.
There will not be any obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing.
Guests will comply with requests from arena staff regarding arena operations and emergency response procedures.
The arena staff has been trained to intervene where necessary to help ensure that the above expectations are met, and guests are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to the nearest usher, security guard or guest services staff member. Guests who choose not to adhere to these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund and revocation of season tickets and may also be in violation of city ordinances resulting in possible arrest and prosecution.

The NBA, Boston Celtics, and TD Garden thank you for adhering to the provisions of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct.

There seems to be a hole in discussing fan and referee relationships I noticed. Maybe they should have added employees of the NBA and the media for that matter.

And to review the definition of heckling - To verbally harass in public a performer (Synonymous with barb).

Don't know what the fan said to warrant the referee throwing the basketball at the fan after 1/2 time. I guess the fan did something that defied rules of common sense conduct in a public place. I know the referee was out of bounds and must be disciplined by the NBA.

[bdm860]

The whole thing is kinda weird.  Are you're telling me if you watched this without the commentary (and without seeing the angry gestures before and after) you would really think anything was wrong?  It doesn't really looked like he "threw" the ball at the fan, more like he "tossed" it to him and the fan tossed it back, playful like.  Obviously the playfulness doesn't fit with the reactions before and after the toss, but the actual incident looks playful to me.  Like I said the whole thing is just kinda weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppxKf6N_8-g