Email back from the NBA regarding officiating

[EJPLAYA]

I sent in an email following the horrendous officiating job by Bavetta the other night and surprisingly got a response back. In my email I expressed the frustration with Bavetta trying to be the star of the show, making calls against Rookies to prove a point, etc. I thought you guys would like to read their response:



Thank you for contacting the National Basketball Association with your concerns regarding officiating.  The NBA’s highest priority is to ensure that every game is determined on its merits, thus providing its fans with an honest and truly competitive league.

The NBA has a covenant with its fans.  To preserve their trust, we make every effort possible to ensure that league processes and procedures are as thorough and transparent as possible.  

We take seriously the actions of our officials.  They are the most measured and metricized group of employees in the world.  Our officials are held strictly accountable for their actions and we track every call they make to continually develop their abilities, with the understanding that their mistakes only make them human.  

Thank you again for your concern.  We appreciate your feedback regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

NBA Fan Relations

[Roy Hobbs]

Hmm...  I'm thinking that they get lots of letters like yours, and somebody was nice enough to draft up a form response.  What utter drivel.  The NBA has by far the worst refereeing in the four "major sports".

[fairweatherfan]

Huh, I didn't know that "as transparent as possible" = "4 paragraph form letter".  Learned something new today. 

[housecall]

I got the same response.

[Big Ticket]

Hmm...  I'm thinking that they get lots of letters like yours, and somebody was nice enough to draft up a form response.  What utter drivel.  The NBA has by far the worst refereeing in the four "major sports".

Probably true, but it is also by far the hardest of the 4 major sports to referee.

I do not envy their position in the slightest.

[cordobes]

Basketball is a very difficult sport to officiate. Some calls can arguably go both ways even after watching a dozen of replays from different camera angles. It's very difficult to find out the correct call in every play, the game is too fluid and fast.

Personally, and considering how quick and physical is the NBA game, I think the refs do a solid job. The games are generally better officiated than in Europe.

[dark_lord]

one word.......

TEMPLATE!

[Bankshot]

I sent in an email following the horrendous officiating job by Bavetta the other night and surprisingly got a response back. In my email I expressed the frustration with Bavetta trying to be the star of the show, making calls against Rookies to prove a point, etc. I thought you guys would like to read their response:



Thank you for contacting the National Basketball Association with your concerns regarding officiating.  The NBA’s highest priority is to ensure that every game is determined on its merits, thus providing its fans with an honest and truly competitive league.

The NBA has a covenant with its fans.  To preserve their trust, we make every effort possible to ensure that league processes and procedures are as thorough and transparent as possible.  

We take seriously the actions of our officials.  They are the most measured and metricized group of employees in the world.  Our officials are held strictly accountable for their actions and we track every call they make to continually develop their abilities, with the understanding that their mistakes only make them human.  

Thank you again for your concern.  We appreciate your feedback regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

NBA Fan Relations

Liars!  I specifically remember Stern saying something like "my officials will never be blamed".  Don't remember if he used the word "blamed" but it was something like that.  They are not held accountable for ANYTHING and Stern admitted it.

[Schupac]

EJPLAYA, watch out in a few days the NBA will try to fine you for criticizing it's referees.  Then they will show you video of a 4 step travel and explain to you how it is 2 steps.

[Brickowski]

They've changed their form letter.  They used to respond with a longer letter explaining the steps they take to train officials with videotape, self-evaluations and all the rest. I guess they realized that no one believed that baloney, and even if they were doing what they said they did, it wasn't working.

[EJPLAYA]

I actually started out my email to them saying I realized the sport was difficult. In fact, here is what I wrote:

There is no question that officiating an NBA basketball game is more difficult than probably any other sport out there, but it is getting increasingly frustrating as a fan that some of the referees in this league are more interested in being part of the show than being an official. The very best refereed games are the ones where you really don't remember the officials or any major game changing calls. I am specifically very tired of Dick Bavetta's insistence in being the focus of the attention. His, and other referees "dance moves" as they are making calls are a perfect example. There is absolutely no reason for them to add flair to their calls. It infuriates the fans, increases the tension of the players on the floor, and turns the focus of the game to them instead of the game itself. It is starting to remind me of the Leslie Neilsen bit in the Naked Gun series where he is the home plate umpire and gets progressively more flashy. Funny in a movie. Not when it is in a real game.

I spend a lot of money supporting the NBA and its players and this is something that pushes me and others away from the game. Please address this with the officials as you know we have many areas looking for our entertainment dollars. I shouldn't have to go away from a game more upset at the officials than the players performance. This is an easy fix that would benefit everyone involved.


I should have included that as well... I was actually pleased they responded at all, but it was definitely a form letter.

[guava_wrench]

Hmm...  I'm thinking that they get lots of letters like yours, and somebody was nice enough to draft up a form response.  What utter drivel.  The NBA has by far the worst refereeing in the four "major sports".

Worse than strike zones in baseball? I disagree. A lot of blow calls also on the basepaths in baseball, but balls and strikes are particularly bad.

[jimmehx]

That response is total trash. That means absolutely nothing. I'm glad that "the NBA cares". Hardly.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Basketball is a very difficult sport to officiate. Some calls can arguably go both ways even after watching a dozen of replays from different camera angles. It's very difficult to find out the correct call in every play, the game is too fluid and fast.

The caliber of March Madness officiating is FAR better then what you see on a nightly basis in the NBA. That to me is a tougher game to officiate... There is far more emotion in those buildings and in my opinion the game moves just as fast and the defenses in particular may move faster then the 1 on 5 NBA game. There is nowhere near enough of a difference in game speed or degree of difficulty to justify the horrendous officiating in the NBA compared with a strong D-I conference contest or NCAA tournament game.

The refs are either corrupt or wildly incompentent beyond all belief. Either way, the NBA does not care and does not do anywhere near enough to ensure the integrity of the game.

[Donoghus]

Well, the one thing that NBA officiating has going for it is that its still better than my school's intramural basketball referees. 

Not really sure if that's any consolation.