Dwight Howard gets 35K fine

[ACF]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/news/story?id=5144707

Nice to see one of the top guys calling the refs out (whether you agree or disagree). Now, wouldn't it be beautiful if some big shot in the media did it, too? I'm not saying it's all fixed but it sure looks shady (that's putting it mildly) sometimes. I don't fear Cleveland but I do fear the refs.

[jdpapa3]

I've thought about this a while and I think that the guys should be able to criticize the refs after a game. I'm pretty sure the media sessions are mandatory. Refs can play just as much of a factor(and do) as coaches and players.

I think the comments would run rampant, but it should only be fine worthy if they allude to a conspiracy by a particular ref or the league. Also, they shouldn't bring up individual ref names in a bad light.

Acceptable: "The reffing out there was just complete trash tonight."

Unacceptable: "Pretty sure they were getting their orders from up above to extend this series for the tv revenue"

Just not a fan of censorship in most forms and forums.

[guava_wrench]

I'm sick of cry baby players and coaches who try to find targets to blame for their failures. Grow a pair Dwight. Same for Sheed and Phil Jackson.

[jdpapa3]

I'm sick of cry baby players and coaches who try to find targets to blame for their failures. Grow a pair Dwight. Same for Sheed and Phil Jackson.

I'm sorry, but I watched this game and 4/6 of the fouls called on Dwight were completely invented. He was either standing there with his hands straight up or got all ball without making body contact. And, the Magic annoy me. I'd love to jump on the "Dwight is a whiner" bandwagon, but I just can't here.

[guava_wrench]

I've thought about this a while and I think that the guys should be able to criticize the refs after a game. I'm pretty sure the media sessions are mandatory. Refs can play just as much of a factor(and do) as coaches and players.

I think the comments would run rampant, but it should only be fine worthy if they allude to a conspiracy by a particular ref or the league. Also, they shouldn't bring up individual ref names in a bad light.

Acceptable: "The reffing out there was just complete trash tonight."

Unacceptable: "Pretty sure they were getting their orders from up above to extend this series for the tv revenue"

Just not a fan of censorship in most forms and forums.

Why would you want players whining about refs unless they are mentioning specific plays where you can check if their whining has any merit? Otherwise you get clowns like Sheed complaining about good calls.

You do realize that players will complain about calls, even in the all time best reffed game? No matter how good calls are, perceptions of observers, including players, will never be perfect.

There is an assumption in any sport that refs/umps are only correct to a certain percentage. It is up to the players to take the game out of that margin of error. If a pitcher is going to complain about the umpire instead of doing what he can in the circumstances, he is not going to be effective. There is no need to blame the umpire after the game for the player's self-destruction.

[Bahku]

It's truly amazing how the officiating took Dwight Howard completely out of these games ... I mean, he was as much of a non-factor as a player could be in a playoff series. I honestly can't stand the guy and all the "Superman" crap, but there's no question the calls, justified or not, left him pretty much impotent against the Bobcats. Was it done intentionally to make the series more competitive? That will never be known, obviously ... but it's just as easy to make a case for it as it is to make one against.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I wonder why these guys don't just have a friend speak for them... they'll get the message out and probably won't be liable to getting fined. I mean, can the league fine your for complaining about refs in private?

[Chris]

I've thought about this a while and I think that the guys should be able to criticize the refs after a game. I'm pretty sure the media sessions are mandatory. Refs can play just as much of a factor(and do) as coaches and players.

I think the comments would run rampant, but it should only be fine worthy if they allude to a conspiracy by a particular ref or the league. Also, they shouldn't bring up individual ref names in a bad light.

Acceptable: "The reffing out there was just complete trash tonight."

Unacceptable: "Pretty sure they were getting their orders from up above to extend this series for the tv revenue"

Just not a fan of censorship in most forms and forums.

Its not censorship, its simple business.  If you ran a clothing store, would you like your employees telling all the customers that the clothes are cheaply made, and will fall apart after two times through the wash?  Of course not.  To allow employees publically bash the product you are trying to sell does not help the business, even if its true.

[Tai]

I'm really fed up with the whining too.