Steven A.: "Officials taking over the game"

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I know that a lot of you guys aren't fans of Steven A. or Skip, and I can't really say that I am, either, but I thought this video, in which they discuss the Rondo incident, was worth sharing:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4692860/video-officials-taking-over-the-game

I like Steven A.'s take and am glad that he's speaking out about the terrible NBA officiating. What I found most interesting, though, was Skip's comment that "the NBA rules explicitly state that you can't make contact with an official" -- when I heard that, the first that came to me was, "NBA rules also explicitly state that taking more than two steps is a traveling violation, and look how often THAT goes uncalled." When guys are diving on the floor for a loose ball, I find it hard to call one thing a foul but not another -- and I absolutely disagree, by the way, with Skip's assessment that Brandon Bass "assaulted" Josh Smith on that loose ball.

[j804]

Bass did get him on the head but that was after the fact it should have been called a jump ball

[Finkelskyhook]

steven i smith actually seemed to tune down his abnoxious schtick late last year.  He sounds somewhat intelligent and informed when he speaks instead of shouts.

Unfortunately, he's spitting and shouting again. Any combination of steven i smith,  bayless, or jamele hill produces nothing of substance or anything worth listening to.

We didn't lose the game because of the officials.

[indeedproceed]

Skip Bayless: "But then, there is a scrum on the floor. Loose ball. All for one, one for all."

Is that what Skip Bayless thinks ebonics is or something?

[Finkelskyhook]

Skip Bayless: "But then, there is a scrum on the floor. Loose ball. All for one, one for all."

Is that what Skip Bayless thinks ebonics is or something?

bayless, steven i smith, or jamele hill are far from bilingual, IP....

They haven't mastered one language yet.

[CelticHooligan3]

http://highbridnation.com/2008/06/19/espncoms-jemele-hill-suspended-for-comment-rooting-for-the-celtics-is-like-saying-hitler-was-a-victim/

Never forget.. NEVER.

[Finkelskyhook]

http://highbridnation.com/2008/06/19/espncoms-jemele-hill-suspended-for-comment-rooting-for-the-celtics-is-like-saying-hitler-was-a-victim/

Never forget.. NEVER.

The problem with jamele hill is that she may be the most unintelligent, uninformed commentator in the history of sports. 

That's before the racist and just plain stupid commentary.

[CelticHooligan3]

http://highbridnation.com/2008/06/19/espncoms-jemele-hill-suspended-for-comment-rooting-for-the-celtics-is-like-saying-hitler-was-a-victim/

Never forget.. NEVER.

The problem with jamele hill is that she may be the most unintelligent, uninformed commentator in the history of sports. 

That's before the racist and just plain stupid commentary.

Agree on all counts.

[Eddie20]

Good video of that OT game Marc Davis called at Boston April 11th. A game that was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in quite some time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N806wOuatPY&feature=player_embedded#!

Felger and Mazz questioning as to why the league would assign Davis to officiate a C's game with the way this one was called. I would say it's probably similar to Joey Crawford being assigned to a Tim Duncan/Spurs game.

[wiley]

the more who speak out about nba officiating the better.  Everyone is noticing finally.  thank god.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Im glad that the bad officiating is being let out on the biggest sports media platform.

It's time, finally, for it to be noticed. It's time for the NBA to do something about it.

If players get suspended for boneheaded mistakes, so should the referees blowing calls and deciding games, even if its unintentional. Either that or the NBA should allow coaches to challenge some crucial calls. 

[Eddie20]

the more who speak out about nba officiating the better.  Everyone is noticing finally.  thank god.

Absolutely.

Tim Donaghy was on WEEI earlier today and he said that Rondo will likely be a target of officials.  He explained about how refs hold grudges and dislike certain players and coaches. He elaborated on how he always tried to stick it to Doc because they used to "butt heads". He said that refs call each other all the time and say "Did you see what he did to me?", while the other would respond "Don't worry, I'll get him for you".

[wiley]

Im glad that the bad officiating is being let out on the biggest sports media platform.

It's time, finally, for it to be noticed. It's time for the NBA to do something about it.

If players get suspended for boneheaded mistakes, so should the referees blowing calls and deciding games, even if its unintentional. Either that or the NBA should allow coaches to challenge some crucial calls. 

The simplest, quietest solution, certainly to start, is for David Stern to tell his crew not to blow the whistle unless they clearly see a foul.  Never call what you think you see.

[angryguy77]

Good video of that OT game Marc Davis called at Boston April 11th. A game that was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in quite some time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N806wOuatPY&feature=player_embedded#!

Felger and Mazz questioning as to why the league would assign Davis to officiate a C's game with the way this one was called. I would say it's probably similar to Joey Crawford being assigned to a Tim Duncan/Spurs game.

Kinda makes you wonder why that would be. Not saying this is true, but could it be the NBA wants a bit of drama in this series? Sometimes I think Chicago politics are run cleaner than the NBA.

[wiley]

the more who speak out about nba officiating the better.  Everyone is noticing finally.  thank god.

Absolutely.

Tim Donaghy was on WEEI earlier today and he said that Rondo will likely be a target of officials.  He explained about how refs hold grudges and dislike certain players and coaches. He elaborated on how he always tried to stick it to Doc because they used to "butt heads". He said that refs call each other all the time and say "Did you see what he did to me?", while the other would respond "Don't worry, I'll get him for you".

I believe this, not because I'm a Donaghy fan, but because of what I've been seeing for a few years now on the court.