Me and NBA referees get a long about as well as a family dinner tonight at the McCourt’s would, so you can imagine my interest when the league announced this past week that it would be stepping up its enforcement of technical fouls this season.
According to league officials, they’re tired of seeing constant player complaining and whining during games, whether they’re expressed through physical gestures or verbal rants. The distaste for the over-the-top player theatrics has also annoyed fans, something not lost on Stu Jackson, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations.
“Our fan research shows that people think NBA players complain too much and they do so much more than players in other leagues,” Jackson said.
Uh, no sh.. duh.
On that note, I tip my cap to the NBA. We are tired of seeing every single missed shot or blown box-out leading to exaggerated flops or incessant whiny screams. I hate it every time I see Kobe Bryant or Pau Gasol act like they suffered a blindside tackle from Terry Tate whenever they make a bad play.
You missed the shot, the defense was better, man up and get over it.
The same can be said for a number of players across the league that yell or react in disbelief (I’m talking to you Tim Duncan) every time a legit foul is called on them. Plus we’ve all seen someone completely hack a guy and then act insulted at the thought of a foul being assessed.
The game is supposed to be played fairly, without any particular stars or teams being able to use their status to get away with complaints that lesser players can’t, especially when it can ultimately affect a referee’s whistle later in the game.
Call me bitter, a hater or whatever name you like, but for a lot of people outside of Los Angeles, constant double-digit free throw disparities at home in big playoff games just proves that the year-long bitching by guys like Kobe, Gasol, Fisher and Phil Jackson is working.
Henry Abbot over at ESPN’s True Hoop seems to agree in a new article on the topic.
“Have you noticed the incredible amount of effort some of the game’s smartest practitioners — from Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan to Mike D’Antoni and George Karl — put into overtly working the referees?
I’m the last guy on the planet to say anyone should take Tim Donaghy’s unsubstantiated word, but it’s worth noting that in his tell-all book he described in detail how strong-minded and vocal coaches and players were more than capable of intimidating referees into better treatment over the course of a night. Maybe a big show after one call makes the referee pause before making the next one. Unfortunately, vocal intimidation works in many parts of life. I wouldn’t assume it never has any influence in NBA referees.
In other words, maybe those whiners know what they’re doing.”
Henry is dead on with his assessment, which is why so many die-hard fans like myself find ourselves more and more disillusioned with the NBA each year. There’s no telling if the refs will stick to the new guidelines, especially since similar rules were put into effect back in 2005 and stopped being enforced after a few months, or how hard it will be to implement but if there’s any justice left in the league they’ll find a way. If not, get used to seeing parades in Los Angeles.
- Will.
The Sports Snob will be published once a week here on YouBeenBlinded.com. Will R. is a journalist/writer who covers sports, news and music for several websites. His music work can be found on www.WestCoastRydaz.com
