The Other Side: a "Referee Widow" goes after David Stern

[Samr]

This is just AWESOME (thought about putting it in Spurs forum; someone should definitely re-post if you think it's worth it):

"In responses to the league's demands, Julie Davis, the wife of veteran NBA official Marc Davis, wrote this letter to the National Basketball Referees Association executive board to provide a family's perspective.

FanHouse obtained a copy of the letter from the NBRA.

"These past few weeks have been a very trying time for our family, as I am sure they have been for the families for all of the 57 NBA referees. The stress of worrying about a lockout has been, at times, overwhelming. We have three small children to feed, clothe, and educate. Like most American families, we have a mortgage and bills to pay. These bills do not know what the word "lockout" means.

"What has been most disheartening, however, is accepting the fact that the sacrifices that all of our families make year in and year out appear to be meaningless to the NBA and David Stern. The 'offers' made by the NBA are insulting to our families.

"The NBA has repeatedly stated that their goal this year is to bring the referees compensation and benefits more in line with the rest of the NBA office employees and its administrative staff. But referees are not office and administrative staff. They do not wake up at home each morning and see their kids off to school before heading to a job from which they get to return home each night, if not for dinner, then to tuck their kids in and kiss them good night. They do not get to sleep in their own beds with their spouses by their sides.

"While I don't know for certain, I would guess that most of the NBA office employees do not miss their kid's school plays, parent-teacher conferences, sports practices and games, graduations, Christmas mornings, and other holidays. Their husbands and wives do not have to explain to their children each morning and night for 10 months of the year that daddy or mommy will not be coming home again today and won't be home again for the next ten days either. I can tell you from first-hand experience that three, four and five year olds do not get that concept very well. All of this is not to diminish the value of the NBA office and administrative staff. They obviously play a crucial role in the day-to-day workings of the League. But in reality the jobs of an office worker and an NBA referee are not the same. Comparing the two is not comparing apples to apples, but instead it is trying to make an apple an orange.

"By even making the comparison in the first place, David Stern runs the risk of changing a 'craft' into a job. Though the NBA office staff is some of the best in the world, you can find anyone to do a job, not everyone is a true craftsman. The men and women who work this job are true craftsmen. Though frequently criticized by fans and the media, they are the best in the world at what they do and I am proud to be the wife of one. They cannot be replaced by placing an ad in the classifieds and picking out a new hire from the folks who line up at the door. If they could, then perhaps the deal the NBA is offering makes sense.

"It does not, however, make sense given the sacrifices our families make every day. I would even go so far as to say that the sacrifice we make is larger than that that made of anyone in the NBA, including the players. Whatever the public perception may be, the referees do not have huge contracts, fly on private planes, or get to work half of their games at home. They are regular people, who trek around from city to city, airport to airport, arena to arena, and practice their craft to provide for their families.

"In any given season, we are lucky if my husband works three home games in a 75-game schedule. We are lucky if he is home more than five 24-hour periods a month. Who else on the NBA staff can say they do the same? Players can't. David Stern can't. Office staff can't, nor can anyone else who works for the NBA. Referees are unique in what they give to and what they give up for the game.

"And so what are all of these sacrifices for? Why are we missing holidays together and games and school events? So that the NBA can tell all of us that our sacrifice is meaningless and that it is worth no more to them than what the office worker, who jumps on and off the train, each day does? That seems ludicrous by any rational measure.

"It was not my dream to be an NBA referee. It was not our kid's dream to have a father who is one either. But it is a dream we are fully committed to supporting because it is my husband's dream. I take on single parenthood and being a 'referee widow' because I love my husband and believe in him and his dream. All that has happened with this contract just has me questioning whether the NBA realizes the sacrifices 57 families of their employees make to continue to put out the 'best product in the world.'""

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/locked-out-wife-stern-doesnt-appreciate-nba-referees/

[The Franchise]

David Stern doesn't give shit.

[TheMACHINE]

how much do refs get paid for 3 hours of work a night again?

[Drachen]

This is just AWESOME (thought about putting it in Spurs forum; someone should definitely re-post if you think it's worth it):

"In responses to the league's demands, Julie Davis, the wife of veteran NBA official Marc Davis, wrote this letter to the National Basketball Referees Association executive board to provide a family's perspective.

FanHouse obtained a copy of the letter from the NBRA.

"These past few weeks have been a very trying time for our family, as I am sure they have been for the families for all of the 57 NBA referees. The stress of worrying about a lockout has been, at times, overwhelming. We have three small children to feed, clothe, and educate. Like most American families, we have a mortgage and bills to pay. These bills do not know what the word "lockout" means.

"What has been most disheartening, however, is accepting the fact that the sacrifices that all of our families make year in and year out appear to be meaningless to the NBA and David Stern. The 'offers' made by the NBA are insulting to our families.

"The NBA has repeatedly stated that their goal this year is to bring the referees compensation and benefits more in line with the rest of the NBA office employees and its administrative staff. But referees are not office and administrative staff. They do not wake up at home each morning and see their kids off to school before heading to a job from which they get to return home each night, if not for dinner, then to tuck their kids in and kiss them good night. They do not get to sleep in their own beds with their spouses by their sides.

"While I don't know for certain, I would guess that most of the NBA office employees do not miss their kid's school plays, parent-teacher conferences, sports practices and games, graduations, Christmas mornings, and other holidays. Their husbands and wives do not have to explain to their children each morning and night for 10 months of the year that daddy or mommy will not be coming home again today and won't be home again for the next ten days either. I can tell you from first-hand experience that three, four and five year olds do not get that concept very well. All of this is not to diminish the value of the NBA office and administrative staff. They obviously play a crucial role in the day-to-day workings of the League. But in reality the jobs of an office worker and an NBA referee are not the same. Comparing the two is not comparing apples to apples, but instead it is trying to make an apple an orange.

"By even making the comparison in the first place, David Stern runs the risk of changing a 'craft' into a job. Though the NBA office staff is some of the best in the world, you can find anyone to do a job, not everyone is a true craftsman. The men and women who work this job are true craftsmen. Though frequently criticized by fans and the media, they are the best in the world at what they do and I am proud to be the wife of one. They cannot be replaced by placing an ad in the classifieds and picking out a new hire from the folks who line up at the door. If they could, then perhaps the deal the NBA is offering makes sense.

"It does not, however, make sense given the sacrifices our families make every day. I would even go so far as to say that the sacrifice we make is larger than that that made of anyone in the NBA, including the players. Whatever the public perception may be, the referees do not have huge contracts, fly on private planes, or get to work half of their games at home. They are regular people, who trek around from city to city, airport to airport, arena to arena, and practice their craft to provide for their families.

"In any given season, we are lucky if my husband works three home games in a 75-game schedule. We are lucky if he is home more than five 24-hour periods a month. Who else on the NBA staff can say they do the same? Players can't. David Stern can't. Office staff can't, nor can anyone else who works for the NBA. Referees are unique in what they give to and what they give up for the game.

"And so what are all of these sacrifices for? Why are we missing holidays together and games and school events? So that the NBA can tell all of us that our sacrifice is meaningless and that it is worth no more to them than what the office worker, who jumps on and off the train, each day does? That seems ludicrous by any rational measure.

"It was not my dream to be an NBA referee. It was not our kid's dream to have a father who is one either. But it is a dream we are fully committed to supporting because it is my husband's dream. I take on single parenthood and being a 'referee widow' because I love my husband and believe in him and his dream. All that has happened with this contract just has me questioning whether the NBA realizes the sacrifices 57 families of their employees make to continue to put out the 'best product in the world.'""

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/locked-out-wife-stern-doesnt-appreciate-nba-referees/

... and those in the league office don't get 4 months off every year (finals ending in mid June, season starting up again in late october).

BS, if you don't like the job get another one.

[The Franchise]

how much do refs get paid for 3 hours of work a night again?

It varies for ref to ref. They do sacrifice a lot of their family time, and personal lives to do what they do. Until I read this letter I never really thought about all the things they have to give up in order to do their job.

[The Franchise]

... and those in the league office don't get 4 months off every year (finals ending in mid June, season starting up again in late october).

BS, if you don't like the job get another one.

It's not about disliking the job. It's about someone telling them to take a 10% pay cut, and money taken out of their pension.

[Drachen]

I will give them that they work more than 3 hours a night since they have to watch tape too in order to prep, but still almost 1/3 of the year is spent not working

[Drachen]

It's not about disliking the job. It's about someone telling them to take a 10% pay cut, and money taken out of their pension.

150k a year for 8 months for a new ref. That is all I needed to know.

[TheMACHINE]

It varies for ref to ref. They do sacrifice a lot of their family time, and personal lives to do what they do. Until I read this letter I never really thought about all the things they have to give up in order to do their job.

how bout the 3 months break during the summer? Dont that make up for the lost time?

Im sorry....150k for a new ref is pretty good money. I wonder how much commercial pilots make.

[The Franchise]

how bout the 3 months break during the summer? Dont that make up for the lost time?

Im sorry....150k for a new ref is pretty good money. I wonder how much commercial pilots make.

It sounds like a lot of money, but my brother makes that, and his money situation is still pretty tight. once you have kids, and mortgages to pay, and tuitions that number gets to be a lot smaller. In the ref situations they are probably the only income coming in as well because of the wife/husband having to stay home to take care of everything else. I understand your feelings somewhat though. 150k for me would be sooooooo nice. :greedy

[ambchang]

$150K isn't a lot of money for the sacrifices they make. It's good money, but most senior managers/VP levels of a normal company makes that.

The NBA doesn't even know what is wrong with the league. The league has past the stage of star power, people are now more knowledgable about the sports, and one way to do that is to provide good discipline, processes and incentives for referees to do a great job. You don't want to perception of being a WWE organization.

[Drachen]

It sounds like a lot of money, but my brother makes that, and his money situation is still pretty tight. once you have kids, and mortgages to pay, and tuitions that number gets to be a lot smaller. In the ref situations they are probably the only income coming in as well because of the wife/husband having to stay home to take care of everything else. I understand your feelings somewhat though. 150k for me would be sooooooo nice. :greedy

The wife could possibly get another job, kids in school/daycare. Bills in the evening. The rest of us do it that way, oh and we do it on 65k between the two of us. Oh and the 150k is for a new ref. A seasoned ref makes over half a million under the proposed agreement.

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol at this bitch, she sounds like spreewell

a ref earns about 500k a year, thats more than the middle class taxpayer, now after taxes and shit he should have about 200-250k...now where is all that money gone too?

[TDMVPDPOY]

lol at this bitch, she sounds like spreewell

a ref earns about 500k a year, thats more than the middle class taxpayer, now after taxes and shit he should have about 200-250k...now where is all that money gone too?

[redzero]

Money hungry bitch.

[DPG21920]

She does not seem to be too informed about the front office league exec's and what their job entails.

[DannyT]

troops dont get paid half of that shit for fighting for our safety, they sacrifice a lot more as well. They choose the job just like the refs, shut up take your check and move on. If not take your ass to work like most other americans have to just to make ends meat. NEXT!!!!

[Dex]

It's not about disliking the job. It's about someone telling them to take a 10% pay cut, and money taken out of their pension.

While I agree that nobody is going to be happy to take a paycut, it's better than taking a pink slip. This was a very poignant letter and I completely sympathize with the referee's plight; even if they are being absorbingly overpaid, nobody generally has a 10% decrease in pay planned into their lives, mortgages, tuitions, etc. Part of me wonders how much of that 10% would be factored into lessened expenses like travel and lodging, but nobody could expect the refs to be happy about it.

I think the referees are overzealous in the amount of leverage they think they hold in this situation. When it comes down to it, the NBA is a business, and if they can get out and find reasonable replacements for a better price, they will.

[Darthkiller]

what a bitch.

[Summers]

The wife could possibly get another job, kids in school/daycare. Bills in the evening. The rest of us do it that way, oh and we do it on 65k between the two of us. Oh and the 150k is for a new ref. A seasoned ref makes over half a million under the proposed agreement.

If your husband makes that much money and you don't have enough in savings to cover a few months' bills, you're an idiot.

Edited to say that sounded harsh, but I'm married to an accountant and have heard the "3 months' bills" lecture many, many times. :lol

[TheMACHINE]

It sounds like a lot of money, but my brother makes that, and his money situation is still pretty tight. once you have kids, and mortgages to pay, and tuitions that number gets to be a lot smaller. In the ref situations they are probably the only income coming in as well because of the wife/husband having to stay home to take care of everything else. I understand your feelings somewhat though. 150k for me would be sooooooo nice. :greedy

i definately understand your point...i dont make 100k but i make somewhat close to that with 2 kids and a 4k/month mortgage....money is definately tight, but i also work my ass off withhour days (without 3 month summer breaks)...i dont bitch and moan about pay in a crappy economy while taking a risk to get "locked out".

If i were the wife...i would have told my referee husband to tell the union to STFU and dont mess with his job security. lol

[exstatic]

It's not about disliking the job. It's about someone telling them to take a 10% pay cut, and money taken out of their pension.

It's NOT a 10% pay cut. It's a 10% budget cut, of which pay is only one part. Their pay won't be any different, they just won't be flying first class or staying at the Hyatt. They're fighting over $750,000 in amenities split between 57 referees over two years. That's $6,000 per ref per year in amenities (food/lodging/air). Normally, the NBA wants a 5 year deal. They acquiesced to the refs and agreed to only do a two year deal at this lower figure so that if the economy improves, the refs can get theirs back.

[Chieflion]

The refs spend 8 months travelling back and forth reffing games, attending their training sessions. Oh ya, they are the only people on the basketball court running the entire time while a scrub gets the vet minimum on the inactive list. Nothing wrong with fighting for their rights, although they are certainly paid well.

[xellos88330]

This is complete and utter bullshit. I understand how hard it is to sacrifice family/personal time in order to do your job. When I was in the military, I had to do that all the time. I had all the same issues and then some, but wasn't getting paid no damn 150k a year. I have sacrificed alot more than an NBA referee (especially considering that I am now a disabled vet and unable to work), and I am perfectly happy. Sure I would love to make more money. Who wouldn't? I for one would NEVER use my family as leverage to fill my personal greed. This in my eyes is low, and an insult to all those who know what true sacrifice really is.

[Heath Ledger]

There are plenty of illegals who would be willing to do the refs job for $25k a year.

[ambchang]

People are looking at this from the angle of $150K, but it really isn't. It's about the value that the referees are adding to the league. As much as we fans like to complain about how they call the game, they are the best in the world, and there really isn't too much to argue over that.

They are also a group that provides enormous value to a multi-billion organization, getting $150K, or even half a million per year, is not out of ordinary.

What Julie Davis was complaining about was the rationale behind the cuts, and that is to bring their pay/benefits inline with other NBA office employees, but as she explained, the referee's jobs are far from similar to any front office employees' jobs, they sacrifice a lot more for the job they perform.

It's a valid point.

[Culburn369]

As much as we fans like to complain about how they call the game, they are the best in the world, and there really isn't too much to argue over that.

Sure, amb, you, I and the Celtics are juiced in, but, the kit & kaboodle has been taking it up the tailpipe for umpteenth decades. They don't see the necessity for handing out 6 figure incomes...then getting cheated...and made to like it. I'd be just as outraged if I weren't one of the chosen few. :king

[ambchang]

Culburn, please don't lump me with you, it makes me feel dirty.

[Culburn369]

Culburn, please don't lump me with you, it makes me feel dirty.

Then quit peekin' under my kimono every now & then.

[jazzypimp]

Culburn, please don't lump me with you, it makes me feel dirty.

:lmao:lmao

It does not get any dirtier!

[RonMexico]

Yes, they travel a lot and sacrifice time, but obviously she must be complaining about the "Clockwork Orange" sessions they must endure yearly to ensure they give superstars all the calls. 2002 WCF Game 7 must have been a pretty grueling one.

Oh, and it must have been pretty trying for them to fix those games. And to book first class tickets, return them, and pocket the difference while expensing the full price.

[Cry Havoc]

Screw these refs. They might be "the best in the world", but they have repeatedly blown calls at the end of not just regular season, but playoff games.

Superstar rules, swallowing their whistle on hard fouls while calling ticky-tacks two seconds later, not knowing WTF a travel is, the Donaghy situation, the Duncan-Crawford situation...

I say get some new refs in. There are probably tens of millions of people in this country that would be willing to go to work and do the job that a ref does for that pay. I'm not saying they don't face their own struggles, but this is kind of insane.

[Samr]

Players' union sides with the refs.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/nba-players-union-stands-with-refs/

NBA Players Union Stands With Refs
Posted Sep 23, 2009 9:15AM By TOM ZILLER (RSS FEED)

Hornets guard Chris Paul may not be worried about replacement referees coming to the NBA, but Paul's union apparently feels differently. Derek Fisher, the Laker who heads the National Basketball Players Association, put out a statement Tuesday supporting the referees union in its labor dispute with the league.

In the statement, Fisher called the implementation of B-level referees "unacceptable" and said that replacement refs "could compromise the integrity of the game." He also asks the league to treat the refs fairly, presumably because Fisher would like the league to treat players fairly in ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

The league has locked out its current referees, and will begin training replacement refs culled from the D-League and the WNBA this week. The first preseason game -- to be officiated by replacement refs unless a last-minute deal is struck -- is October 1.

The NBPA statement comes at very interesting time, as the players union and a committee of team owners and league execs meet today to continue those CBA negotiations. The bargaining agreement expires in two years. The owners have vaguely threatened a lockout if their demands to reduce the share of revenue guaranteed to players is not decreased. The owners are also expected to push for a higher age minimum for draft eligibility, while the players want to preserve their revenue share while also pushing for expanded revenue sharing between the teams.

The referees and league are fighting primarily over changes to the retirement benefits packages afforded to officials.

[jazzypimp]

Fisher is afraid his flops won't work with the new refs

[Bender]

:violin

:cry

[EricB]

:lol

Steve Czaban just had a fantastic RANT on this whole thing.

[Hooks]

:violin

:cry

[jack sommerset]

Marc Davis needs to grow his balls back.

[thispego]

lol this bitch "referee widow" :rolleyes can cry me a fucking river.

[angel_luv]

"It was not my dream to be an NBA referee. It was not our kid's dream to have a father who is one either. But it is a dream we are fully committed to supporting because it is my husband's dream. I take on single parenthood and being a 'referee widow' because I love my husband and believe in him and his dream.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/locked-out-wife-stern-doesnt-appreciate-nba-referees/


As I read the letter I could not help but wonder who Mrs. Davis was seeking sympathy for- was it for her husband or for herself?


If it is too much for the wife to have her husband away so much, she needs to take that up with him- not the league.
The requirements of the job are what they are. If you don't want the schedule, don't do that job.

And has been suggested in this thread, if the husband does not feel the new compensation is worth the effort his job requires, he can do like ALL THE REST OF US and seek employment elsewhere.

Soldiers, paramedics, firepeople, policepeople are all separated from their families, face more danger, are given less perks, and are compensated less than referees.

There is not a referee among any of the current ones that I would miss.
The current refs need to stop being greedy, shush up, and go back to work OR pack up and make room for their replacements.

[angel_luv]

And while we are on the subject, ALL basketball players are EXTREMELY overpaid, given what they do.
( This go for players that I consider my favorites too.)
When an athlete is making more than a teacher, a police officer, pastors, doctors, nurses- that is clear evidence that peoples' priorities are entirely out of line.

[lefty]

Players' union sides with the refs.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/nba-players-union-stands-with-refs/

NBA Players Union Stands With Refs
Posted Sep 23, 2009 9:15AM By TOM ZILLER (RSS FEED)

Hornets guard Chris Paul may not be worried about replacement referees coming to the NBA, but Paul's union apparently feels differently. Derek Fisher, the Laker who heads the National Basketball Players Association, put out a statement Tuesday supporting the referees union in its labor dispute with the league.

In the statement, Fisher called the implementation of B-level referees "unacceptable" and said that replacement refs "could compromise the integrity of the game." He also asks the league to treat the refs fairly, presumably because Fisher would like the league to treat players fairly in ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

The league has locked out its current referees, and will begin training replacement refs culled from the D-League and the WNBA this week. The first preseason game -- to be officiated by replacement refs unless a last-minute deal is struck -- is October 1.

The NBPA statement comes at very interesting time, as the players union and a committee of team owners and league execs meet today to continue those CBA negotiations. The bargaining agreement expires in two years. The owners have vaguely threatened a lockout if their demands to reduce the share of revenue guaranteed to players is not decreased. The owners are also expected to push for a higher age minimum for draft eligibility, while the players want to preserve their revenue share while also pushing for expanded revenue sharing between the teams.

The referees and league are fighting primarily over changes to the retirement benefits packages afforded to officials.





Uh-oh


It looks CP3 and Fish are afraid of not getting bailout calls next season

[Culburn369]

Fisher is afraid his flops won't work with the new refs

Though that cock & bull story he handed Miller about his daughter goin' cockeyed worked to a >T<, eh, fool?

Came in real handy about the time Nelson placed the crown of his noggin' in D. Fish's rifle sight.

tee, hee.

[jazzypimp]

Though that cock & bull story he handed Miller about his daughter goin' cockeyed worked to a >T<, eh, fool?

Came in real handy about the time Nelson placed the crown of his noggin' in D. Fish's rifle sight.

tee, hee.

That's what classy organizations do, no matter how full of bung the story really is.

[Culburn369]

That's what classy organizations do, no matter how full of bung the story really is.

Maybe Miller, but, I don't recall Sloan climbing on board & signing off.

[jazzypimp]

Maybe Miller, but, I don't recall Sloan climbing on board & signing off.

I don't recall him protesting either..I was happy to see the little fish go. I can tell you that. I couldnt stand that duck yer head and run to the hoop approach he always had

[DPG21920]

OK Fish, why don't you give a suggestion? Or go in depth on what is not fair?

[manufan10]

I'll be a ref. I'll take less than what the refs make now, as long as the NBA pays for my hotel (preferably Motel 6), pays for my plane ticket (Coach is fine), and for one meal a day and I'm ready to go!

[Culburn369]

I don't recall him protesting either

All kidding aside, Jazzy, I'm confident that the decision emanated solely thru Miller. Any consultation aside from perhaps with his wife and any consideration on his part for compensation from the Lakers would've been viewed as gross and beneath him and his obvious superlative upbringing.

[JordanL]

how much do refs get paid for 3 hours of work a night again?

As someone who has traveled for work, saying the do "3 hours of work" is misleading when they are required to spend a day traveling to do it.