Marklar MM
03-02-2006, 03:39 PM
Refs feel they are a "step away from...being physically assaulted,"
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-28-referees-abuse_x.htm
The referees' union is crying foul about the way some NBA coaches and players treat its members. The union cites 27 incidents over the past two seasons that resulted in coaches and players being suspended or fined for their behavior toward referees. (Related item: Incidents from past two seasons)
"Our greatest fear is that we're a step away from a referee being physically assaulted," Lamell McMorris, executive director of the National Basketball Referees Association, says. "That's where we are. That's the environment that's being created."
McMorris calls it "an environment of hostility." He says it is being created because the league "isn't putting down as heavy a hand as it could and should" when incidents occur. He cited a Jan. 10 incident during which Carlos Arroyo bumped a referee and drew a one-game suspension. McMorris said Arroyo should have been suspended for multiple games.
"Refs should be untouchable," he says. "At some time that message has to be sent. The Arroyo case was a good opportunity to send the message, 'don't bump referees. Don't touch referees.' They have to know if you touch a referee in a hostile manner and he feels threatened, it won't be tolerated."
Seattle SuperSonics forward Danny Fortson has been penalized more than any other player the last two seasons for his actions towards referees, having been suspended three times for a total of five games.
Sacramento Kings point guard Mike Bibby has paid $25,000 in fines for two incidents.
"I remember an incident overseas about five years ago where a player punched a referee and knocked him cold," New York Knicks swingman Jalen Rose says. "I don't think anything like that will ever happen in the NBA. Emotions run rampant. The games are so intense, and the stakes are so high. (But) At the end of the day, players and coaches really respect officials and really appreciate that they try to do a good job."
Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who has been an officials' watchdog since purchasing the Mavericks, says McMorris is off base.
"He is creating a situation that doesn't exist," Cuban says. "Maybe he should request that the league release results of officials' performance evaluations so fans, players and owners can see how wonderful a job they actually do. The officials do a good job overall. This would be his opportunity to confirm it to all."
Knicks coach Larry Brown has been the most heavily fined coach for his interactions with referees the past two seasons. Brown has been fined three times for a total of $70,000.
"The emotionally charged and highly competitive nature of our games is one of the things that makes it compelling to our fans," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle says. "The fine line you walk as a player or coach is that you have to channel those emotions in a way that's not harmful to your team or the game. That's the situation we're dealing with. My sense was it was getting better year to year."
Stu Jackson, executive vice president, operations for the NBA, says the league closely monitors the relationship and method of communication between referees and players and coaches, and that it has improved in recent years.
Still, the league has taken measures this season to protect referees and improve their relationship with players and coaches, imposing stiffer penalties for unsportsmanlike technical fouls as a deterrent toconflicts.
The first five technicals a coach or player receives are $1,000 each, up from $500; technicals 6-10 are $1,500 each, and the 16th technical carries a $2,500 fine and an automatic one-game suspension. Also, any ejection carries at automatic $1,000 fine.
Jackson says the number of fines and suspensions this season is "more of a function of our increased scrutiny of players and coaches, and referees for that matter, and how they handle conflict on the floor. We're scrutinizing players and coaches very closely in maintaining a certain level of decorum on the floor. "Every indication we have is they have been helpful," Jackson says, pointing out that 661 unsportsmanlike conduct technical fouls were called through 828 games this season compared to 809 through 829 games last season.
Six coaches — Brown, Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers, George Karl, Mike Montgomery and Lawrence Frank — have been fined this season for inappropriate behavior to ward referees. There were four such fines last season.
"We're working on it," Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan says. "Both sides are working on it. We need to have a (good) working relationship with the officials no matter how much we disagree, and fans must see it."
Referees are not allowed to talk to the media about such issues. But privately two veteran referees say that fines are meaningless because of the amount of money NBA players and coaches make. These two would like to see suspensions.
"The league needs to be a bit more forceful, as they have been in other rules and regulations, when it comes to the protection of referees," McMorris says. "If you have to be held back from charging after the referee, you've crossed the line. Fining isn't enough."
A major complaint among referees is how coaches and owners can go directly to Jackson and Ronnie Nunn, the supervisor of officials, with complaints about officiating issues. They say that practice un dermines their authority and diminishes players' respect for them.
"Instead of blaming officials for their teams' deficiencies and shortcomings, individuals need to keep their eyes on the prize and focus on the game and their teams responsibility and failures and stop blaming the refs," said McMorris.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2006-02-28-referees-abuse_x.htm
The referees' union is crying foul about the way some NBA coaches and players treat its members. The union cites 27 incidents over the past two seasons that resulted in coaches and players being suspended or fined for their behavior toward referees. (Related item: Incidents from past two seasons)
"Our greatest fear is that we're a step away from a referee being physically assaulted," Lamell McMorris, executive director of the National Basketball Referees Association, says. "That's where we are. That's the environment that's being created."
McMorris calls it "an environment of hostility." He says it is being created because the league "isn't putting down as heavy a hand as it could and should" when incidents occur. He cited a Jan. 10 incident during which Carlos Arroyo bumped a referee and drew a one-game suspension. McMorris said Arroyo should have been suspended for multiple games.
"Refs should be untouchable," he says. "At some time that message has to be sent. The Arroyo case was a good opportunity to send the message, 'don't bump referees. Don't touch referees.' They have to know if you touch a referee in a hostile manner and he feels threatened, it won't be tolerated."
Seattle SuperSonics forward Danny Fortson has been penalized more than any other player the last two seasons for his actions towards referees, having been suspended three times for a total of five games.
Sacramento Kings point guard Mike Bibby has paid $25,000 in fines for two incidents.
"I remember an incident overseas about five years ago where a player punched a referee and knocked him cold," New York Knicks swingman Jalen Rose says. "I don't think anything like that will ever happen in the NBA. Emotions run rampant. The games are so intense, and the stakes are so high. (But) At the end of the day, players and coaches really respect officials and really appreciate that they try to do a good job."
Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who has been an officials' watchdog since purchasing the Mavericks, says McMorris is off base.
"He is creating a situation that doesn't exist," Cuban says. "Maybe he should request that the league release results of officials' performance evaluations so fans, players and owners can see how wonderful a job they actually do. The officials do a good job overall. This would be his opportunity to confirm it to all."
Knicks coach Larry Brown has been the most heavily fined coach for his interactions with referees the past two seasons. Brown has been fined three times for a total of $70,000.
"The emotionally charged and highly competitive nature of our games is one of the things that makes it compelling to our fans," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle says. "The fine line you walk as a player or coach is that you have to channel those emotions in a way that's not harmful to your team or the game. That's the situation we're dealing with. My sense was it was getting better year to year."
Stu Jackson, executive vice president, operations for the NBA, says the league closely monitors the relationship and method of communication between referees and players and coaches, and that it has improved in recent years.
Still, the league has taken measures this season to protect referees and improve their relationship with players and coaches, imposing stiffer penalties for unsportsmanlike technical fouls as a deterrent toconflicts.
The first five technicals a coach or player receives are $1,000 each, up from $500; technicals 6-10 are $1,500 each, and the 16th technical carries a $2,500 fine and an automatic one-game suspension. Also, any ejection carries at automatic $1,000 fine.
Jackson says the number of fines and suspensions this season is "more of a function of our increased scrutiny of players and coaches, and referees for that matter, and how they handle conflict on the floor. We're scrutinizing players and coaches very closely in maintaining a certain level of decorum on the floor. "Every indication we have is they have been helpful," Jackson says, pointing out that 661 unsportsmanlike conduct technical fouls were called through 828 games this season compared to 809 through 829 games last season.
Six coaches — Brown, Nate McMillan, Doc Rivers, George Karl, Mike Montgomery and Lawrence Frank — have been fined this season for inappropriate behavior to ward referees. There were four such fines last season.
"We're working on it," Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan says. "Both sides are working on it. We need to have a (good) working relationship with the officials no matter how much we disagree, and fans must see it."
Referees are not allowed to talk to the media about such issues. But privately two veteran referees say that fines are meaningless because of the amount of money NBA players and coaches make. These two would like to see suspensions.
"The league needs to be a bit more forceful, as they have been in other rules and regulations, when it comes to the protection of referees," McMorris says. "If you have to be held back from charging after the referee, you've crossed the line. Fining isn't enough."
A major complaint among referees is how coaches and owners can go directly to Jackson and Ronnie Nunn, the supervisor of officials, with complaints about officiating issues. They say that practice un dermines their authority and diminishes players' respect for them.
"Instead of blaming officials for their teams' deficiencies and shortcomings, individuals need to keep their eyes on the prize and focus on the game and their teams responsibility and failures and stop blaming the refs," said McMorris.