We do what we're told....

[WeDoWhatWe'reTold]

Referee: Why did you do it?
Crawford: In our collective bargaining agreement, it reads that we can make money on our plane tickets. I made the mistake of not putting it on my W2. If the government deems me to be a criminal — and I’ve already pleaded guilty to the charges — then so be it. I’ve already paid around $90,000 in legal fees. If I would have taken it to court to fight them, I would have paid another $150,000 in legal fees. If I lost the case, the $150,000 is out the window and I would go to prison. It’s like rolling the dice. I have two kids that I still have to educate. I want to take that $150,000 and educate those kids. I would rather bet my money on (NBA commissioner) David Stern than go to court.
Referee: What do you mean?
Crawford: I’m hoping David Stern shows compassion to me and my fellow officials, and I’m hoping he allows us the opportunity to referee again.

Joey Crawford pleads for his job (http://www.referee.com/sampleArticles/2001/SampleArticle0101/interviews/crawford/Crawfordtext.html)

Joey convicted (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804EFDF1038F930A35753C1A96E9582 60)

[WeDoWhatWe'reTold]

The N.B.A. referee Bennett Salvatore has been sentenced to a year of probation, 150 hours of community service and fined $500 for his role in airline ticket fraud.

The 50-year-old Stamford, Conn., resident pleaded guilty in a New Haven federal court on July 26 to filing a false tax return with the Internal Revenue Service for the tax year 1993.
Bennett down for the count, or is he? (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E2DB163EF934A25753C1A9669C8B 63)

[WeDoWhatWe'reTold]

Not sure who this guy is, but more recognizable refs in the story...


It appears doubtful Armstrong will work in the league again. He was suspended with pay by the NBA when the indictments were announced earlier this year. NBA officials haven't said whether officials convicted in the travel scheme will be allowed to continue, but Kersey and Toliver resigned from the NBA shortly after they were convicted. Armstrong has not resigned.

Jess Kersey was one, too... (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp970905/09050828.htm)

Link to Kersey's conviction... (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1997/vp970731/07310395.htm)

[WeDoWhatWe'reTold]

Ken Mauer...


Last November in Minneapolis, NBA referee Ken Mauer was convicted of three counts of tax evasion and one count of obstructing the administration of federal tax law.

Mauer was sentenced in April to five months in jail, five months of home detention, three years of supervised release and 800 hours of community service.

Baseball fired theirs, but Stern kept us...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/06/22/clark_fired_st/

[Summers]

I don't get it... This is from several years ago...

[WeDoWhatWe'reTold]

We still work...by the grace of David Stern...usually key pivotal playoff games...

[WeDoWhatWe'reTold]

We only did what we were told...again. "Dad" was there in person last night, just to make sure we didn't get any ideas....

[SA210]

wth?

[LEONARD]

A new low for Spurs fans...