Week in the life: NBA Ref Scott Foster (USA Today)

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...ree-life_N.htm

By Chris Colston, USA TODAY
Most NBA referees keep a low profile. A crew chief, at his discretion, will discuss a rule interpretation with a designated reporter after a game. The league approves all other interview requests.

But in the aftermath of the Tim Donaghy gambling scandal, referee Scott Foster, 41, felt compelled to speak out. One of the NBA's top referees, in his 15th season, Foster worked Games 1 and 5 of the 2008 NBA Finals. A month later, an online report linked him to Donaghy, based on 134 phone calls Donaghy made to him from October 2006 to April 2007.

An NBA-commissioned report cleared Foster of any wrongdoing. But to further clear his reputation — and to illustrate the daily demands on referees — the NBA granted USA TODAY unprecedented week-long access to crew chief Foster. The only restriction: players discussed in meetings could not be named.

[duncan228]

Thanks. A little glance behind-the-scenes.