Monroe: Popovich: If refs weren't honest, I'd quit

[EmptyMan]

Yeah I'm sure Pop would turn down all the millions he has made from this dirty game gmafb.

[dbestpro]

why on earth would the NBA allow San Antonio to have 4 les? what would they gain?

This is funny that people continue to bring this up. More people watched the Spurs championships than any other series world wide. This all occurs at a time the NBA wants international recognition. Yes, the viewers in the USA sucks when the Spurs play but the Spurs were the world's team. Now, there still maybe no conspiracy, but the argument just does not hold water.

[rayray2k8]

Pop working the refs? Watch the spurs get a lot of calls and win 20+ in a row very soon.

[crc21209]

If I thought the league was crooked, I'd never watch or go to another game, wear another Spurs shirt or cap, buy another game like NBA2k, etc. Anyone who thinks the league is rigged and still follows it is stupid. Enough of the sour grapes.

+1. Exactly. If the league was crooked the Lakers would be the Champions for the 25th year in a row this year...

[callo1]

I wonder to what degree Pop is just trying to curry favor with the refs while knowing there is some funny business. He certainly couldn't criticize them if they were anything like what Donaghy claims for fear of retaliation during games.

Pop knows whats up. Put yourself in his shoes and what alternative do you really have. Either piss and moan and get Stern on your bad side, or play the card he has played and move on.

I would bet that after Pop is done coaching, and if it were the right situation, he would tell the truth. In some ways, which were very discrete, Pop has mentioned things about the refs.

Remember that Memphis game where the clock wasn't started and Mike Miller hit the 3-ball to win the game? Pop in a very discrete way eluded to the .4 Fisher shot with a comment about "well, if it didn't go in, would there be a do over?"....or something to that effect.

Pop sees the big picture and realizes that he can't afford to bite O'le Sternies hand.

Totally rigged NO. Greatly influenced outcomes YES.

[lennyalderette]

I wonder to what degree Pop is just trying to curry favor with the refs while knowing there is some funny business. He certainly couldn't criticize them if they were anything like what Donaghy claims for fear of retaliation during games.

exactly, thats whats so messed up its like a ref mob, that will destroy everything you worked on this season just because you raise question to their bull calls !!!. pop is smart by feeding the refs ego, and you better believe theyre watching who says what! but the people they have no control over is us!!! and i'll bet if you knew pop personally, he would tell u different story. its sad. i dont want to be extremely racist here but you put a money hungry jewish person to control the nba who could care less about the history of it. and look what happens!

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

exactly, thats whats so messed up its like a ref mob, that will destroy everything you worked on this season just because you raise question to their bull calls !!!. pop is smart by feeding the refs ego, and you better believe theyre watching who says what! but the people they have no control over is us!!! and i'll bet if you knew pop personally, he would tell u different story. its sad. i dont want to be extremely racist here but you put a money hungry jewish person to control the nba who could care less about the history of it. and look what happens!

I don't mean to say you made a stereotypical bigoted statement, but you made a stereotypical bigoted statement.

Just saying you don't want to say or do something doesn't absolve yourself of doing it. For example, I meant to say you made a stereotypical bigoted statement, I'm not backtracking from that.

And to the argument that the Lakers would win 25 les in a row, that's flawed. If you thought there was no chance your team would ever win a rigged game, why would you root? What would be your compelling interest?

[senorglory]

Europe is roiling with soccer betting/ game fixing scandal, right now, as we speak. It could happen to the NBA.