Spurs-Knicks Game 3 Rigged in '99

[wildbill2u]

You gotta remember that some of the old guard refs like Brevetta and Pal Joey still have a hangover from the old NBA/ABA feud days.

[jag]

These threads are getting old

[FromWayDowntown]

The other part about this that strikes me as Lanny-level hypocrisy is the refusal to admit that if Bavetta was "fixing" or "rigging" games against the Spurs, how many games did he "fix" or "rig" for the Spurs?

Game 6 of the 2007 series against Phoenix? (the Spurs did shoot more FTA).

Game 5 of the 2005 series against Seattle?

Game 2 of the 2003 series against Dallas?

I could go on, but really -- where does it end?

[callo1]

OK, I have to chime in on this one

Game 3 of the 1999 Finals was fixed, fixed, fixed. Spurs players knew before game 3 that it was going to take a miracle to win the game... , the rumor was everwhere that the NBA needed to extend the series since the previous games had been in SA and the ratings were low.

I'll never forget Camby's 4 step travel around D'Rob right out in the open. You can't just look at the bottom line (amount of freethrows taken) to really understand how a game was called. You have to look at the calls themselves.

I remember Mario Ellie laughing after game 3 when he walked off the court...it was blatantly clear that the Spur players knew the fix was in that game. If you want to know why the Spurs have won 4 championships over the last 10 years, it is because they learned how to get jobbed and not complain about it. How often do you EVER hear Pop or any Spur player talk about a call? The Spurs as an organization realized long ago that if they complain, it only hurts their chances of winning more...they conduct themselves like good little soldiers as a result.

Case in point, Barry gets fould by Fisher, Pop and all the players say they agreeed with the no call, but then the league reviews it and says it was a missed call. Pop knows damn well not to get in Stern's doghouse.

I can remember one time in recent memory when Pop openly in public complained about a call...and for good reason. In '05 the Spurs were playing the Grizz in Memphis and Mike Miller hit a 3 to "win" the game...problem is, the clock never started when the Grizz inbounded the ball...no problem, the refs got together and said that after review, if the clock had been started, the Grizz would have made the shot in time (which was correct). Pop was furious, and he sent the tape to the league. Why: Pop's contention was "if Miller doesn't make the shot, do the Grizz get another chance as a result of the clock not starting in the first place?"

You must remember, this was after the infamous .4 Fisher shot a year before. Pop made a perfectly valid point, but the league brushed off Pops appeal.

If you don't think that the league greatly influences the outcome of games your blind and ignorant. Were talking millions of dollars on the line here. Here a question to ponder: When has there EVER been 2 small market teams matched against one another in the Finals? Answer: NEVER. What are the odds of that?

The problem is, nobody with any real influence connected with the league has the balls to come out and challenge the dubious intergity of the league. Look at all the responses to Tim Donaghy's credibility. Van Gundy "he lacks credibility", Bill Walton "he lacks credibility", Marc Jackson "he lacks credibility".

All these sheep know that they would be committing professional suicide if they gave their real honest opinion. In a way I can't blame them. Stern would have their asses so far away from the game they probably wouldn't be permitted to coach a summer YMCA league.

Something that people need to be reminded of here is that when a call is blatantly blown, it almost always favors the larger market teams. So what if there are 500,000 pissed off fans in Indiana, there are millions in New York happy as about the call or lack of call.

, the L.J. 4 pt play against the Pacers in '99 was a laugher. The Knicks didn't even deserve to be in the Finals in '99.

I used to be around the Bodybuilding scene back in the '90's and can't help but be reminded of the monopoly that the Weider's had, and to some extent still have on the sport. Everytime I think of the NBA I am reminded of the same unprofessionalism. Remember Bob Thorn being assistant commissioner and owner of the Nets for almost a full year before enough GM's complained and he had to leave his post as asst. commish. due to a "conflict of interest."

, I could type 40 pages on this and some people would still be oblivious to the fact. Do I think all games are fixed?...no. Do I think some games are heavily influenced?...you bet your ass I do. I'm glad all this crap is happening, Stern and the league are getting their just deserts, I only hope it gets bigger.