I know that this is probably BBS suicide, but I might as well keep everybody's juices flowing about this horrible loss. This is my opinion of what happened: Francis gets his first technical in the first quarter which I think was deserved because he touched the ref when the ref couldn't see his benign intentions. A player should never touch a ref unless it is obvious that they mean no harm. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think that the first T was from Bill Kennedy. Now, for a the worst call that I think that I have ever seen. Francis ignites his team with an emphatic dunk. Bill Kennedy calls the technical without thinking, because he may have thought Franchise was taunting, which he obviously was not. This is when our friend Bill Kennedy's world turns into a living hell. I don't know if he has a personal grudge against Steve or not, but I am sure that no one in their right mind would knowingly kick one team's star out of the game for something ticky-tack like that. I would be willing to bet that as soon as Bill Kennedy found out that was the 2nd T, he wanted to take it back. I would like to ask everyone if they have ever seen someone take back a technical call (excluding illegal D's). That was my first thought, that the refs would just take it back. But then again, how would the Kings react if they took back the T. Even Bill Worrell (maybe Calvin) didn't think that it was the 2nd T. Either way, Bill Kennedy made a huge mistake and I doubt that he will sleep very well tonight. I think that everyone, including King's fans thought that it was a B.S. call. Mr. Kennedy will probably be punished in some way or maybe even lose his job. Actually, the whole situation reminds me of when Billy Crystal ejects Kareem Abdul-Jabaar during his farewell tour. The last time that I remember such a horrible ejection was when Clyde got ejected in the first quarter back in '95 (I think during the playoffs). To finish up, Bill Kennedy is going to catch a lot of hell from this one call and I actually feel sorry for him because he made the biggest mistake of his career in a 2 second span. He should have waited for that 3rd second, when he would realize that he was wrong. Oh well, fire up those letters to the NBA. And of course, you can light into me now for sticking up for a ref. ------------------
He shouldn't have gotten the first T. If that ref thought Steve was going to assault him when he touched him on the arm while talking to him, then he shouldn't be reffing. Everyone does that; it's just natural to open contact with other human beings by lightly touching them on the arm. If you DON'T do that sort of thing in some settings you'll be penalized (like when you're negotiating a contract). It's like shaking hands: if you don't do it it means you don't really mean whatever you're saying. It's not a *** move or an attempted mugging... It's just business. And the second T... I won't even go there. Still mad about that. That Kennedy ref just didn't like Steve. And he threw a perfectly exciting and inconclusive game down the drain because of it. I hope he gets fired. I don't normally wish that upon anyone, but when they're that incompetent... ------------------
Some people here said he got the first tech for saying no while running down court but like yourself, I remember seeing him run behind Kennedy and make contact with him. I thought that was why he got the first one until I read some of the stuff on here. I don't have it on tape but I don't think he got the tech until he passed behind Kennedy and then Kennedy kind of shook his head and gave him the tech. That's the way I saw it anyway. ------------------ Why is Gonzaga always given a double digit seed? Just move them to the Sweet 16 where they belong and let them play from there.
Firecat -- making a mistake is one thing, but giving a technical foul for no apparent reason isn't a mistake -- it's intentional. All of us make mistakes, but not all of us feel like they have to go on a power trip. You want further proof? Look at Maurice Taylor's technical foul a few weeks ago against Dallas for protesting a non-call of getting tripped by a Dallas player. No profanity used, but whammo, technical foul called. It's not mistake-prone referees we're talking here, my friend; no, they're on a power trip, racking up those frequent flier miles!! ------------------ HOUSTON Rockets forever!!
Treeman- Steve did not stop and talk to the ref and look him in the eye and touch his arm. He was upset at the traveling call and as his momentum took him around the ref, he touched the ref on the back side some where. The ref had no idea of Steve's intentions and he called a technical. I don't blame the first ref one bit. I see players touch refs all of the time as they discuss a call, but Steve did not stop to talk about it. Of course it was obvious to us that Steve meant no harm, but the ref didn't have the good camera angle that we had. I don't want to be misunderstood that I think that the second T was deserved. It was a horrible call! bcdjad - I agree with you completely. Kennedy made the call on a power trip just like we see all of the time in NBA games. The refs want to prove their power. My contention is that he was exercising his power trip without being aware that Steve already had a technical and that his power trip move had just made serious implications on an exciting and still competitive NBA game. I don't think that he was trying to take his authority that far. I have no problem with refs taking their power trip every now and then, but I have never something like this happen. Too bad that refs don't have press conferences because I think that he would admit that he made a mistake. I guess we'll see what the league does to this guy. I think that if he doesn't get fired, he should still be made an example of to show all refs to think about the ramifications of their power trip technical calls. I would still like some input from people who know about Bill Kennedy's record as a ref. Has he had any other very questionable calls or vendettas against certain players? ------------------
I think he will be punished . . . The may slowly move him down the ranks Doing games like Bulls vs Vancouver BUlls vs Atlanta Bulls vs Golden state Atlanta vs Vancouver etc He deserves it. .. . It is the REF TECH he deserves. Rocket River ------------------
If the ref thought Francis was going to "assault" him like you say, then you throw Francis OUT OF THE GAME! The fact that he gave him a technical tells me he didn't want to discuss the call, he just wanted to show Francis up. Poor Bill Kennedy my @ss! How come he is the only official that was afraid that Francis might "assault" him? ------------------ Meow! [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited March 21, 2001).]
Kennedy ejected Elton Brand back in January when the Bulls were playing the Magic. Maybe he's trying to collect a set of Rookies of the Year or something. ------------------
If the ref thought Francis was going to "assault" him like you say RocksMillenium - No where in my post did I say anything about a ref thinking that he was going to be assaulted. I was talking about the first technical and all I said was that Steve touched the ref on the back while he was not looking. You quote me as saying that the ref thought that he would be assaulted. That's ridiculous. Especially if you think that I was saying Bill Kennedy gave Steve the 2nd technical, because he thought that Steve would "assault" him, then you are waaaaaaay off. I will say it again. If the ref can't see you straight in the eye and no that you mean no harm after a questionable call, do not touch him. I don't think that too many people disagreed with the first T, though everyone was disappointed. One point - not that big of a deal. But the second T was over something more ticky-tack then the first in my opinion. It should not have been called at all. After reading post game comments from Sac and Houston players, I get the feeling that the players don't exactly blame Bill Kennedy. They keep saying that he didn't know that Steve already had a technical, which is inexcusable. Again, I don't actually feel sorry for Bill Kennedy. I think that he should definitely be punished. I love Rocket River's idea. That would be rough on the guy. At least he couldn't decide who went to the playoffs that way. They'd probably use Bill to try and get a better pick in the lottery. ------------------
