Well, that's better than I expected... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1208761 Fine rescinded The NBA on Friday rescinded the automatic $500 fine that would have come with Steve Francis' second technical foul Thursday against the Jazz, league sources said. The decision was as much of an admission the call was in error as league officials would allow. NBA vice president Stu Jackson would not comment. Francis was ejected from the game with the technical foul when veteran official Joe Crawford ruled Francis threw an elbow in the direction of Jazz guard John Stockton. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson and coach Rudy Tomjanovich would not comment about the play, though Tomjanovich said there was nothing Francis could have done to stay out of the situations that led to the technical fouls. "I don't think there was anything that would have (prevented) that," Tomjanovich said. "I'm not going to comment on the things. They were not verbal. I'm not going to get into the details of what happened." Of Francis, Tomjanovich said: "He was hurt. He was really hurt." Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley had more to say about the play. "I watched it a whole bunch of times," Mobley said. "I didn't see any (infraction). Steve passed the ball to (Kelvin) Cato. John Stockton pushed Steve to hold him up. Steve (motioned) like get off me, which you can do. It was, `Get off me, don't hold me while I'm trying to cut through.' The play wasn't for Steve. It was for Walt (Williams). Steve took three more steps and he threw him out of the game. "Joey made a mistake. He's a great ref. Maybe he got beside himself, especially saying what he said. He can't say he didn't say it. There's guys who heard him." Crawford said, "That's a technical, get the hell out of here."
Good catch, ZRB. While a big acknowledgment of a goof-up (whether they like to admit it or not), this still doesn't make up for the resulting loss to the Jazz nor does it make up for what could've been around a 40 point, triple-double night for Steve.
I'm glad that the NBA rescinded the fine for the principal that Steve did not deserve it. What really gets me though is the $500 fine. You've got to be kidding me. Why even issue a fine at all.
I find it incredibly cowardly that Stu and the league didn't make a comment on the situation. Take some accountability, and let people know that you are doing so. Everybody makes mistakes, and it isn't something to be ashamed of...and this business of trying to play it low key and out of the way is just not the way to go about it.
I'm with you, Prempeh. I really would like to see them step up here and take accountability for this. The problem is (and it's legitimate) if they publically discipline Crawford, his credibility in the league is <B>severely</B> damaged. Fans who recognize him would ride him for being fined or suspended by the league, and players wouldn't respect the "tough calls" he has to make. Still, there clearly needs to be some accountability for ego-driven calls like this. Refs have too much power. As for the fact they rescinded the fine, that's <B>great news</B>. There's no reason to rescind the fine unless the call wasn't justified. I'm sure they spoke to Crawford on this.... this was all-around bad for the league (that Francis had 27 in the first half, en route to possibly 40-50, makes it even worse)
Hey, Joey. You've heard of make-up calls? You owe us a make-up game. February 4. Compaq Center. Be there.
I don't think they even have to discipline the guy. Just come out and say that he made a mistake, and if Crawford knows what is best for him and his reputation, he should make the statement himself. I don't think that would harm his reputation all that much. I don't have a problem with Crawford at all if he just missed the call. Of course, if there is some personal aspect to why he called the techs, then that is something different altogether. There are tons of missed calls in the league everyday, but something this serious and blatant demands retribution for Stevie and his reputation. The reason we think these refs have this big ego is because we never get to hear their side of it, and they don't have to explain themselves since the NBA pretty much grants them immunity from any responsibility (unless they are cashing in their first class tix). I am sure the guy is a good ref overall, and if he simply missed the call, and after seeing it on the replay, I don't see how his rep could be hurt if he just expresses some regret in missing the call. No punishment is needed--just reward us fans with the acknowledgment that he screwed up--it would do wonders.
