How can fans protest officiating at games to make impression on league office?

I agree. I have a hard time buying some sort of conspiracy to screw the Rockets and Yao. That just doesn't make good business sense.

I also agree with across110 this seems to be more a problem of bad officiating in general. The NBA has always had problems with officiating though (remember the Jordan rules?) and while this sux for us Rox fans its nothign new.

Still as fans though we can do something about it which don't go to games, don't watch games and don't buy NBA merchandise. If y'all are really convinced that there is a conspiracy you are only feeding it by continuing to buy the NBA product.

 

No offense or anything, but I hardly think that you understand the context of the situation. Shaq has always been well liked in China. Put simply, Chinese people who are living in China cannot be put into the same context as Chinese people living in America.

Put simply, racism simply isn't a problem in China. The majority of NBA fans there do not even know what "ching-chong" or whatever means, nor can they. That's the reason they aren't up in arms about it the same way those in America (not limited to ABC's) were. Hence you see some Chinese rights advocates issuing press releases about it.

There is no such "ass-kissing" in place. In China, Shaq is well liked and he remains well liked.

I am on the fence as far as whether racism is an issue with Yao, but this statement is just a bit silly. Racism (let's suppose it is racism) does not have to be organization wide. Whether or not David Stern is racist towards Yao does not hint as to whether Jack Nies or Dick Bavetta or whoever as certain... biases against Yao.

And yes, everybody gets screwed at certain points. However, few gets screwed as often as Yao, and it needs to stop.

You know one problem with scientific methods, despite all its wonders? You can't prove anything. There is always uncertainty. Even if Yao really is getting screwed due to racism, you still cannot be certain for any scientific analysis.

What people forget too often nowadays is that things like statistics aren't supposed to be tools to replace sound judgment.

And sound judgment shows that Yao is getting screwed, due to racism or whatever.

 

the nba sends out surveys every month to my inbox since i got an nba.com account.
Just cuss them out and rant all you want on the survey

 

Its true you can never prove a negative and in this case there is no absolute proof to say that there is no conspiracy to screw Yao. The problem with that though is if you are convinced there is one then why continue feeding the NBA?

I don't believe there is a conspiracy but I agree Yao gets screwed on calls a lot but so do other players. If you ask Mark Cuban there's a conspiracy out to get the Mavs. The most likely explanation to me is that overall officiating isn't good in the NBA. While I think the quality sux I still enjoy watching the NBA and rooting for the Rockets, as long as I like the team crappy officiating unfortunately comes along with that. If I believe that the cards were stacked though against the Rockets deliberately then there is no reason for me to watch them or even care about them any more than I would a professional wrestling match. Me showing up to complain in my Rockets' jersey just feeds the system and in fact given how pro-wrestling thrives on creating anti-heroes who cheat if the NBA realizes by pissing people off it will cause more of them to come to the arena just to boo they're going to rig the system.

Petitions, websites, emails and chants during the game mean nothing to the NBA. The only thing that really matters to the NBA is a money so if you think its fixed don't give them your money.

 

I don't think there's any type of conspiracy, but the possibility exists of unconscious bias.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/sports/basketball/02refs.html?_r=

 

Good thread!

Just like fans, some refs are Yao haters too. I guess this is one reason for the bad officiating on Yao.

Rockets, it's time to make a video on games that Yao was hacked. And send one copy to Stern

 

fans can't do much. owners can however. mark cuban hires retired refs and has them review game tapes, and they decide if the game refs were doing a good job or not. wish les could do something similar.

 

protest before a national ESPN or ABC game...and after the game...weather we win or lose...make signs and get a few hundred people to protest outside the Toyota center...i'm sure the TV cameras will get it....