Referees reject proposal, still hopeful of deal NEW YORK (AP)—NBA referees have voted unanimously against the NBA’s latest contract proposal, but remain hopeful a deal can be reached in time to avoid a lockout. The contract between the league and its officials expired Sept. 1 and negotiations toward a new deal broke down last week after commissioner David Stern abruptly halted a meeting in New York. The NBA made another proposal Wednesday, and referees association spokesman Lamell McMorris said his side hoped to offer a counterproposal Thursday. All 57 active referees met in Chicago, and McMorris said they planned to continue discussions late into the night. “I think it’s a tremendous sign of unity and also willingness to get a deal done, that rather than going to jump on planes they’re still in a conference room,” McMorris said about midnight EDT, following seven hours of meetings. “None of them are going home.” No further sessions between the NBA and the referees were planned after last week’s impasse, when McMorris criticized Stern for his behavior. But McMorris said some discussions have been ongoing, and the league’s decision to make an offer Wednesday was a “pleasant surprise.” Both sides are hoping to reach an agreement in time to prevent replacement officials from working the first preseason game on Oct. 1. McMorris said there’s even a possibility the refs could have a deal in time for their training camp, scheduled to begin Sunday. “I’m hopeful from what our group has demonstrated. The league has to meet us kind of halfway,” McMorris said. “I don’t know what more of a sign we can show and demonstrate than the fact these folks are not leaving Chicago in hopes that we can get a deal done.” The NBA is seeking cuts in areas such as the referees’ retirement benefits, travel budget and their per diems. McMorris said the officials, recognizing the financial difficulties the league is facing, already agreed to $2.5 million in reductions and were willing to agree to a two-year deal in which their salaries would be frozen for the first year. The league last began a season without its regular officials in 1995, and failure to reach a deal soon could lead to NBA Development League referees calling games next month. Neither side sounded optimistic last week, but McMorris’ tone had changed by late Wednesday night. “We’re going to try to get on the phone and open up negotiations. All 57 every active referees are locking ourselves in in an effort to get a deal done,” he said. “I’m just very proud of these folks. They’re willing to stand up for what they believe they’re worth, recognizing the climate that they’re under.” http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...YF?slug=ap-referees-lockout&prov=ap&type=lgns
I'm not going to be naive by saying that the job isn't somewhat difficult, but I say that the refs should indeed be locked out so that they can truly see what their actual worth is, of course while recognizing the climate that they're under.
Just let them all sit out. What else are they going to do with their lives? Their value is in that profession and them leaving wont impact sales/viewership significantly, especially in the short-term. After a few weeks the majority of them will fold anyways and only a handful of high profile refs are probably forcing this.
Good time to let old cronies out and in with some fresh blood. Bye Bye Crawford, Salvotore, Bevetta and Delaney.
I saw some articles about the last time the refs had a lock out, and apparently the players were none too happy with it, as the replacements consistently missed calls.
Not seeing Violet Palmer at a few Rockets games this year might actually help lower my blood pressure.
Good thing Yao won't be playing this season. You think NBA refs don't officiate Yao right, D-League refs would get him butchered!
I think the NBA should actually welcome a lockout. Regardless of the result. 1. If the replacement refs come in and do a good job, then everyone's happy. Except for the old refs, but no one cares about them. 2. If the replacement refs suck, then at least fans realize how difficult a job it is, and that the current refs are doing the best they can. So there's less tuning out the game because of supposed horrible refereeing.
I won't say something silly, such as the replacement referees couldn't be any worse, but that's going to be a popular opinion among many fans. The referee's union has zero public support, zero public confidence, and zero public sympathy. Once again, Emperor Stern has all the leverage, and the referees know it. I expect this little tempest in a teapot to be wrapped up fairly quickly, and Stern can put another victory notch on his jumbo sized wallet.
Oh, replacement refs CAN be worse. Just because the NBA is badly refs doesn't mean NBA refs aren't the best in their field. That's just faulty logic. The more relevant questions are: Can the replacement refs perform adequately enough. And more importantly, do they have the potential to become better than the current refs, who basically doesn't give a damn because they think they have tenure or something.
How hard is it to get three people out there to call a game, all they need to know is the following: 1. The guy out there wearing #23, his name is Lebron, we don't call fouls on him, that also goes for #24 over there, his name is Kobe. 2. If a guy falls down, especially if doing a game in Utah, he was obviously fouled (especially if screaming while it happens), don't be swayed by the other team calling a flop. 3. Donahey rule: If a team you have a bet on looks like they may lose, it is proper procedure to foul out the other teams best player. 4. Crawford rule: We are doing a promotion this year where every ref gets a $200 for each technical they hand out and $50 for each ejection. 5. Palmer rule: You don't actually have to see a foul to call it, sometimes it is needed to do a whistle check and after wards think of something clever to call. I could go on and on here, but you get the point, feel free to chime in.........
I am pretty sure the replacement won't be close to be as "good" as the current refs. The problem with NBA refs is not that they are bad. It is a hard game to call. The problem is that ultra image-sensitive league are so protective of the refs. They try every effort to cover up or downplay ref mess-ups. That means the quality of officiating will NEVER improve and problems will NEVER be fixed. The labor dispute between the refs and the league is a good thing. It is like a pampered kid suddenly finds himself not in the favor of the parent who has been spoiling him for years, and the neighbor's kid is now threatening to take his place. The job has to be a lot more competitive than what it is now. The league should not care so much about the refs being overpaid but should care more about raising the accountability. Bad refs should be fired. Give the job to someone who is more deserving. A more intentional grooming of minor league refs onto the major league stage would put a fire under those old ones to keep themselves sharp.
This is from espn. Link "NEW YORK -- The NBA will hold training camp next week with replacement officials, saying the referees union has rejected its final contract offer." When I read they are going to "hold a training camp" for the replacments meaning telling them Kobe and Lebron gets all the calls and scrubs will get bs calls.
