Ok, I am not one to believe in conspiracy theories, however, the publishing of excerpts of Donaghy's book makes it quite clear that even if there is no conspiracy to fix games by the league, there is quite clearly an attitude amongst some referees that see themselves as bigger than the game, i.e. dispensing fouls for personal reasons against specific teams and players based on how they feel about a particular player/team/coach/city/owners etc... I think it is quite clear even without Donaghy's book that Dick Bavetta certainly has tried to influence who wins games through his officiating. One of the favourite saying by the fans is that "Yao Ming is the most difficult player in the league to referee", this translates to "I have no idea what fouls will be called on/against him on any particular night". For Yao, I can remember many nights where he picked up very debateable quick fouls in the 1st half and had to sit, I can also remember quite a few nights where he managed to put the entire frontline of opposing teams in immediate foul trouble straight away on fouls that would not be called many other nights. Previously, I've always dismissed these as either referee error, or maybe that certain refs are more "loose" or "tight". Looking back now I wonder if certain refs are "Yao Ming Haters" and certain refs are "Yao Ming fans". I can also distinctly remember that the ref treatment for Yao was especially bad under JVG, whereas under Rudy and Rick it's been at least tolerable. I wonder whether it's because JVG is hated by the refs as a group and maybe this even has to do with why he has not been hired as a head coach since been fired. It would be suicide for a contending team to hire a coach that the refs hate. I know certain players like shaq and jordan actively try to buddy up to refs and may even have offcourt socialising with refs, Yao doesn't do this as far as I am aware. I wonder what the impact of ass kissing refs would be for star players, whether this is even a skill that is almost required to become a megastar.
link for those who haven't read it. http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read
Yes. I think Chuck Hayes must be a bigger victim of the refs than Yao, reading those excerpts. Hell, how many true big name star centers have there been in the league since Yao joined? He must get more favorable calls than he deserves.
Well if you believe the conspiracy, the refs just wont wanna give favor calls to a Chinese Center who happen to be one of the few star centers in the league!
take for example, Javie's hate for Iverson, it's obviously better for the league for Iverson to be a superstar, yet it's obvious that there are a few refs that don't really like him and are out to get him. It shouldn't be difficult to do a statistical analysis of Iverson games Steve Javie refs.
He's one of the great offensive floppers of his generation, so if happens to get less superstar calls when Javie officiates it doesn't matter much to me.
I don't know exactly why Yao never got the star treatment. Being a foreign player certainly never helped him in this regard. Many American NBA players past and present loved to hate on him---these are my toys, you can't play with them. Some of the refs might share that bias, and the refs certainly do have an I'm-bigger-than-the-game mentality. Then, too, the rules favor allowing guards more leeway. Put your hand near a guard and you're "impeding his progress", whereas you won't get called for fouling a big guy (Yao, anyway) until you hit him for the fifth or sixth time with that tire iron.
The point is not that Javie doesn't give Iverson calls, the problem is that he doesn't because he holds a personal grudge against him. Or that Joe Crawford gives Iverson plenty of calls because his grandson is a huge fan of Iverson. Basically the game is no longer a sport but it's become a game of politics.
Uh..further evidence that refs DO have personal biases and likes/dislikes for certain players, which will affect the officiating. However, I don't think refs officiate Yao unfairly because they don't like him. It's because Yao is usually way bigger than his defender, it WILL seem like HE'S the one committing an offensive foul anytime something physical happens or his defender flops. There's already been a lot of speculation on this board and in other places on why Yao would be more successful if he was say, 7'1" or 7'0" instead of 7'6"
If anything, the refs are less likely to call contact in plays involving Yao. And it goes both ways. They'll let players beat up on him, and they'll let him beat up on players. Same deal with Shaq.
The very fact that There is no Ref On the side line viewing / confirming all major calls is proof that games are not 100% legit. Tennis has used modern tech to be able to call the game 100% right- of course it is easier to do so with a slower played game. Basketball at some points reminds me of WWF. Is it coincidence that after the REF scandal the NBA finals were LA vs. Boston???? Marquee match-up??? I think the NBA was on the verge of losing a lot of credibility. They needed ratings. I am still SOOOOOOO Pissed about the loss to Dallas. - Where Finley stepped out of bounds right in front of that *** REF- it was the game changer that stopped us from getting out of the first round. - If the NBA would and SHOULD have reviewed that play- hmm lets see 1.) T-mac gets out of the first round 2.) best chance in the last 7 -10 years to get to the finals 3.) I can go on and on.
durvasa, it's okay to be aware of it. It won't stop you from supporting the Rockets in this league of big names.
Hmm lets see. His last name start with a D, got kicked out of the NBA, went to jail...etc.. I refuse to mention his name. Proof!!! He is Proof! - There are REF's with alternate Motives! If there was a sidlene ref viewing all major calls... would never have been an issue.
Joey Crawford was suspended for the rest of the season for giving Tim Duncan that 2nd technical though...
