David Stern warning coaches to quit griping about refs

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/22/stern.refs.ap/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2


NBA commissioner David Stern is tired of coaches and players griping about the officiating, and challenged them Thursday to "make my day" by continuing to complain during the rest of the playoffs.

The league handed out fines of $35,000 apiece on Thursday to Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace, Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and Orlando forward Matt Barnes for publicly criticizing officials. A week earlier, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson was fined $35,000 for suggesting that Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant received preferential treatment from NBA referees.

Speaking before the Thunder hosted the Lakers, Stern said such comments were "corrosive" to the product that the league is putting on the floor. He said he understands why coaches try to work the officials through the media, but that the result is such comments undermine consumer confidence in the league's product.

"So, our coaches should be quiet because this is a good business that makes them good livings and supports a lot of families," Stern said. "And if they don't like it, they should go get a job someplace else. I don't mean to be too subtle."

Stern said he's often let such comments go "because of the pressure-cooker that is the NBA playoffs over the years."

"But when you hear a Chicago coach say that this game was lost because NBC wants an extra game and you hear a New York coach say, 'What are you going to do? Jordan gets all the calls,' it sounds like a lot of fun," Stern said.

"Or you hear a Stan Van Gundy do what he wants to say and then the players join in, we know inside the community what it's meant to do and sort of, 'OK, it's playoff time. Everyone's crazy,' so back off."

Stern said he regrets not coming down harder earlier on those who griped about officiating.

"I wish I had it to do all over again," he said. "Starting 20 years ago I'd be suspending Phil and [former Lakers and Miami Heat coach] Pat Riley for all the games they play in the media. You guys know that our referees go out there and knock themselves out and do the best job that they can, but we've got coaches who will do whatever it takes to try to work them publicly.

"If I had it to do again ... I would stop it and the price wouldn't be a modest $35,000 fine. It would be whatever a day's pay is and then two days' pay and then a week's pay.

"And if someone wants to try me in the rest of this playoffs, you know, make my day. Because the game is too important and I don't think that the people who trash it are respecting it, and we'll do what we have to do -- the players and coaches alike -- because they give the impression to our fans that the referees somehow have an agenda."

Stern said he crossed paths with Jackson on Thursday night at the Ford Center and said there were no hard feelings, at least from the commissioner.

"I think that Phil's a great coach," Stern said. "He's a friend of many years. I just came by and said, 'Hi,' and he said, 'I don't like you today.' And I said, 'I like you.'

speechless

they should take all that fine money and go hire some refs with 20/20 vision.

While they are at it, they should replace that senile HACK Stern.

Last night's episode displayed a few more glaring examples of why the current crop of ref's just don't cut it.

When does Stern decide he's had enough and starts fining the fans? We better start watching what we type in the Game On! threads!!!

The foul call on Rondo, where he passes the ball on the fastbreak and Wade runs up his back and then throws himself backwards like he was in a head-on collision with a semi, was one of the worst calls I've ever seen.

If David Stern wants to fine me for saying that wasn't even high school level officiating, he can come pick up the check from me personally. He'll be trying to pull it out of my hands while I'm chewing on him.

bob

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bob

that was the most (sterish) BS call I've seen this season. At worst it should have been a no call or a foul on Wade. Suppose Wade was Rondo.....................or Bron or Kobe. No way the call is made then. There is no excuse obviously some of the are to be had and until things change the conspiracies will continue to arise.

Just once after a game when a ref blows a call, wouldn't it be refreshing to hear FROM that official NOT the league that he blew it.

beat

I think the worst call, was when Rondo was playing excellent defense on one of their guards bringing it up the floor (can't recall who the player was) and they called a foul on him. Rondo was moving his feet, staying in front, super deny D.

That to me, was poor, poor officiating.

My 2 cents can go toward my fine.

Pete

pete wrote:I think the worst call, was when Rondo was playing excellent defense on one of their guards bringing it up the floor (can't recall who the player was) and they called a foul on him. Rondo was moving his feet, staying in front, super deny D.

That to me, was poor, poor officiating.

My 2 cents can go toward my fine.

Pete

Pete,

Yeah it was against Mario Chalmers. That was excellent defense by Rondo, he was just all over him, and the refs somehow saw a foul... when even on the reply you can see that Rondo is not even touching Chalmers at all, just staying in front of him.

Yup that was an infraction for excessive hustle...utter crap

In general I would rather see the officials call less fouls.

It is weird when sometimes there is no call at all when there is obvious contact + "foul" like the Pierce situation in game 1. And then they see a foul that is not there at all like for Rondo.

I like it more when they "miss a foul" because people are just straight hustling and playing hard than when they call a lot of fouls like the one on Rondo.

I am guessing most fouls can technically find support in the rules and as such are "correct calls" but for gods sake have some feeling for the game and let them play. I see the officials role as somebody who is supposed to make sure that the game plays well rather than someone who is there to punish infractions.

Make sure good play and flow can happen rather than try to catch every infraction.

But that is just my opinion and I will throw in my two estonian sentti to pay for the fines.

Hi,
IMO, one of the most glaring problems in NBA is its refs. Everybody talks about it, even announcers on local and national TV (they can't openly discuss it so you have to read between the lines). I guess the only one who thinks that everything's nice and peachy in this department is the comish.
One of the major problems, IMO, is age of the many refs: they just physically unable to keep up with speed of the game. I'd say institute some endurance tests. Institute some range of fines on the refs. Institute some department or independent commission that evaluates refs performance and make sure that it's as resistant to corruption as possible.
Oh well... I guess it's just a pipe dream. In real life we can only hope that the mistakes are spread 50-50 between the teams.

AK

As a sidenote, when I watched the NCAA games it seemed like they allowed more contact in general. Am I right in thinking so? Is it something "official" or just different officials?

I enjoyed the pace that it gave the game, not as many breaks and whistles.

Brandon,

I very rarely complain about refs. I know it can be tough to see who initiated contact, especially in the paint sometimes. However, that was in the open court, so, that one got me.

Thanks for the reminder of who was who.

Pete