The NBA has a serious conflict of interest that threatens the integrity of professional basketball. While they want to ensure that the games are officiated properly, they also want to have bigger market teams advance farther and thus make more money. This problem was manifested during the 2002 Western Conference Finals Game 6 between the Lakers and Kings. This series 'Consider the reality, not the source' examines the problem with the NBA that existed regardless of whether or not convicted felon Tim Donaghy's allegations of league impropriety are accurate.
Phil Jackson's solution to allow the referees execute the most objective judgment was painfully obvious. The referee association should act independent of the NBA headquarters. What is also painfully obvious is that the league would never go for that because they do enjoy any subtle influence on increasing revenues at the expense of fairness.
One major way of doing this is using certain referees or "company men" that get the fact that the NBA makes more money when big market teams advance further and series go longer. Check that: They all get it. But I'll give the referees credit. I do not believe that all of them are intellectually dishonest. The NBA has the perfect system to subtly cheat. They can use the referees they need to at the right times to accomplish revenue objectives. There is no verbal collusion to criminally convict anyone. What's more, the referees feten get bonuses for their shoddy work and the referee report cards for each game are not released to the public.
David Stern, the transparent master of smoke screens that tried to pit this as a league with integrity vs. a convicted felon is at it again. This time he has given us a two colored smokescreen. The first color of smoke is that the NBA has hired a former two star general to take over as the senior vice president of referee operations. The second color of smoke is that ESPN has claimed that the hiring formalizes the separation of the referees operations and league operations when that is categorically untrue.
The first color of the smoke screen is the conotation is that a general is upright and unwavering. May I exhibit A. Former General Wesley Clarke ran for President of the United States as a Democrat. Twenty-nine days prior to that he was a register Republican. Certainly a general is susceptible to towing the company line.
May I also present exhibit B. ESPN has loved to remind us that Bob Delaney is a decorated New Jersey state trooper. Yet he was one of the referees that was part of the worst officiated game in NBA history. Therefore the idea of that someone is a protector of the law will automatically be upright is ridiculous. I stop short of making that an accusation that Delaney broke the law. But certainly his credentials did not do anything to advance the cause of a properly officiated game on May 31, 2002.
The second color of smoke comes through the NBA's business partner, ESPN. The network published an article claiming the league has separated the league's referee operations, even though it has not!
That maneuver by the NBA orchestrated through ESPN is about the equivalent of McDonalds restaurant hiring a manager to oversee production and then USA Today claiming that the restaurant manager's duties of overseeing the restaurant and fries production has been separated.
Remember that ESPN/ABC makes more money as the result of the current system. Thus they have a conflict of interest too. They want to report sports news, but not to a point that is going to cost them millions of dollars. For that reason it would seem that the ESPN article resembles an NBA PR statement more than an article. Just like a PR statement is no reporter's name in the byline. Why would a reporter want his name associated with that journalistic malpractice?
ESPN is not going to be pushing for any real improvements in the system. That would be poor business. They will tell you usually tell you the truth. Their reputation depends on it. But they will not be pushing for the changes. After all, they have their own company men that get results.
When it comes to the dollars and sense of it all the NBA, the referees and ESPN are separated about like the six degrees of separation (in above drawing). They all contribute to the money chain.
See other parts of 'Consider the reality, not the source'
Part 1: It doesn't take a convicted felon...
Part 2: What transpired in Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals
Part 3: NBA personnel reactions to the 2002 Western Conference Finals officiating and Donaghy allegations
Part 4: Stern tries to whitewash the issue of NBA corruption regarding the 2002 Western Conference Finals
Part 5: 2002 Kings legacy stolen
Part 6: Another NBA smokescreen, ESPN in on the act
Phil Jackson's solution to allow the referees execute the most objective judgment was painfully obvious. The referee association should act independent of the NBA headquarters. What is also painfully obvious is that the league would never go for that because they do enjoy any subtle influence on increasing revenues at the expense of fairness.
One major way of doing this is using certain referees or "company men" that get the fact that the NBA makes more money when big market teams advance further and series go longer. Check that: They all get it. But I'll give the referees credit. I do not believe that all of them are intellectually dishonest. The NBA has the perfect system to subtly cheat. They can use the referees they need to at the right times to accomplish revenue objectives. There is no verbal collusion to criminally convict anyone. What's more, the referees feten get bonuses for their shoddy work and the referee report cards for each game are not released to the public.
David Stern, the transparent master of smoke screens that tried to pit this as a league with integrity vs. a convicted felon is at it again. This time he has given us a two colored smokescreen. The first color of smoke is that the NBA has hired a former two star general to take over as the senior vice president of referee operations. The second color of smoke is that ESPN has claimed that the hiring formalizes the separation of the referees operations and league operations when that is categorically untrue.
The first color of the smoke screen is the conotation is that a general is upright and unwavering. May I exhibit A. Former General Wesley Clarke ran for President of the United States as a Democrat. Twenty-nine days prior to that he was a register Republican. Certainly a general is susceptible to towing the company line.
May I also present exhibit B. ESPN has loved to remind us that Bob Delaney is a decorated New Jersey state trooper. Yet he was one of the referees that was part of the worst officiated game in NBA history. Therefore the idea of that someone is a protector of the law will automatically be upright is ridiculous. I stop short of making that an accusation that Delaney broke the law. But certainly his credentials did not do anything to advance the cause of a properly officiated game on May 31, 2002.
The second color of smoke comes through the NBA's business partner, ESPN. The network published an article claiming the league has separated the league's referee operations, even though it has not!
ESPN.com reported, "Johnson's hiring formalizes the separation of the league's referee and basketball operations functions, as previously announced by the league. Stu Jackson will continue as executive vice president of basketball operations and remain responsible for all other domestic and international basketball matters."To separate the league operations and referee operations would mean that the two departments operate completely independent of the other. Yet in this case separate somehow means that a position was created for Johnson to oversee the referees and that NBA executive Stu Jackson will no longer perform that duty. The very same ESPN article also reported Johnson will still report to Joel Litvin, president for league operations.
That maneuver by the NBA orchestrated through ESPN is about the equivalent of McDonalds restaurant hiring a manager to oversee production and then USA Today claiming that the restaurant manager's duties of overseeing the restaurant and fries production has been separated.
Remember that ESPN/ABC makes more money as the result of the current system. Thus they have a conflict of interest too. They want to report sports news, but not to a point that is going to cost them millions of dollars. For that reason it would seem that the ESPN article resembles an NBA PR statement more than an article. Just like a PR statement is no reporter's name in the byline. Why would a reporter want his name associated with that journalistic malpractice?
ESPN is not going to be pushing for any real improvements in the system. That would be poor business. They will tell you usually tell you the truth. Their reputation depends on it. But they will not be pushing for the changes. After all, they have their own company men that get results.
When it comes to the dollars and sense of it all the NBA, the referees and ESPN are separated about like the six degrees of separation (in above drawing). They all contribute to the money chain.
See other parts of 'Consider the reality, not the source'
Part 1: It doesn't take a convicted felon...
Part 2: What transpired in Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals
Part 3: NBA personnel reactions to the 2002 Western Conference Finals officiating and Donaghy allegations
Part 4: Stern tries to whitewash the issue of NBA corruption regarding the 2002 Western Conference Finals
Part 5: 2002 Kings legacy stolen
Part 6: Another NBA smokescreen, ESPN in on the act
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