Referees seek credibility
Suddenly, the occasional bad call doesn't seem like such a big deal.
NBA referees' competency has always been criticized. After three high-profile negative stories in the last three months, the questions have shifted to their credibility.
One official was suspended after allegedly challenging an NBA superstar to a fight, and an academic report suggested a bias by referees against players of the opposite race.
Now, most damaging, a referee's at the center of a potential point-shaving scandal.
With the FBI investigating Tim Donaghy, a Delaware County native and graduate of Cardinal O'Hara High School and Villanova University, for allegedly betting on games that he officiated, confidence in the guys blowing the whistles may never have been lower.
Lamell McMorris, leader of the referees' union, said he recognizes the perception of officials has been damaged.
"We are going to work hard to restore the public's trust in the integrity of the officials in the NBA," he said. "We're going to do our part to gain and regain the public trust and confidence and to make sure that this is not the final word regarding how referees are defined in the public eye."
Last year, commissioner David Stern said the NBA had "the best officials, the best-monitored officials, the best-developed officials in all of sports."
But now it's their judgment, not their performance, that needs defending.
Stern plans to do just that at a press conference next week. The NBA and the referees' union want to make sure Donaghy, who McMorris confirmed has resigned, is the one taking the heat, not his co-workers.
But Donaghy's mess isn't the league's only trouble involving its officials.
Stern had to suspend Joey Crawford, who had worked more postseason games than any active ref, after Crawford ejected San Antonio's Tim Duncan from a game in April. Duncan, who was on the bench laughing when hit with his second technical foul, later said Crawford challenged him to a fight.
