If it happens in the NBA, it could certainly be happening in the NHL
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 30, 2009 11:17 AM EDT
13 comments
Excerpts From The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read
Click the link above, and reads what disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy has to say. You can certainly question the man's character, but you can also very easily believe everything he writes.
In both the NHL and the NBA there are star players, premier teams and better TV markets that make the league more money than others. If what Donaghy says is true, and if the NBA does indeed issue memos to their refs in attempts to subtly get messages across as to which teams they'd like to see advance, is it a stretch to think the same thing happens in the NHL? Bettman did work under NBA commish David Stern after all.
A few excerpts are below, but follow the link above for the full thing
In the pregame meeting prior to Game 6, the league office sent down word that certain calls — calls that would have benefitted the Lakers — were being missed by the referees. This was the type of not-so-subtle information that I and other referees were left to interpret. After receiving the dispatch, Bavetta openly talked about the fact that the league wanted a Game 7.
"If we give the benefit of the calls to the team that's down in the series, nobody's going to complain. The series will be even at three apiece, and then the better team can win Game 7," Bavetta stated.
As history shows, Sacramento lost Game 6 in a wild come-from-behind thriller that saw the Lakers repeatedly sent to the foul line by the referees. For other NBA referees watching the game on television, it was a shameful performance by Bavetta's crew, one of the most poorly officiated games of all time.
and one more
If a player of Kobe's stature collides with the likes of Raja Bell, the call will almost always go for Kobe and against Bell. As part of our ongoing training and game preparation, NBA referees regularly receive game-action video tape from the league office. Over the years, I have reviewed many recorded hours of video involving Raja Bell. The footage I analyzed usually illustrated fouls being called against Bell, rarely for him. The message was subtle but clear — call fouls against the star stopper because he's hurting the game.
Just thought this might make for good discussion.
If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's authors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.
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Tim Donaghy is a tool.
IS PAЯTY NOW
by Your Nation's Capital on Oct 30, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not gonna stop me from buying his book though. It’s “pure gold, Jerry, pure gold!” (line shamelessly stolen from Czabe yesterday)
by Cluster on Oct 30, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's all clear to me now.
call fouls against the star stopper because he’s hurting the game
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 30, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
He’s not really saying anything that conspiracy theorists have been pushing for years. Sure, there’s a very good chance it’s true.
by gfcaps fan on Oct 30, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We’ll just have to wait until a prominent NHL ref is disgraced and/ore bankrupt, needs a cash infusion and writes a book.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Oct 30, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny that sort of thing doesn’t seem to happen as often in hockey as in other sports..
Maybe play with an edge, be a little more physical -- maybe be more of a prick out there.
by jordanDC on Oct 30, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was referring strictly to the NBA charge. Could it happen in the NHL? Well, if you believe the way we complain about the refereeing in the Caps/Pens games, sure.
That’s snark, people, I’m not pushing any conspiracy theories… yet.
by gfcaps fan on Oct 30, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think in any play off series both sides will say the other was treated to some calls. You listen to a caps fan and a rangers fan talk about our series last year and you wouldn’t know we were watching the same games. Same goes for the flyers pens series I’m sure. I don’t even want to touch the caps – pens series…
by snowburnt on Nov 1, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think it happens in hockey, though it certainly could. I’ve never really thought it was happening when watching a game.
As far as the NBA goes, I watched that infamous Kings-Lakers game 6 live. I watched the Dallas-Miami finals. It wouldn’t take much to convince me that the refs were trying to control the outcome.
by grapejoos on Oct 31, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I used to think that the game of hockey was pure. No drugs, no betting, no corruption. The more i read up and the older I get, the more this vision leaves. I still think that it’s better than most, if not all, other pro sports, but there is still some drama.
by hockeyman33 on Oct 30, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Harder to Fix...
Fixing a hockey game is very hard, in that the referees can possibly affect the outcome, but all the calls are reviewed and the officials are judged on their performance every night. Plus, while the referee can call penalties, they can only award goals on a very rare circumstance (a penalty shot situation on an empty net results in an awarded goal). Think about it, if the ref wanted Nashville to win, and gave them12 power plays, do you think they’d get 4 or 5 goals?
The only person on either team that can “fix” a game is a goaltender. Not likely to happen considering the $$ most of them make.
The reason the NBA refs can affect the outcome is that they award teams uncontested shots at the basket (free throws) on a regular basis. On top of that, if a player gets enough fouls, they’re ejected. The NHL has no such thing (and Sean Avery is grateful for that…)
Let's go Caps!
by MikeL-Caps on Nov 1, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Is the performance judging made public?
Also, keeping a team on the penalty kill for most of a game or making a bad call at the right time can throw off any momentum a team has or had or was trying to get. You can try to get away with a few shorties but winning a game on shorties a lone is a tough chore especially if one team has a significant man up advantage.
most games wouldn’t be fixed, playoff series would. two closely matched teams could really benefit from a man up advantage.
by snowburnt on Nov 1, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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