Le Basketbawl

A very wise man told New York Vinnie something a couple of months back and it is a pretty simple statement in a way but it truly gets to the heart of what our society in this day and age are all about. This man’s statement was “Perception Is Reality” and that is what it has come down to in all aspects of our lives in 2009. We see it in Politics, in World Events and in the World of Sports. What you believe is true to you and no one is going to make you believe any differently despite what ever facts they flash in front of you.

The last week or so there has been all sorts of Frickin huffing and puffing from the “TV Pretty Boys” about all these  so-called “outrageous fines” handed down to NBA coaches for criticizing game officiating during this preseason. Larry Brown was hit for 60 grand, Stan Van Gundy was clobbered for another 35 grand and Lionel Hollins was fined 25 K for criticizing calls during the last week.

There is no great Frickin mystery behind why these coaches are being fined so severely. Any one who has followed the NBA with half a Frickin brain could have figured this would happen before training camp even got under way. The “Grand Poobah” of the NBA Commissioner David Stern in the best of times has a no tolerance policy of coaches or players criticizing NBA game officials. And right now this is not anywhere near the best of times for the league and the referees.

The NBA preseason games have been officiated by replacement referees due to the fact that the regular officials are being locked out due to a contract dispute. The lockout is a result of the NBA wanting to trim $3.2 million from the referees budget. The Game Officials want to take a cut of only $2.5 million. The spokesman for the referees union Lamell McMorris released a statement before Training Camps started.   McMorris wrote “We understand that everyone in the country is facing tough times, but the NBA is continuing to make money, sign large marketing and television contracts and expand their business internationally. We have attempted to negotiate in good faith and give substantial cuts to get the referees back to work.”

Okay first of all there is not one Frickin fan of the NBA  that are going to rush down to their local NBA Areana because Ron Garretson, Derrick Stafford and Joey Crawford are officiating that night. Yes NBA Game Officials are a necessary part of the game just like the  Frickin hoop and the scoreboard are. The Best NBA referees call no more attention to themselves than the hoop or the scoreboard do; unfortunately as we have seen over the years there are some referees who think they are Frickin stars like Joey Crawford.

The bottom line is these Frickin Scumbagos probably should have been fired a couple of years ago when it came out they were in violation of NBA bylaws by among other things going into gambling casinos. Instead of doing the proper thing and firing these guys at that time the “Grand Poobah” just changed the Frickin rules! Wouldn’t society be great if every time we broke a law or a rule instead of Frickin getting punished they would just change the law or the rule?

However now that Stern had drawn a line in the sand he wants to make sure his replacement refs have as much credibility as possible. So he is going to be extra tough on any coach or player who criticize the game officials because then their credibility will be in question.

So NBA coaches listen to Your Old Pal New York Vinnie and use a little more restraint this season than you have in the past. At least as long the replacement refs are on the floor; other wise you are going to be coughing up big bucks all season.