Le Basketbawl

So Your Old Pal New York Vinnie has a very simple question for you; when was the last time you rushed down to the closest NBA Arena because you knew that Ron Garretson, Derrick Stafford and Joey Crawford were officiating that night? New York Vinnie’s guess is the next time you do it would be the first time unless you are a Frickin member of one of these NBA referees families. 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.

“ESPN.Com” has reported that the NBA referees are expected to be locked out starting October 1, meaning they will not be working and replacement referees will take their places on the hardwood. The reported 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 on Thursday. 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.”

New York Vinnie has been on the Management side of the equation for most of my life however I usually am on the side of Labor when I read about contract disagreements. Not this time though; as far as New York Vinnie is concerned the NBA referees can go Frickin pound salt! Bring on the replacements and let these Frickin Puds sit home unpaid.

The replacement referees they hire are going to be guys who are currently officiating WNBA games, NBDL games, and Division One college games. May the quality of the officiating go down at first? Most likely but New York Vinnie believes that by January you won’t notice any difference and either will the players or the coaches.

These NBA Game Officials are a bunch of ungrateful Puds in New York Vinnie’s eyes. They may think they are Frickin irreplaceable; but that is just in their own swelled heads. It is time to draw a Frickin line in the sand and as far as New York Vinnie is concerned this is as good a time as any. Enjoy Retirement Boys!