Hooped Up

Ron-Ron can’t catch a break!  A few days ago in the game between the Rockets and Mavericks. Artest picked up a suspect technical foul when he ran to the aid of teammate Yao Ming as a peacemaker after a hard Josh Howard foul . Immediately after the game, the Rockets appealed the call but according to the Houston Chronicle the NBA has decided to upheld the technical foul ruling.

I call shenanigans on this one! Josh Howard hit Yao Ming like he asked him to sing the Star Spangled Banner and the ref was more concerned about Ron-Ron. 

Shenanigans!

Right from jump if you watched Game 3 of Suns - Spurs in 2006 you knew something was up. Was the game fixed or was it just terribly officiated?  It’s a thin line between bad officiating and game fixing so what what do you think?

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Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison Tuesday for setting off a gambling scandal that tarnished the reputation of the league and raised questions about the integrity of its officiating.

The sentencing in Brooklyn federal court culminated a case that hung over the league throughout the season and even into the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. League commissioner David Stern angrily denied Donaghy’s claim that corruption among referees goes beyond him.

Donaghy’s lawyer asked the judge for probation. Donaghy had faced up to 33 months in prison, but the judge gave him credit for his cooperation.

SI

A disgraced NBA referee says his fellow refs broke league rules by routinely fraternizing with players, coaches and team management.

A letter filed Tuesday in Brooklyn by a lawyer for Tim Donaghy in his federal gambling case alleges the inappropriate relationships influenced the outcomes of games. He claims one general manager in 2004 made a game-day phone call to referees to encourage them to call more personal fouls against an opponent.

The letter doesn’t name anyone involved. Donaghy’s attorney and prosecutors have declined to comment. The league has denied the scandal goes beyond Donaghy and two co-defendants.

The veteran referee pleaded guilty last year to felony charges alleging he took cash payoffs from gamblers and bet on games. He faces up to 33 months in prison.

AP

The NBA announced to its teams this week at its annual pre-draft camp that fines will be imposed on players starting next season for clear cases of “flopping,“ ESPN.com has learned. The league office has yet to determine exact fine amounts for offending flops and how fines might escalate for repeat offenders, but in-game arena observers and video reviewers will be instructed to report instances of theatrical flopping for potential punishment as part of postgame reports on officiating and other matters.

ESPN.com 

Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons has been fined $25,000 for his use of profanity and criticism of the officiating following last night’s game, announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. 

Wallace made his comments to the media following the Pistons’ 106-102 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Boston.

ESPN

A longtime NBA referee has an autobiography set to be released. Ho-hum? Not quite. In his old job, Bob Delaney infiltrated the mob. It’s a captivating back story.

NBA referee Joey Crawford has been indefinitely suspended for improper conduct toward Tim Duncan during the San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks game on April 15, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner David Stern. The conduct included Crawford’s assessment of a second technical foul and ejection of Duncan following laughter by the player while he was seated on the bench, and inappropriate comments made to Duncan during the game.

Crawford’s suspension will cover at least the remainder of the 2006-07 season, including the NBA Playoffs and Finals.

“Joey Crawford’s handling of this situation failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees,” said Stern. “Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted. Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities.”

The incidents occurred with 1:04 remaining in the third period of the Mavericks 91-86 win over the Spurs on Sunday, April 8 at American Airlines Center.

AP

No creature on earth — teddy bears included — seems as docile and agreeable as Tim Duncan. He’s always seemed like a very calm, placid, friendly man. Which is why it’s so bizarre that Joey Crawford ejected him yesterday.

 AOL

Losing a tense, physical, emotional game to their top rival and being forced to settle for the third seed in the Western Conference was bad enough for Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. Even worse: Duncan is convinced official Joey Crawford is out to get him, with a brawl possibly needed to settle things.

AP/Houston Chronicle