The mess the NBA finds itself in…
I’ve been wanting to write a post on the whole Tim Donaghy fiasco, but our good friend Randy Capps has — as always — done a better job than I ever could have done. See his thoughts on the situation at his blog here…
Steve Czaban also has a nice blog on the subject, where he picked up on something wrong while it was going on in 2002…
My take: I think this kind of stuff goes on a whole lot more than we realize. How many times have you been watching a game, see an obviously bad call, but just blow it off as “human error?” This is going to seriously change the way we watch sports from now on. We’re always going to wonder if someone is getting paid to make that bad call.
What sucks the worse about this is that the NBA should be celebrating one of its greatest Finals ever in Lakers-Celtics. Instead, we have to wonder if our games are really pure or already pre-determined, like WWE and World Cup Soccer.
I’d like to defend soccer from that little snide remark, but I’ve seen some decisions that lend credence to that theory.
Comment by randycapps — June 12, 2008 @ 1:22 pm
While it’s not nearly as extreme, one also has to wonder if NFL refs tended to favor the Patriots during those Super Bowl runs. Up until their masterful choke job against the New Jersey Giants, how many times have you seen non-calls against the Pats? Or the infamous “Patriots Spot,” when a New England ball carrier got an extra yard and a half while a yard gets taken off an opposing ball spot.
Not that I’m bitter considering New England’s in the AFC East ……….
Seriously Bryan, you may be right. Hell, look at Game 2 of the Finals. Boston goes to the line 38 times while the Lakers get 10 free throws?
Comment by Charlie — June 12, 2008 @ 3:13 pm