Hollins Says Stern Is Slinging Mud

Anyone who watched Hue Hollins officiate a NBA contest as a referee knew he never took any guff. Hollins stood up to behemoths like Moses Malone, and never showed a hint of intimidation. And he certainly is showing no intimidation now as he and NBA Commissioner David Stern have become embroiled in a war of words. Hollins was quoted in the New York Times Wednesday, that he resented being called a “disgruntled former employee” by Stern last week. Stern made the remarks about Hollins and former NBA referee Mike Mathis both of whom have been critical in recent days of NBA officiating. Hollins original statements were made in regard to former NBA referee Tim Donaghy who pleaded guilty last month on gambling and dispersing inside information to his associates so that they could profit from it.

Hollins told the paper that he should not be regarded as a disgruntled employee, that he served the NBA well for a career of 27 years missing only one day during that time. Hollins and Mathis both have criticized Director of NBA Officials Ronnie Nunn as well as NBA Vice President for Basketball Operations Stu Jackson. According to the Times current NBA officials have aired the same grievances anonymously since they are prohibited by the league from speaking with the media.

Stern made the comments last Thursday in Las Vegas during the FIBA Americas Championship Tournament. He not only called them as Hollins said “disgruntled former employees” but called their competency into question as their careers were coming to an end. Stern said that he thought the quality of officiating was superior to that of Hollins and Mathis ; “certainly toward the end of their perhaps otherwise-distinguished careers.” Why would David Stern engage in this kind of behavior trying to denigrate the careers of two quality former officials? Is he that insecure, that he has to resort to trying to tarnish the reputation who were highly regarded throughout the league? An ugly side of David Stern is starting to surface as this “Credibility Crisis” continues. Stern has had a Teflon coating for many years, it seems to have peeled off this summer.