October 17th, 2009 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in 
The bank accounts of the corporate ofices of the NBA have gotten a financial booster shot rather early in the 2009-10 campaign as Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, the Charlotte Bobcats and their coach Larry Brown have ben fined by the league due to their recent criticisms of the Ray Charles imitators referees. Now you can add someone else to the list of transgressors.
The Associated Press is reporting today that the league fined Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and the team $35,000 each on Friday after comments that were made by the Magic coach in reference to the replacement officials currently being used by the NBA.
Seems to me that this indicates that:
- The replacement officials are that bad.
- The league and the refs’ union are agreeing to disagree much longer than is necessary.
- That free speech applies anywhere but within the NBA.
This is not a knock on the replacement officials; however, there is a reason why they aren’t exactly the cat’s meow – and it isn’t even the regular season. I am going to offer this suggestion to the league: Make the officials go through what teams go through before every preseason – training camp. Officials, much like players, can have a bad game or three; having said that, training camp can only enhance their skills. I’m just sayin’.
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