I hate the nba. It makes be sad because I really want to like the NBA. There are so many things to like about the NBA. I don't think I could list them all here there are so many great things. Unfortunately there is one thing that has just about turned me off from the NBA forever-- The officiating.

Can someone explain to me why OLD WHITE men officiate a game with mostly YOUNG BLACK players? Is there a reason why there aren't many younger black officials? I would really like to know the answer to this, and nobody can give me one. And ya know, forget the white\black part, lets focus on the age of the useless wastes of flesh. How old are these guys?! NBA.COM says " It takes 10-14 years overall experience before a referee is considered for a position as an NBA official." So 14 years to become a bitter, player hating, slow NBA official. Nice.

Tom Washington, a senior official, says that the focus of an NBA official is to "provide players with the freedom of movement; allow aggressive play, not rough play; and, ultimately, make the players look good." Say what? Make the players "look good?" Silly me, that's what I thought the highschool and college ball-playing was supposed to do. I thought that the NBA players were talented. I guess not. I guess it's just the NBA officials that "make the players look good." Are you kidding me?

One of the problems (besides age,eyesight,being bribed) is that some of these officials think they are bigger than the game itself. They get into fued with players. That should not be tolerated by the league, but David Stern does nothing.

#### Bavetta, the official who has refereed the most games in NBA history...is one of the least popular officials among players. And it is not because he calls it so straight down the middle. A lot of people think he believes he is bigger than the game now. NBA.COM had an article on Bavetta and "####" said that,"It's not true that rookies don't get the calls, and that you start getting calls in your second year," Bavetta joked with the rookies. It's in your third year in the league that you start getting the calls." Am i the only person who doesn't fine that funny? Especially since that seems to be the case 95% of the time.

Joe Crawford recieves the same criticism. I won't even mentioned the Bob delaney vs. Shaquille O'Neal angle. And don't get me started on Violet Palmer...

Violet Palmer, the only female referee in the NBA is one of the most hated officials in all of sports. She is bad. Real bad. And no, it is not because she's a "girl." I am convinced that she isn't even a woman. Look at her picture. Does that look like a woman? I don't think so.

back to the point at hand, the ridiculously horrid officiating of the NBA. NBA Commish David Stern said the following: "Is the question do I think the officials miss a play? Absolutely!" "It happens at least probably 5 percent of the time," Stern added. Right....5%. Mr. Stern conveniently forgot a zero after that five.

The NBA in 2005\2006 has been a joke, and the playoffs were even worse. What do you do in a game when its Star vs. Star. Who gets the star call? Horrible. There is a reason the Miami fans cheered when #### Bavetta fell to the ground in game 5 of the Miami\Chicago series.

The NBA officiating needs to be fixed. They need new, younger officials. Maybe even some...i dunno...black ones? When an official is around to form fueds and to look ridiculously close to skelator(sorry Mr. Bavetta)...it is time for a change.