(Subtitle: Palaver (noun) a: idle talkb: misleading or beguiling speech)
NBA Commissioner David Stern used the above word in an interview with Dan Patrick last spring. It was used as he was referring to all of the backlash over the Suns-Spurs series and the “palaver” being bandied about regarding the suspension of two Suns, while a similar violation committed by the Spurs in the same game went unpunished. When Patrick confronted him with it, (prompting the use of the “P word”) Stern’s arrogance and defensiveness instinctively kicked in. Not to his discredit though, as apparently he can’t react any other way. After all, we all know his officials are the most knowledgeable, most well-trained, and most competent in all of sports. If you don’t believe me, just ask him. And to those who thought his opinion may be muffled a bit after the Tim Donaghy disaster, think again. It’s almost as if it had never happened. Donaghy was a “rogue, isolated criminal” according to Stern in his late June press conference. Sure he was. And you, Mr. Stern, are a top-notch commish, despite all the palaver that you deflect. Well, you’re no Bud Selig, but you’re well on your way.
Chris Sheridan wrote earlier today, (Quoting Stern here) “Technically, it turns out every single current NBA referee has gambled in some form, after all -- although none of them are going to be punished for it. And, strange as it may seem, those very same referees will now be permitted to gamble in a multitude of ways.”
That can do nothing but help the game, right Mr. Stern? Who doesn’t want refs gambling? (Public Service Announcement: Are you an NBA official who’s tired of those annoying phone calls saying “When are you going to pay up, punk?” Call 1-800-DONAGHY. We’ll handle any case, no matter how big or small. Stern & Co. We'll go to bat for you. We're so sure we'll come out ahead, we'll bet on it).
Sheridan continues, “Stern said an internal review had found that all [ALL? So you admit it and stillchoose to do nothing??] of the league's 56 referees violated the contractual prohibition against engaging in gambling, with more than half of them admitting to placing wagers in casinos. But Stern said none of the violations was major, and no referees had admitted to wagering in a sports book or with a bookie.
‘ “Our ban on gambling is absolute, and in my view it is too absolute, too harsh and was not particularly well-enforced over the years," ‘ Stern said. ‘ "We're going to come up with a new set of rules that make sense." ‘
Uh, folks, if that ain’t “palaver,” I don’t know what is. Or dare I say absolute palaver? And did an official leave the general vicinity of the blackjack table during a hand? After all, a rule is a rule . . .
But wait, it gets better, in the same article from Sheridan. "It's too easy to issue rules that are on their faith violated by $5 Nassau, sitting at a poker table, buying a lottery ticket and then we can move along," Stern said. "And by the time I got through and I determined going into a casino isn't a capital offense ... I'm the CEO of the NBA and I'll take responsibility."
No, you won’t. That’s obvious, you arrogant no-mind. And no matter how often
you try to convince us otherwise, we’re not buying it. Just like we haven’t
bought your assertion, or should I say insistence, regarding your stellar
officiating crew. What they did on the court has always been there for all the
world to see. Obviously, what they do off the court doesn’t really matter either.
And neither do these rules you speak of. The fact of the matter is, Mr. Stern, is
that your employees broke your rule, and you are doing nothing about it.
Responsibility? Sounds like more palaver from you if you ask me. But I wouldn’t
ask me if I were you.
Mr. Stern will be at The Improv all week. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders and
waitresses.
Thanks for taking the time to read my palaver.
(And for even more intriguing prose on related topics, see my post from 06/27/07, entitled "David Stern, Teflon No More.)
Ricko,
Don't worry about the format. Better to have it spaced out like it is than all clumped together. It makes it easier to follow.
Anyway, on the subject at hand. As a Suns fan I am tempted to say something about "black and white rules" but I will resist that temptation.
I do not have a problem if a ref plays the lottery, is in some sort of league (pool/darts whatever), plays poker tourneys or whatever. I wouldn't even have a problem with them in casinos except for one thing...that is where the sports books are.
Refs should not be allowed in casinos PERIOD. (Exceptions my be needed for instances like the all star game being held in Vegas, as nearly every hotel is a casino). The point is that even if all they do is play craps or blackjack in a casino, who is to say they didn't go by the sports book? Are the going to check the security tapes each time?
Its a load of ####, Stern. If half of the US murdered somebody, punishment would still be deserved. The same goes for the gambling refs.
Maybe some instances of "gambling" are acceptable and the rule needs to be relaxed a little, but to me that is like playing with matches in a fireworks factory.
Sorry about rambling. Maybe I will get back later to edit it down.
Last edited by OurCoedsAreHotterASU on October 26th at 6:57 AM.
I'm really at a loss for words. I love basketball but Stern has cheapened the very idea of playing the game for me. I was moving on from last years playoffs but this has given me a sense of "what's the use". I can't watch a game and not wonder.
Pete Rose has to be laughing his butt off.
Last edited by pumpdude on October 26th at 7:19 AM.
“A precedent wasn’t necessary here. The rule with respect to leaving the bench area during an altercation is very clear.”
“Historically, if you break it, you will get suspended, regardless of what the circumstances are.”
“It’s not a matter of fairness. It’s a matter of correctness.”
“That’s why it’s a red-letter rule.”
*************
great write here ricko.
this is a slap in the face to every PHX fan every where.
Last edited by GR8UN54 on October 26th at 7:21 AM.
ricko-i'm trying to fully understand this scenerio as well donaghy admitted to and is being federally charged for:
"conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce."
Court papers say the 40-year-old Donaghy began placing bets on NBA games in 2003. Starting last December, he began giving gambling associates sensitive information, including which crews would officiate games and how the various officials and players interacted.
**************************
and now the NBA is just giving away that information for free. is it a federal crime?
Stern also announced some changes relating to referees:
• The identities of the referees assigned to specific NBA games will now be released the morning of the game, rather than 90 minutes before tip-off. Stern said this would eliminate that information being used as currency in the gambling business.
**************
so how does knowing which crew officiate which game give an advantage to a sports bettor?
now that this info will be public knowledge is vegas going to take a beating?
the charges against donaghy are ####. he's a criminal for fixing games, not giving out info.
GR8...if you got an answer, would you believe it or sit by for another rules change? It's like being a Republican and voting Democrate because you believed they stood for the issues they campaigned on. Then when they get the job, they cave and nothing changes.
Great story, but unfortunately I've scooped you with this breaking news update: Former baseball great Pete Rose has announced that effective immediately he is applying for a job as an NBA referee. "I know nothing about the game or its' rules," Rose said when asked for a comment, "but it sounds like the perfect job for me. Why I didn't learn how to dribble instead of hit when I was a kid I will never understand."
ricko
You and I know that above all Stern is the consummate politican first and Commissioner second. But it sure does seem to help that as a lawyer he's got an answer to all the questions in one form or another.
ricko
Check out my post written under this guise titled Just Throw Me The Damn Ball Ocho Cinquo !
Hopefully you'll enjoy the piece after having read it ?
This gambling fiasco certainly has given the NBA a black eye. And this is a league where they have the All-star game in Vegas, have preseason games there, and were doing everything in their power to lay to get a franchise placed there - the gambling mecca of the universe. Uh-huh.
If Stern really thinks this gambling issue is just going to go away, he's in for a rude awakening.
Did someone really compare gambling to murder? Wow.
This whole thing is so overblown that it's not even funny. Gambling is human nature. We all do it, whether it's a friendly wager with our spouse, a square on the Super Bowl board, or eating sushi. Stern realized as much and admitted that his anti-gambling rules are outdated. It makes perfect sense to allow limited gambling habits in order to avoid future situations as we have with Donaghy. Allow these guys to play in a poker tournament so they don't have to get their gambling fix in some underground manner.
I remember the old days when Stern was considered one of the best commissioners in sports. Ever since Michael Jordan retired (the second time) the images of both David Stern and the NBA have suffered. It's time for him to go.
Hey Capt. P-Rickoooooo. I don't really give a #### about the NBA, especially during football season, but I usually read your sh-ite regardless...it is that good my friend.
Anyway, just thought I'd say waaasssup! Oh, and goooooooooo Sun Devils.
Did someone really compare gambling to murder? Wow.
This whole thing is so overblown that it's not even funny. Gambling is human nature. We all do it, whether it's a friendly wager with our spouse, a square on the Super Bowl board, or eating sushi. Stern realized as much and admitted that his anti-gambling rules are outdated. It makes perfect sense to allow limited gambling habits in order to avoid future situations as we have with Donaghy. Allow these guys to play in a poker tournament so they don't have to get their gambling fix in some underground manner.
_____
Human nature like when your floor general gets knocked the !@ck out, to run to his aide?
What ever happend to a rule is a rule?
"It's not a matter of what is fair. It's a matter of correctness" - David Stern
*
Last edited by AK47spiderman on October 26th at 12:45 PM.
ricko....Donaghy was a rogue? How come everyone but Stern knew that wasn't true? Now, the cockroaches have come out and Stern can't stomp them out, so hey, let's ease up the restrictions, so the cockroaches can feed on garbage. This guy is blind. Your Suns were probably victim to some of this ####.
Nice post.
Jaysisko; I was probably wrong in saying murder. I was trying to point out that it is also against the rules/law. So how about this:
Everybody speeds, so should all speeding tickets be forgiven? Its a better parallel. Although nothing will probably come of it, there is a good chance something will happen.
As a former game official (high school and JC) I must say the officiating in the NBA is terrible. Of the four major team sports, basketball (NBA) is the worst officiated of all. Every other team sport (NFL, MLB, NHL) reinforces the fundamentals of the sport. NBA Officials just plain suck, and Joey Crawford is the worst. Stern is an arrogant piece of ####. He needs to go, and the NBA needs a makeover.
I too learned the word, 'palaver' this spring.
Stern and I belong to The Word of the Day Club.
We're emailed the word, its definition and are instructed to use it to obsfuscate the media.
I don't have a gambling jones, so could I qualify to be an NBA ref. I'm in great physical and mental condition, says I. Still, I know how to call palming. Whoops! That's going to cost me a job as an NBA ref.
typo fix
Last edited by slshusker on October 28th at 7:28 PM.
Thanks for the vocab word, ricko- I'm always looking for new ones to add to my collection.
By making a distinction between playing a slot machine here and there and fixing games, Stern is trying to prevent future egg on his face. To this, I am not opposed. What bothers me, however, is the way he talks down to anyone who dares to ask him a legitimate question about anything remotely controversial is nothing short of peremptory (just thought I'd return the favor on the vocab word). I think you said it best with the line "Well, you're no Bud Selig, but you're well on your way."
"I was trying to point out that it is also against the rules/law. So how about this: Everybody speeds, so should all speeding tickets be forgiven?"
Still not a good analogy. Speeding laws aren't outdated. They still serve a very important purpose. Here's a couple examples that work:
A Zeigler, Illiniois law states that only the first four firemen reaching a fire will be paid for their services.
Washington law says that a driver of a car not equipped with ash trays is liable to a fine of two hundred dollars.
And for AK47:
"What ever happend to a rule is a rule?"
Is there a need to keep the "don't leave the bench during an altercation" rule? Does it still serve a very important purpose? The competition committee says yes. Not just Stern, but the entire committee. Is there a need to keep refs from playing blackjack? Debate that if you want to. I think they should be allowed to do anything that doesn't involve wagering on sports.
I left the house around 8:00 this morning and headed to Tucson to play in a golf tourney, and didn't get home until around 10:00 this evening. Now that I fired up the computer before heading to bed, I see that the three or four comments I expected was more like 26. Thanks to all for stopping by. It means more than you know. I guess since I went this far at this late hour, I may as well address them, so here goes:
OurCoeds-I don't think anyone has a problem with a ref playing the lottery, a March Madness pool, etc. But if they know the rules established by their employer, the NBA, then break them and nothing happens, that IS a problem. If Stern wants to change the rules, fine. Not a problem. But only after he suspends each referee for a few games. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to finish a letter to my local legislator. I got pulled over for speeding today in a 55 MPH zone, which was totally asinine. The rule is outdated and the speed limit should be at least 65. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the law gets changed, and I will incur no fine.
And here's rooster with his imitable style in a couple of comments. I could not have said it better myself.
Freakin' bravo, rooster.
AK47-I just looked up "####" in an online dictionary. It said "see figure A", which was a picture of Stern. And I'll bet you my next paycheck that he never shows his face here in our great city again. (I know this makes you nervous, but it's okay, really. We can bet. Oh, I know it's against the law, but don't let that scare you off). Luckily for him, he's got about eight months to figure out a believable scenario for someone else to present the NBA Championship trophy next June.
HalfBaked-Damn you. You always seem to get news before I do. I'll bet that's you and your new grandchild in your new avatar. (Dang, there I go with that betting thing again. I need to see a doctor about that).
Hoffman-The fact of the matter is that no, I don't have a problem with officials betting on blackjack. As for the suspensions in game 5, I have rehashed this so many times that it is crystal clear by now. Tim Duncan was inside the three point line in the same game that Amare and Boris came off the bench, yet got nothing. And all we heard was this "a rule is a rule" ####. Yet Duncan got nothing, because in Stern's words, it did not occur during an altercation. So we, as NBA fans, must hold one of two truths to be present: either a player is allowed to meander onto the court-not just a foot or two, but more like fifteen-while the game is in progress, or there is something rotten in Denmark, so to speak. Neither situation is acceptable, is it.
More Hoffman-"Would you rather the NBA apply the "letter of the law" just to be balanced in their obvious stupidity or correct an obvious mistake?" Why can't they do both? The problem is that Stern is speaking out of both sides of his mouth, as rooster (a.k.a. GR8UN54) pointed out earlier.
pumpdude-Did you pull that from a post I made a few months ago? No? Okay, then you must be reading my mind.
justanotherfan-He's got answers, all right. Too bad they're all wrong.
Nooch-All I can add is "Oh, that David . . ."
YeeMum-As was mentioned before, I believe, Pete Rose is training as we speak for a full-bore tryout as an NBA official. I'd bet money that he's a shoo-in.
ricko
Stern's belief that these latest incidents concerning the refs are nothing to worry about. Isn't akin to saying that when an addict has a habit there's no real need for him to seek counselling ?
If he feels that the officials can govern themselves when it comes to the issue of gambling. He's sadly mistaken !
jaysisko-What you say is correct. But that doesn't negate the fact that the officials knew the rules, still broke them, and are going unpunished. Even you have to admit that with everything that has gone on in Stern's watch, this is inconsistent. And therefore derails what little credibility he had left. And don't even get me started on outdated rules. Seriously, this current situation is a joke-and a bad one.
ian-As I wrote in my post on 6/27/07, Stern was considered successful thanks in no small part to the impact of Bird, Magic, and Jordan. Who COULDN'T thrive in that situation?
pete nice-Thanks for stopping by. I wouldn't mind an ASU-OSU Rose Bowl, would you? Long way to go yet, though. Can't get ahead of ourselves. Nice second half by the Sun Devils last night, though. They didn't allow a point in the second half, and have now outscored their opponents something like 140-25 after halftime this season.
AK47-Every rule must be enforced-unless of course it has a * after it. ; )
lisa H-hear hear. A bad job of damage control if you ask me.
OSL-Yeah, I've mentioned that more than once. Their officiating is laughably inconsistent, but then so is Stern.
slshusker-Palming? I vaguely remember that infraction. I may have to Google see if I can get a clear definition, since it's been so long.
TSI-Agreed. Stern's arrogance is like that kid we all knew growing up who acted like he knew everything but really knew nothing.
jay-Again, allow them to gamble on anything non-sports. No problem. But you can't wait until a bunch of them break the rules and they say 'no problem, we'll just change the rules and everything will be okay.' Sorry, that doesn't fly any way you look at it.
"But you can't wait until a bunch of them break the rules and they say 'no problem, we'll just change the rules and everything will be okay.' Sorry, that doesn't fly any way you look at it."
I still think your arguments are overblown. If there were rules at your job that prevented you from partaking in a seemingly harmless activity, and your employer didn't enforce the rules because they too saw them as outdated, what harm has been done? The refs made no efforts to conceal their activities. Probably because they saw no harm in their activities. And it looks like they were correct.
What would you have Stern do in this situation? Fine half his refs? Suspend or fire half of them? I would have had no problem with any of those outcomes, just as I have no problem with what he decided. It was his decision to make. I'd be curious to see a poll that asked what NBA fans thought the punishment should be for entering a casino.
I think you need to admit that you wouldn't care about this issue if you didn't already hate Stern for suspending your players (read: doing his job). This is just piling on, in my opinion.
ricko
He'll be wiping the egg of his face if another allegation should arise concerning a league official. He like Selig at times to obfuscate all responsibility and be realistic
about the issues facing their respective sports.
It were as if they've got their heads up in the clouds and fail to realize what's actually happening around them.
How about that non-call on Moses Malone when he whacked Cedric Maxwell coming down for the rebound in game seven of the 1982 Eastern Conference finals. That wasn't on the level, and Mendy Rudolph was seen betting on greyhounds at Wonderland the day before, even though he'd been dead for three years.
Isn't David Stern more like a clown on a unicycle? He pedals around the ring until he looses his balance and then has to pedal backwards to regain it again.
jaysisko-Single me out if you want as the lone fan who has a problem with this due to the fact that I'm a Suns if you want. But a quick look at most of the other comments and the numerous national writers who hold the same viewpoint and perhaps rather than me overblowing it, you are overly downplaying the matter.
BTW, would it be a reach to consider the "leaving the vicinity of the bench" rule a bit outdated, or maybe at least a little too far-reaching in its effects?
Again jay, I have no problem with referees gambling to a certain extent-I think most people feel the same way. But hey, the rule was there and they all knew about it. If my teenage daughter repeatedly comes home a half-hour late, though seemingly no harm is done, what's the use of me telling when she has to be home? Do I just say it's okay and not to worry about it?
ricko
Oh but for the wild's of being a lawyer. What was Clinton's repsonse ? " I did not have sex with that woman. " What indeed is the difference between #### sex and the sexual act of penetration itself ? Please can someone tell me ? Or do I have to ask the nearest lawyer that'll come into my midst ?
I've a new post up that hopefully will be of some interest to you once you've read it ? It's titled I's Got's Mine's Whose Got's Your's ? I'd like your honest opinion as to the merits of the piece.
Look forward to reading your comments.
I try very hard to watch NBA games, but honestly the only time I can make it through a game on TV is during the playoffs.
The game is just boring and over hyped now, which added with a lack of credibility of it's officials and commissioner means I'm not going to be tuning in or attending any games for a long time.
You know it's bad when Nascar races are more exciting than NBA games. And watching races on ESPN is like watching flies ####.
Spent half my life in North Dakota. The other half, so far, in the Valley of the Sun. As a kid, I was always playing, watching, reading, or writing about sports. I lost most of the "playing" along the way, but the rest remains the same. I pledge to refrain from commenting on a blog unless I've read it in its entirety. If I have time, of course.
Carry on.
Email address: rickoblog@ear thlink.net
