Posted by
jason on Jun. 10, 2008, 6:59pm
Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee accused of betting on games he worked, came out with some accusations of his own, saying that the whole NBA officiating system is crooked.
The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS uncovers a court document filed by Donaghy’s lawyer claiming that league officials would “manipulate” refs to change the outcomes of of games. According to the document:
“League officials would tell referees that they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so hurt ticket sales and television ratings.”
Donaghy also claims that two refs working the 2002 playoffs were acting as “company men” in trying to extend a series to seven games. Could the fix have involved a certain big-name tenant of Staples Center? Read more…
The L.A. Lakers have a chance to close out this Western Conference playoff business tonight, but Phil Jackson still has a proverbial bone to pick with the officiating in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs. Remember, LA was the team who benefited from an incorrect call in that game.
The bee in Philjax’s bonnet came after the NBA refs acknowledged Derek Fisher should have been whistled for a foul on Brent Barry, since there was no mention of Fisher’s shot with 6.9 seconds left and whether or not it hit the rim. Read more…
Posted by
Tuffy on May. 28, 2008, 9:30am
As we first spotted on TRUEHOOP, the NBA playoffs have disappeared from Chinese television sets following the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province in China on May 12th. Once normal programming returned to the Chinese state sports station, the NBA reappeared for only one game before being replaced. The explanation from the head of the station?
“These games are not in accordance with the atmosphere of the nation after the devastation of the earthquake. They are too entertaining” Jiang Heping, director of the state TV sports channel, told Reuters.
“We did show one game but then we were informed not to continue.”
Henry Abbott’s TRUEHOOP readers go on to refute that, claiming other sports programming replaced the NBA tilts. Their explanation? The Chinese government holds a grudge about a letter signed by many NBA players last season (but not swoosher LeBron James) at the request of Lakers guard Ira Newble to protest Chinese support of the Sudanese government through weapons sales and trade agreements (a.k.a. oil).
Read more…
Posted by
PUNTE on May. 24, 2008, 1:50pm
Even the most casual of NBA fans could rejoice when the Lakers took a 2-0 lead in the NBA’s Western Conference finals against the Spurs last night.
It’s looking more likely that the Spurs, who blew a 20-point lead in Game 2, may miss out on their fourth NBA finals in six years. Read more…
Sometimes we, as learned primates of the Internet, forget that not everything we see on the web is necessarily known by everyone. For example, RickRolling? It’s kind of mainstream, but soccer moms and construction workers may not be in the know. But we’d figure American Idol would be a household name, right?
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, prior to San Antonio’s first game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Western finals, was asked about the Idol finale which was held across the street from the Staples Center, where Game 1 was taking place. The answer … may alarm you:
“Is that where they dance with each other?”
Read more…
Posted by
jason on May. 13, 2008, 4:01am
• THE WORLD OF ISAAC gets to the bottom of their choices for the 10 best backsides in beach volleyball.
• T.O.’s not the only receiver to bust his acting chops on the small screen, as MONDESI’S HOUSE tunes in to see Hines Ward guest star on a Korean TV show.
• And DEADSPIN catches fellow NFL star Matt Leinart hitting the game show circut - as the question to “Jeopardy’s” Final Answer.
• SPORTAPHILE rolls tape on a younger Bill O’Reilly approaching Chris Berman levels of off-the-air in-studio anger.
Read more…
Posted by
PUNTE on May. 03, 2008, 1:30pm
The juggernaut Boston Celtics, led by the trio of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, assembled a tremendous 31-10 road record during the NBA regular season.
In the playoffs, they’ve played exactly three road games–and lost them all.
Read more…
Posted by
jason on Apr. 30, 2008, 3:47am
• YAHOO’s BALL DON’T LIE has the poop on Denver’ mascot finding some relief before the Nuggets got flushed by the Lakers.
• EMPTY THE BENCH teases us with some classic commercials of Pistol Pete Maravich displaying his fine b-ball skills and even finer hair.
• BABES LOVE BASEBALL brings up some broads (and a bud) that could help Barry Zito break his slump.
• SPORTS TSAR bounces over word that the NBA’s official website has already acknowledged Kobe Bryant as the 2008 MVP.
Read more…
