I disagree with this. The refs are a key part of the sport, and the NBA refs are incredibly good. It's really, really hard to call the games at NBA pace, and the NBA refs are probably the best in the world, but that doesn't excuse the kind of behavior Kirkland showed. You're not a good NBA ref if you can't stay objective.My old man has complained for years about refs (mainly MLB umps) thinking they are an important part of the entertainment venue. They aren't. We aren't there to watch an umpire with his flailing, over-exagerated "you're out!" antics. Can it be cool and fun? Sure, but that's not what we paid to see and that's not what you are paid to do. If you don't like it and need to be an entertainer too then quit and join a damn circus or rodeo, because you are a clown already.
I disagree with this. The refs are a key part of the sport, and the NBA refs are incredibly good. It's really, really hard to call the games at NBA pace, and the NBA refs are probably the best in the world, but that doesn't excuse the kind of behavior Kirkland showed. You're not a good NBA ref if you can't stay objective.
I don't think Kirkland should be fired for this, but I think he should be suspended for some games, and I definitely think the league should send a message saying "we know it sucks to hear players' critisicm like this (which sometimes isn't called for), but this stuff cannot happen".They are good and well trained but they are the help and need to stay in their lane or get fired. This was throwing a fit and deserves punishment.
Most of us are the help and suffer the many abuses that come with it, but we are free to seek new employment if we can't hack it. Rally the troops to stand on a hill over your fit? **** off, grow up.
Well, what do you do if in his spot? Cause a revolt and lockout by the refs? All because you didn't treat the help like the help, and make sure they are replaceable at any time they want to feel entitled?
Hire 100 more, pay them well enough with less duty - less games to officiate/more ref variety - and fire their asses for pulling a stunt like this.
I don't think Kirkland should be fired for this, but I think he should be suspended for some games, and I definitely think the league should send a message saying "we know it sucks to hear players' critisicm like this (which sometimes isn't called for), but this stuff cannot happen".
I don't think Kirkland should be fired for this, but I think he should be suspended for some games, and I definitely think the league should send a message saying "we know it sucks to hear players' critisicm like this (which sometimes isn't called for), but this stuff cannot happen".
Computer refereed games have to be just around the corner, dont they?
All sorts of software that recognize faces, drive cars, detect movement, etc... Why not ref a game? I think that should be the next step. I imagine you might have to up the foul limits to 10 a game or something though. If all the actual fouls were called there would be a lot.
I dont know. On one hand it could be dumb, but on the other, this human bias and mistake thing has to go away.
I don't know why baseball hasnt done it yet. They already have the software pretty much.
Vegas will only allow that if their people have control of the software. As I've gotten older the more I realize it's an entertainment/money making business above all.
But you are a conspiracy nut, so...