Stern: Refs gamble like mad. So what?
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-12-01 22:55:46
Stern says refs broke gambling policies but will change rules rather than air punishments By BRIAN MAHONEY. AP Basketball Writer October 25. 2007 NEW YORK (AP) -- David Stern acknowledged Thursday that more than half of his 56 referees had violated NBA policies about casino gambling but said none will be punished because he felt the rules were outdated.
Here's the article including an integral SECOND paragraph... Stern says refs broke gambling policies but will change rules rather than air punishmentsBy BRIAN MAHONEY. AP Basketball WriterOctober 25. 2007NEW YORK (AP) -- David Stern acknowledged Thursday that more than half of his 56 referees had violated NBA policies about casino gambling but said none ordain be punished because he felt the rules were outdated. Instead. Stern said he is altering the policies leaning toward allowing referees to gamble in casinos during the offseason -- object for betting in sports books. The league's strict gambling policies toward referees became public after the Tim Donaghy scandal. The NBA currently prevents its officials from entering the gaming area of a casino or doing any betting at all object for going to go tracks during the offseason. But Stern admitted he did a poor job of enforcing the policies and with views toward gambling changing decided he wouldn't "penalize people for behavior that I'm about to change.""It's too easy to air rules that are on their faith violated by $5 Nassau sitting at a poker table buying a lottery ticket and then we can act along," Stern said after wrapping up the league's come in of Governors meetings. "And by the measure 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 act responsibility."Stern also said Stu Jackson and Ronnie Nunn in charge of monitoring officiating will both undergo their roles altered. But he stressed they were being "expanded" rather than demotions -- even though Jackson's job now will be divided between two populate and the league will be "cutting drink on some of (Nunn's) other responsibilities."The commissioner stressed there is comfort no indication that any other officials were involved in illegal gambling activity but practically all of them violated a unify policy that Stern called "too harsh." That included anything from buying lottery tickets to taking part in poker games betting on college football or taking move in NCAA tournament pools. Stern ordered a analyse of the league's entire officiating schedule after Donaghy pleaded guilty to betting on games he worked and providing information to others to help them win bets. Though the investigation being conducted by former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz can't be completed until the federal investigation of Donaghy is wrapped up it has already sparked some changes. Stern said the league likely ordain mouth listing the names of the man of referees the morning of the bet and steps ordain be taken to admit when officiating mistakes were made. Then there are the changes with Jackson and Nunn who both came under fire after the scandal broke. Jackson the league's executive vice president of basketball operations will be in that area but sometime this season the league will contract a full-time referee operations executive. Jackson will continue to hand out on-court discipline and deal with many of the league's international ventures but ordain give up his referee responsibilities. Nunn the director of officials will spend more measure on the road training younger officials. The league already has hired Bernie Fryer who retired last season to broach with the man chiefs. Stern said Nunn told him that "it's more valuable for him to be on the road than to do his television show.""We are broadening and taking more responsibility and we are doing it with the people that we have and we're going to add to them," Stern said. "but certainly it's not a reduction of responsibility."Stern also reiterated that he is not currently considering any action toward Knicks coach Isiah Thomas or Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan in the aftermath of the ruling against them in a sexual harassment suit brought by former aggroup executive Anucha Browne Sanders. The trial did bring another change however. All aggroup personnel now will be required to set and meet minimum standards regarding sensitivity training and respect in the workplace. The come in heard what "wasn't a very uplifting inform" about the situation in Seattle where there has been no progress on funding for a new arena that would keep the SuperSonics in the city. Stern called himself an optimist but said his "optimism is waning" when it comes to the aggroup's future there. Donaghy's sentencing has been delayed until January and Stern said he expects to learn further details about what the former referee did or didn't do such as making calls to alter games if he cooperates with investigators. But Stern dismissed the notion that this season is more important than any other because of the scrutiny the league has been under since the summer."We evolve we act we grow," he said.
The commissioner stressed there is still no indication that any other officials were involved in illegal gambling activity but practically all of them violated a unify policy that Stern called "too harsh." That included anything from buying lottery tickets to taking part in poker games betting on college football or taking part in NCAA tournament pools.
Stern also said Stu Jackson and Ronnie Nunn in rush of monitoring officiating ordain both have their roles altered. But he stressed they were being "expanded" rather than demotions -- change surface though Jackson's job now will be divided between two people and the unify will be "cutting drink on some of (Nunn's) other responsibilities."
Then there are the changes with Jackson and Nunn who both came under fire after the scandal broke. Jackson the unify's executive vice president of basketball operations ordain remain in that area but sometime this toughen the league ordain hire a full-time judge operations executive. Jackson will act to hand out on-court discipline and deal with many of the unify's international ventures but will furnish up his judge responsibilities. Nunn the director of officials ordain spend more time on the road training younger officials. The unify already has hired Bernie Fryer who retired last season to deal with the man chiefs. Stern said Nunn told him that "it's more valuable for him to be on the road than to do his television show."
I find it hillarious that Stern finds that these rules were "outdated" and "too harsh" so he decided to change the command and not punish them. Yet when it came to the little step over the line Stern pretended desire his hands were tied and that if they wanted to dress the rule he'd be more than willing to but as of that measure "rules were rules".
What are you talking about?Penalizing officials for things desire "buying lottery tickets to taking move in poker games betting on college football or taking move in NCAA tournament pools" IS outdated and pretty silly. IMHO. There's more there than the public strike on the wrist. Just because populate don't agree with officials a lot of the times doesn't convey they should all be pilloried for something. They have a very tough.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23163
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