Whining about whistles does nothing but hurt game
BOSTON -- It happened, again, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. An NBA player was whining about a call. Actually, this time, it was two players crying at once.
After an official called a foul on Glen Davis, he exploded in a sort of fast walk away from the official, protesting the entire time. It was similar to what serial ref complainer Kendrick Perkins did during the Orlando series. Perkins was whistled for a technical foul.
This time, joining Davis, was technical foul generator Rasheed Wallace, the George Washington of extreme referee complaining. He fast walked in the opposite direction flapping his arms in protest like a panicked bird. He was bothered, too.
As the Celtics often do, they were complaining yet again about officiating but that was the first time I've seen two players act like fools simultaneously after one call.
Celtics players aren't alone in constantly complaining about officiating. They may have taken the art form to an elite level, but NBA players complaining vociferously is something that now happens -- literally -- after every damn call in the NBA.
The officiating in this series has indeed been terrible. Terrible isn't the word. It's beyond terrible. It has been historically bad. Imagine Keanu Reeves doing a Godfather movie. That's what the officiating has been like in this series and to some degree this entire season.
Yet the complaining by players about officiating is equally distasteful.
Whine and whine, bitch and moan. Complain, complain, complain. Every call, every whistle, every foul is challenged. Some player is constantly crying about some call at some point.
The NBA logo of Jerry West should be replaced by Perkins, serial complainer, his hands flailing, his eyes welling, sporting a pair of Huggies.
The bellyaching across the entire sport is consistent, unprecedented and sickening. It has gotten beyond annoying to where it's seriously injuring the image of the game.
It would be nice if players just shut up about the officiating. Stop the gyrating, stop the faces and stop the sulking. Just stop it all already.
It might actually be time for commissioner David Stern to intervene with an edict to players that their constant bellyaching and showing up of officials won't be tolerated.
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| The consistent bellyaching by players to referees is unprecedented and sickening. (Getty Images) |
"I think what we all want is just consistency," Rivers explained. "It's tough to get to that, but I think that's what everybody wants. It is just a different game."
What no one wants is to hear a bunch of millionaires constantly crying. We want them to play hard and contrary to what some believe the vast majority of NBA players do. There's still a current shift underway where coaches and players are using officials as a crutch for their own failures and sloppy performances.
I can tell you exactly what's happening here. This outburst of whining can be traced back to one person: Tim Donaghy.
Yes, him. No, I haven't lost my sanity. Players and coaches have always complained about officiating, but it has gotten worse in the past two or three years and the Donaghy scandal from 2007 is the reason why.
Donaghy's selfish stupidity crippled the image of NBA game officials. They were vulnerable then and remain so. Players smelled blood and when that happens they attack.
And like many powerful men in an advantageous position they are pushing their attacks too far.
We've reached a point in the NBA where players and coaches have absolutely no respect for officials. None. Not a drop. It seems that's the core of this Era of the NBA Whiner.
"I think honestly there's too much talk about them, the officials," Rivers admitted. "They've got a tough job. The Lakers have a tough job, the Celtics have a tough job, and we need to all get back to just doing our jobs."
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Now only if NBA players and coaches would follow his advice.
