He's short, bald, and has a major chip on his shoulder. Joey Crawford has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA for his actions toward Tim Duncan. Crawford gave Duncan a technical foul for mouthing off about a call, something Duncan denies doing it.
Shortly thereafter, with Duncan laughing on the bench, Crawford heads in his direction and tosses him. Duncan says Crawford challenged him to a fight, while Crawford says that Duncan called him an expletive. Apparently, the NBA is siding with Duncan.
There's some history between Duncan and Crawford, but I think the biggest issue at stake is respect. NBA referees, while shorter and considerably less physically gifted than the players, work hard too.
But they make a lot less.
Players whine at them, cuss them out, and put their sweaty arms around their shoulders to try to convince them to change a call. Refs also take a lot of heat from the fans and as we've seen with the Kobe Bryant incidents this season, their calls are under scrutiny by the NBA, too. In short, being a referee can be thankless.
Just like everyone else, though, Crawford signed up for this job. No one's making him do it. So when you get reinstated, Joey, try to call the game without making it a personal vendetta. After all, the fans aren't there to watch you.
4 comments:
do you think the NBA would have even looked into the matter if it wasn't such a prominent player making the accusations? i think not...
I think especially when you look at the history these two have had, there was definitely reason to look into it, regardless of who was involved. That being said, a player of Duncan's status probably draws more attention when there's a controversy. I believe Crawford was trying to maintain control of the game- it's not helpful when any player is showing you up, let alone Tim Duncan. Should he have challenged him to a fight, probably not, but I have no problem with him giving Duncan another tech for openly laughing in his face. The league should support their refs. so that these poor saps who sweat buckets each night, getting paid peanuts i'm sure, are getting the respect they need to maintain a game and not let things get too out of hand. I wish that Stern would have stood up to Duncan and made an example out of both men! Let's be honest, the 25k that duncan was fined was probably his lunch money for the day. Even though the league benefits from the amazing skill that these men exhibit night in and night out, I hope that in the future Stern and other execs are willing to put their foot down as they'd begun to at the beginning of the year... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
Jeremy, I don't think Crawford even ejects Duncan if he isn't feeling threatened. Duncan is a big man, a great player, and a well-respected individual in the league.
Kent, I like the Duncan "lunch money for the day" comment, because it's absolutely true. In effect, the league sided with him on this, because the consequences to Crawford are immeasurably greater. But I think that's warranted, given the circumstance.
Jeremy, I don't think Crawford even ejects Duncan if he isn't feeling threatened. Duncan is a big man, a great player, and a well-respected individual in the league.
Kent, I like the Duncan "lunch money for the day" comment, because it's absolutely true. In effect, the league sided with him on this, because the consequences to Crawford are immeasurably greater. But I think that's warranted, given the circumstance.
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