While wondering if Yamid Haad is Paul Byrd's new personal catcher...

Big, but not necessarily old news, is the NBA refereeing scandal. Excellent analysis from Lester Munson on why this is resurfacing now. As always, follow the money. Ex-ref Tim Donaghy was seemingly cooperating with the feds and awaiting sentencing, until the NBA decided to pursue $1 million in damages. That seems to to have struck a negative chord with the ex-ref's legal team.

Donaghy's allegations are extremely serious. The NBA has always suffered more than the other leagues concerning potential fixing of games. Mainly because of the actions of the refs. For cryin' out loud, Wilt Chamberlain never fouled out of a game and that star system has always irked me. But I'm in the camp of those who believes you can't blame the refs, no matter how bad they are. I refuse to believe they are on the take, and you just have to find it within yourself to play through and overcome any perceived bad officiating.

However, what Donaghy says, at least on the surface, does make sense. If you are going to cry fix in the NBA, of course, you bring up Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings series of 2002. Game 6 officials were Dick Bavetta, Ted Bernhardt and Bob Delaney. Anyone who watched that game has that permanently etched in their brains. Most people who watch the NBA, myself included, would hold that up as Exhibit A if asked what game do you think may have been fixed? I'm not saying the fix was in, but the officiating in that game was highly suspect, and a Game 7 was the ultimate NBA's and fans reward. As a matter of fact, it was the only Game 7 of that playoff year.

Getting back to the refs, Bob Delaney seems beyond reproach because of his law enforcement background. But Bavetta has seemingly been the NBA's version of "The Cooler" for years. If that means he's a "company man", so be it. Bavetta always seems to be the ref who shows up when a series needs to put back on track. Don't know if that means he brings a dose of reality to these series or he favors the team that the NBA desires to advance. And, let's face it, we have always joked about Commissioner David Stern making the halftime call to alter the potential outcome of NBA games. So much so, we have him making the calls in other sports when a team, especially a favorite, needs some divine intervention to change its luck in a game.

I find it interesting that the other ref in Game 6 was Ted Bernhardt. Another of Donaghy's allegations is that a ref was privately reprimanded for tossing out a star player early in a game in January of 2000. Fairly simple searching finds that that game had to be Knicks-Sonics at the Garden. Unbelievably, both teams sported fine records that day and I'm sure it was probably the best matchup of the day. But Gary Payton was ejected in the first quarter of that game by none other than Ted Bernhardt. Following that reprimand, could Bernhardt's actions be seen as that of a "company man"?

My goodness, everyone loves a scandal, so let's see where the NBA goes with this. It's probably a good thing the Celtics took Game 4 tonight with a huge Lakers collapse, because it'll look awfully fishy if it goes to a Game 7, as we sit here tonight.

Meal of Links

Speaking of fishy, venerable State Fish has closed. Another local institution gone.

The Webby Awards Speeches from earlier this week. Keep in mind, they need to be 5 words or less. My favorites: NY Times' Frugal Traveler: "Please don't climb our building."; Kongregate (Games): "Proud to undermine your productivity."; Huffington Post: "President Obama...Sounds good, right?"; ABA Journal: "Had we lost, we'd sue!"; FactCheck.org" "No, Obama is not Muslim."; Onion News Network: "Thank you for the Pulitzer."; ZAGAT.mobi: "Actually, it's pronounced Za-GAT."

Hey, there is a new Joy Division documentary coming out. Maybe lunchboxes are next?

What used to be sabotaging is now how things are actually managed. Nice turnaround there.

The 25 Worst Sitcoms. Boy, they included some long-running shows in here. Those probably should land on a mediocre list. They need more truly wretched ones.

Check out these people leaving their cars through the disappearing car door. That's pretty cool, but is it necessary?

Exercise Yard

Batting Stance Guy takes on the Indians. Dead on with Albert Belle. His Kenny Lofton makes me laugh. A lot. Watch his Kevin Youkilis on the Red Sox video. Guaranteed laughs.



Quick Euro 2008 stuff. The Germans, the Germans!, got beat today by Croatia, who already moves on. Geez, Italy and Germany with losses already. Austrian and Poland tie. "Group of Death" resumes tomorrow. BTW, David Hirshey is doing previews on ESPN.com. I wish he was doing recaps, but I'll settle for that.

A Czech Czick from yesterday.




























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32 Across: Canadian pop idol Lavigne (5 letters) Answer: Avril