Crawford suspended for actions toward Duncan

[SicC]

The veteran NBA referee was suspended indefinitely by commissioner David Stern for his conduct toward Tim Duncan, who contends the official challenged him to a fight during a game in Dallas.

Tim Duncan appears to have a few words for referee Joey Crawford after the Spurs star was ejected from Sunday's game with the Mavericks. (Donna McWilliam / Associated Press)


Crawford has worked more postseason games than any active ref. His suspension will last at least through the NBA finals, and he apparently will have to meet with Stern after that to discuss reinstatement.

"Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted," Stern said in a statement. "Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities."

Crawford ejected Duncan from San Antonio's loss after calling a second technical foul on the Spurs star while he was laughing on the bench.

"He looked at me and said, 'Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?"' Duncan said. "If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don't have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, 'Do you want to fight?"'

Crawford was cited for "improper conduct" and "inappropriate comments made to Duncan during the game." Stern said Crawford's actions "failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees."

The NBA also fined Duncan $25,000 for verbal abuse of an official. Crawford said Duncan referred to him with an expletive.

Crawford was the first referee suspended since Rodney Mott was banned three games on Jan. 12 for making an obscene gesture toward a fan and also using inappropriate language in Portland.

Crawford comes from an officiating family. His brother, Jerry, is a major league umpire, as was his father, Shag.

Joey Crawford is in his 29th season as an NBA referee. He has officiated more than 2,000 games during the regular season and 252 in the playoffs, including 36 in the NBA finals.

But his temper has gotten him noticed before, especially in Game 2 of the 2003 Western Conference finals, a matchup involving the same teams as in Sunday's game. Crawford called four technical fouls in the first 10-plus minutes, leading to ejections of then-Mavs coach Don Nelson and assistant Del Harris.

Crawford also called a technical in a recent game against Duncan, who said Sunday that Crawford has a "personal vendetta against me."

Duncan was called for his first technical foul Sunday with 2:20 remaining in the third quarter for arguing about an offensive foul. Crawford hit him with the second technical 1:16 later after Duncan was on the bench laughing about a call that went against the Spurs.

With Duncan gone, the Mavericks rallied to beat the Spurs, ending San Antonio's chance of earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

:thumb:

 

[hizzle?]

yeha I watched the games it's stupid.

I dont know why Stern acts as if refs give too much technicals. He's the one who asked them to give T's for everything!

 

[SicC]

I watched it too, but it was crazy, one minute u see tim luaghing on the bench and the next minute he is getting tossed. One of the craziest things I have ever seen in the league before.

pz

 

[Bachaveli]

Everybody thinks they are the important ones.Refs job is to basically lay low and just ref the game quietly.People don't come to game or watch games to see how refs ref.People come to see basketball players.

So refs need to realize they aren't that important.No need to make big deal out of nothing and the next day have whole league talking about you.Just do your job on the low.

Duncan on the other hand is a moron.Guy told you to shut up so shut up,why you keep laughing like a egoist.

I like Crawford as a ref the most,out of all refs.He usually keeps it strict and doesn't allow any funny shit slide.But this time he thought he was bigger than the players and will pay his price.He might not be back again, oh well.There are a lot of fishes in the sea so i have no pity for him.

 

[SicC]

He will be back next season, I don't think stern will ban him from the NBA over this.

pz

 

[The.Menace]

Yeah the second T was kinda silly, but well.... nice to see a ref gettin suspended once, not only players lol.

 

[Sebastian]

Yep, true Menace. This should happen in football more often

 

[SicC]

Another good read i found on yahoo about this.

How could it have turned out otherwise?
The little martinet David Stern ordered his cops to crack down. Zero tolerance, he said. You, the refs, are the bosses. The fans may pay exorbitant prices to see their favorite players play, but you are hereby empowered to T up a superstar if he dares so much as toss his headband toward his own bench.

You shall rule through fear. Whistle as nightstick. Make examples of some guys and the others will step into line.

They will become obedient automatons. You can break them. Never let them forget who is in charge. If they see weakness, they will exploit it. You own that court. Now go knock heads.

Wally Szczerbiak waves his hand in a dismissive manner after a terrible foul call? T him up. Steve Nash turns his palms to the heavens in a plea for a call after playing through three fouls? T him up. Tim Duncan laughs incredulously on the bench after a foul call on a teammate? T him up. Toss him. Toss 'em all!

And then this. Joey Crawford is suspended indefinitely for having zero tolerance.

What? Joey Crawford stepped over the line? We're shocked, simply shocked that one of our enforcers, I mean, officials went too far. He will be dealt with harshly!

David Stern will now hang Crawford out to dry and pretend his zero tolerance policy had nothing to do with creating this problem in the first place. Crawford is the fall guy, the NBA's Scooter Libby. Stern, meanwhile, is now as big a hypocrite as he is an autocrat.

Make no mistake, I think Crawford can be a petty, grudge-holding thug and I've screamed at him by name courtside in L.A. and Phoenix. (Though he's always highly rated, I don't think he's that great an official either. He's basically a less-talented Steve Javie, who at least earns his quick trigger by being one of the league's best.) But Crawford's pugnacity, grating as it may be, was emboldened by Stern's ill-conceived zero tolerance policy.

The problem was Crawford really bought in. He was a true believer. He thought he was the boss. Until Stern reminded him who was really in charge.

Stern's "no complaining" edict was the dumbest directive to come out of a league office since baseball decided it was high time to start enforcing the balk rule according to the letter of the law in 1988.

A veteran player like Tim Duncan should be able to have a spirited disagreement with a veteran official like Crawford without it resulting in banishment. Just as a player should be able to slap the floor in disappointment after sacrificing his body to draw a charge only to get whistled for a block. Just as a player should be allowed to throw his headband into his bench. Or give a "get outta here" wave on a dubious call. Or react passionately to a call that genuinely surprises him.

Because if there are two things that are definitely not Fan-Tastic, it's watching superstars get banished to the showers and watching players shoot technical free throws.

Is Duncan, his choirboy rep notwithstanding, an inveterate whiner who deservedly earns most of his technicals? Sure. Does the hot-headed Crawford need to be reined in a bit? No doubt.

But you can't tell your employees to have zero tolerance and then have zero tolerance for them having zero tolerance.

It's been reported that Crawford asked Duncan if he wanted to fight, which is fairly comical if you take a second to think about it. Stern reacted as if Crawford sucker-punched Duncan.

It makes zero sense.



pz