boziebob

Two weeks ago San Francisco Chronicle writer Ray Ratto posted a Sportsline column in which he labeled as a "half-wit, quarter-wit and TV personality" anyone who dared think the NBA might not be on the level.

He said anyone who concluded that the league was trying to arrange a Lakers-Celtics series by having Joey Crawford work the San Antonio series despite his history of conflict with Tim Duncan was "lazy, or stupid, or insufficiently curious." I believe in psychological circles they call that "projecting," the practice of casting your own shortcomings onto others, whether they have them or not.

You remember the May 29th column, Ray? I sent you an email suggesting that you had completely abandoned the journalistic principal of skepticism and cynicism in order to slop at the NBA trough like just another hog to be fattened up for slaughter. (OK, so I think I added the hog reference just now but, well, sorry I didn't think of it then.)

Funny how, just a mere two weeks after ridiculing anyone who dared suggest that the fix was in, Ratto's most recent column does a packpedal that would make Ronnie Lott proud: "But if Donaghy is right and can prove what he claims, then Conspiracy Nation is right, and the NBA deserves the million-pound filth-hammer coming its way. Let the firings and prosecutions commence."

And while we're at it, let the crow-eating begin. It doesn't even matter if Donaghy is ultimately proven right. What I'm enjoying is that just two weeks after looking down his nose at anyone who dared question the legitimacy of the almighty NBA, Ratto is now forced to wonder aloud about the league's authenticity. He doesn't even have to believe it, but he has to publicly question it, if only to avoid looking like a complete horse's ass in the unlikely event it all breaks reeeeeally bad. I believe the initials are CYA.

Rationalize it anyway you like, Ray, it makes you a two-faced, backpedalling chump.

No, it's not what you think.
I've read several columns since the Donaghy allegations surfaced in which writters said David Stern wouldn't dare fix or otherwise manipulate the outcome of playoff games.
Let's be clear about this: With the possible exception of Kennesaw Mountain Landis, David Stern is, hands-down, the most arrogant commissioner in sports history. That's EV-VER. So, yeah, my guess is he wouldn't think twice about doing such a thing...especially since he thinks he's smarter than the rest of us and figures he could probably get away with it. Not saying he did, just saying it wouldn't come as a total shock, given the arrogance at hand.

Speaking of personalities, does anyone else think Milton Bradley might have Borderline Personality Disorder?

Poor Cole Hames...13 Ks, 2 ER in 8 innings and the poor soul gets a no decision. Can a brother get some freakin' run support?

As I posted below, I've had my doubts about the legitimacy of the league for quite a while now (the 2002 Western Conference Finals were kind of the tipping point for me.) One of the things that has puzzled me as I've read various conspiracy postings: If the league is on the level, why haven't they slapped some of these posters with defamation lawsuits? Not saying they'd have a case, but it wouldn't be the first time a suit has been filed for the sake of appearances.

I suppose you could argue that they don't want to call more attention to the issue, but it seems to me that that train has left the station. Anybody think that's the next step for a league desperate to maintain at least the illusion of credibility?

Here's something else that has long intrigued me: Back in 2002 I sent the league office an email and told them that I thought their games were rigged. I figured they'd just write it off as the rantings of a crank. (I'm really not, but, well, you know...) To my utter surprise I received a response within about a day, in which they specifically addressed the issue of bias on the part of officials in language that was pretty polished. That told me two things: 1) It's a common enough complaint that they have boilerplate language ready to go; and, 2) They're pretty sensitive about the perception that things aren't on the up and up.

Somehow I can't imagine MLB or the NFL responding in quite the same way.

The biggest thing the NBA has going for it? The fact that they are in bed with the networks and cable companies, who for obvious reasons would love for this story to go away, lest the Golden Goose take it in the neck.

I hope I'm wrong, but I have this sinking feeing that we could be on the brink of the largest sports scandal since the 1919 White Sox.

Some random thoughts on the Tim Donaghy allegations that the NBA fixed two playoff series:

It seems to me that the recent allegations by former referee Tim Donaghy are exactly the sort of thing that Congress and the DOJ ought to be investigating. Hey, Arlen Specter, if you're done watching those freakin' videotapes maybe you could shut off the tv and start issuing some subpoenas.

If there is an investigation and the charges are proven, David Stern should go to jail. And I'm talking federal pound-me-in-the-a$$ prison. And he can take the entire NBA officiating staff with him.

We could be looking at the 21st Century version of the Black Sox and quiz show scandals all rolled into one.