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[font=verdana,geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Mobley would like to blow whistle on overbearing refs
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 10, 2005
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SEATTLE - Kings guard Cuttino Mobley was not thoughtlessly rambling Tuesday night when he criticized some NBA officials for what he perceives as a lack of respect for players.
Mobley said Wednesday he meant what he said and said what he meant. And if a similar situation arises, he said he'll probably speak up again.
And as the Kings gathered outside the team's practice facility following a workout for their flight to Seattle and tonight's meeting with the Sonics, Mobley's teammates let it be known they shared his views.
Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie said Wednesday night he had not heard from the league about possible punitive action against Mobley; center Brad Miller, who threw his headband and wristband after a controversial block of his shot by Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire in the 125-123 loss; or Chris Webber, who punted the game ball high into the stands as he walked off the floor.
"We won't hear anything until the decision is made," Petrie said earlier in the day. "We're not part of the process, but I'm sure they are doing their due diligence, talking to various players and getting as much video as they can."
Mobley said he confirmed his statements to the head of the league's security department.
"I think refs have too much power," he said. "They are not competing, so why should they have that much power dictating the outcomes of games? If (the NBA) feels offense to it and has to fine me for it, so be it."
Mobley said he is looking for some respect from officials for himself and his teammates.
"Players treat refs good," Mobley said. "We talk to them, and sure sometimes players might snap at a ref, but that's because of competition. You can snap at your best friend and start fighting him on the court, you still love him. But refs take things personal, and you can't talk to some of them.
"I didn't curse at any referee. I've heard refs say, 'Shut up, get away from me!' I've seen them ignore players. From the beginning of the game, I've seen them (eyeball) a player, all types of stuff. Cursing at people. They think they have that power. They don't have the power. They have a whistle. There is a difference."
Petrie said players have to weigh the effects of their comments.
"You certainly understand the emotions of the game," he said. "But at some point, you're going to have to look at the big picture. Ultimately, are you helping yourself and your teammates, or are you hurting yourself and your teammates? I think you have to find some reasonable balance.
"The most important thing is you have to keep playing. I think (Detroit coach) Larry Brown has been fined three times this season for criticizing the officials, and things haven't changed."
Kings players said they heard a referee recently tell Mike Bibby to "shut the (bleep) up," a remark the point guard confirmed.
Young players such as Matt Barnes and Maurice Evans acknowledge they are just establishing themselves in the league.
"I don't think it makes things any easier, the fact that we don't build a good rapport with the officials," Evans said. "Hopefully, we can correct that, so that in the future, in the playoffs, when it really counts we can get some calls.
"I think veterans should get a little more respect. There have been some officials that have done a great job and talk to you all throughout the game and explain things. So I don't want to make it seem like all officials are bad."
"I've been cursed at," Barnes said, "and I know I'm a young player in the league and I don't get too much leeway, but still I'm a grown man, so I need to be respected. I feel the refs do need to think about the way they come at some players sometimes."
Kings guard Eddie House has played with five teams and questions the apparent double standard he sees.
"Some (players) can say whatever they want to referees, and nothing will be said. But another player can say, 'C'mon, man,' and that player might get a (technical) for it. The refs have their people they go with, and they have those they don't flow with."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said Mobley's frustrations are shared by most players and coaches.
Adelman said replays of the block on Miller clearly showed the ball was in the basket's cylinder when batted away by Stoudemire at the buzzer. "If that was in the second quarter," Adelman surmised, "that would have been goal-tending. I think when you have no voice to say anything or do anything, then you have no recourse. So I understand where (Mobley) was coming from."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12291872p-13155634c.html
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[font=verdana,geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Mobley would like to blow whistle on overbearing refs
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 10, 2005
Get the latest news in sacbee.com's Kings Alert newsletter. Sign up here.
SEATTLE - Kings guard Cuttino Mobley was not thoughtlessly rambling Tuesday night when he criticized some NBA officials for what he perceives as a lack of respect for players.
Mobley said Wednesday he meant what he said and said what he meant. And if a similar situation arises, he said he'll probably speak up again.
And as the Kings gathered outside the team's practice facility following a workout for their flight to Seattle and tonight's meeting with the Sonics, Mobley's teammates let it be known they shared his views.
Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie said Wednesday night he had not heard from the league about possible punitive action against Mobley; center Brad Miller, who threw his headband and wristband after a controversial block of his shot by Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire in the 125-123 loss; or Chris Webber, who punted the game ball high into the stands as he walked off the floor.
"We won't hear anything until the decision is made," Petrie said earlier in the day. "We're not part of the process, but I'm sure they are doing their due diligence, talking to various players and getting as much video as they can."
Mobley said he confirmed his statements to the head of the league's security department.
"I think refs have too much power," he said. "They are not competing, so why should they have that much power dictating the outcomes of games? If (the NBA) feels offense to it and has to fine me for it, so be it."
Mobley said he is looking for some respect from officials for himself and his teammates.
"Players treat refs good," Mobley said. "We talk to them, and sure sometimes players might snap at a ref, but that's because of competition. You can snap at your best friend and start fighting him on the court, you still love him. But refs take things personal, and you can't talk to some of them.
"I didn't curse at any referee. I've heard refs say, 'Shut up, get away from me!' I've seen them ignore players. From the beginning of the game, I've seen them (eyeball) a player, all types of stuff. Cursing at people. They think they have that power. They don't have the power. They have a whistle. There is a difference."
Petrie said players have to weigh the effects of their comments.
"You certainly understand the emotions of the game," he said. "But at some point, you're going to have to look at the big picture. Ultimately, are you helping yourself and your teammates, or are you hurting yourself and your teammates? I think you have to find some reasonable balance.
"The most important thing is you have to keep playing. I think (Detroit coach) Larry Brown has been fined three times this season for criticizing the officials, and things haven't changed."
Kings players said they heard a referee recently tell Mike Bibby to "shut the (bleep) up," a remark the point guard confirmed.
Young players such as Matt Barnes and Maurice Evans acknowledge they are just establishing themselves in the league.
"I don't think it makes things any easier, the fact that we don't build a good rapport with the officials," Evans said. "Hopefully, we can correct that, so that in the future, in the playoffs, when it really counts we can get some calls.
"I think veterans should get a little more respect. There have been some officials that have done a great job and talk to you all throughout the game and explain things. So I don't want to make it seem like all officials are bad."
"I've been cursed at," Barnes said, "and I know I'm a young player in the league and I don't get too much leeway, but still I'm a grown man, so I need to be respected. I feel the refs do need to think about the way they come at some players sometimes."
Kings guard Eddie House has played with five teams and questions the apparent double standard he sees.
"Some (players) can say whatever they want to referees, and nothing will be said. But another player can say, 'C'mon, man,' and that player might get a (technical) for it. The refs have their people they go with, and they have those they don't flow with."
Kings coach Rick Adelman said Mobley's frustrations are shared by most players and coaches.
Adelman said replays of the block on Miller clearly showed the ball was in the basket's cylinder when batted away by Stoudemire at the buzzer. "If that was in the second quarter," Adelman surmised, "that would have been goal-tending. I think when you have no voice to say anything or do anything, then you have no recourse. So I understand where (Mobley) was coming from."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12291872p-13155634c.html
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