More on the Crawford Thing

This is from Chris Sheridan’s ESPN Insider blog:

“A little over a year ago, a little birdie...told me a little story about Joey Crawford...Crawford was summoned to the league office in New York by Commissioner David Stern nearly four years ago following his antics in Game 2 of the 2003 Western Conference finals. Crawford had called four technical fouls in the first 10 minutes, 11 seconds and ejected Mavs coaches Don Nelson and Del Harris.  Stern, from what I was told, was livid that Crawford had become the story of Game 2, and Crawford was told that if it ever happened again, the consequences would be serious.  Well, it sure looks like Crawford is the story again, and I'm eager to see how Stern and NBA VP of basketball operations Stu Jackson handle this.”

I distinctly remember that Western Conference Finals game and I recall thinking “what a joke that the ref is losing control of such an important game.”  Much how, upon watching Sunday’s game thinking “what a joke that this ref is making this game about him.”  My biggest pet peeve with NBA refs and MLB umpires is how they make the game about themselves.  If you’re being shown up, fine — take action.  But if you aren’t being shown up, and if a player hasn’t said something completely vile, what’s your excuse?  It’s an ego thing.  The best refs and umps are those that you don’t notice.  Joey Crawford should be suspended for at least the remainder of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs, and shouldn’t be allowed to officiate any Spurs playoff games this year at a minimum.  The NBA doesn’t announce or make their punishments to officials public knowledge, so we likely won’t know exactly what kind of a suspension he gets until it’s over.