NBA Ref Tries to Feed Riled Fan a Face Full of Ball (Video)

5 comments

Share this Article

Author:

NBA referee Joe DeRosa, in his 18th season as a ref in the Association, may be in some pretty hot water with commissioner David Stern, after getting into an altercation with an enraged Magic fan during halftime of game two of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The incident itself seemed harmless enough–DeRosa, having grown tired of the earful he was getting from one fan in particular , tossed a basketball at the very guy unleashing the verbal barrage.  Buddy caught the ball and deftly threw it back to DeRosa, who then called for security to have the guy tossed.  Whether security actually escorted the individual out or not is unknown at this time, at least to me.  What is known is that Joe DeRosa crossed the line…a line he’s usually keeping players from crossing themselves with their boorish antics.

The life of an NBA ref is a low-paying well-paying but unglamorous one, filled with abuse, insults and venom from players, coaches and fans.  It comes with the territory, and referees know this.  Sure, I bet most of them at one time or another have fantasized about laying out some expletive-spewing, half drunk asshole (or, as he’s known in the league, Ron Artest), but they don’t because they know better than to give in to that urge.  They are supposed to hold themselves to a higher standard than players, coaches and fans.  For one brief moment DeRosa did not…and methinks he’s going to have some time to think about what he did, courtesy of his boss, Mr.Stern.

And is it just me, or did that heckler look a lot like an older, fatter version of Mark Price?

H/T You Been Blinded]

  • http://topsy.com/trackback?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L1&url=http://lastangryfan.com/2010/05/nba-ref-tries-to-feed-a-displeased-fan-a-face-full-of-ball-video/ Tweets that mention NBA Ref Tries to Feed a Displeased Fan a Face Full of Ball (Video) | The Last Angry Fan — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jeff Greenwell. Jeff Greenwell said: NBA Ref Tries to Feed a Displeased Fan a Face Full of Ball (Video) http://su.pr/2kvG4N [...]

  • Bakes

    “The life of an NBA ref is a low-paying, unglamorous one, filled with abuse, insults and venom from players, coaches and fans.”

    You’re kidding, right? Since when does making six figures for a six-month gig in which all of your work-related expenses are paid for. Flights are first class… as are the accommodations and the meals.

    Every sports fan should have it that bad.

  • http://lastangryfan.com JeffG

    Anyone who has to put up with Mark Cuban’s shiat on a regular basis deserves way more than six figures.

  • Bakes

    I’m not sure what that has to do with anything… your personal animus towards Cuban aside, that still doesn’t change the fact that NBA refs aren’t the lowly-paid schmucks the article tries to paint them as being. Their lives are pretty cushy compared to most.

  • http://lastangryfan.com JeffG

    Fixed the part about them being low-paid. That was my bad, late night laziness. The article had zero to do with how much NBA refs get paid–it was that DeRosa crossed the line in the altercation with the fan.

  • Bakes

    Well I can certainly appreciate the correction… we’re actually on the same page where DeRosa’s behavior is concerned. I saw the “lowly-paid” comment as being an unnecessary (and inaccurate) attempt to perhaps draw sympathy for the refs.

    I believe most go about their jobs trying to be as fair as possible. Unfortunately the veil of secrecy surrounding referee discipline and the resistance of the League to acknowledge even the most obvious screw ups, hardly makes the case for synopathy.

    DeRosa may be a good guy, and indeed I’ve never really had cause to question his whistle before, but the irrationality of his dsepotic behavior coupled with some eye-raising calls in that Magic-Celtics game… really does make one wonder about referee impartiality.

The Best From Around The Web

Our News Delivered To Your Inbox

Email