Replacement Refs Get Low Marks

Golden State’s Chris Mullin walks onto the court, and is approached by a referee, who mentions seeing Mullin’s brother not too long ago. “Yeah?” Mullin asks. “Where was that?”

“I worked one of his games,” the ref says.

Mullin stops and looks the guy over. His brother, Terrence, plays in a New York amateur league, commonly known as a “Keg League” because the losing team sometimes is required to buy the winning team a keg of beer. Officiating a game in such a league is a long way from working the NBA, which is what the guy is going to be doing this night.

From working in a just-for-fun amateur league to dealing with some of the world’s biggest, fastest, and at times most difficult, athletes is a huge step -- one that many people would say is too large a step and puts the NBA’s prized stars -- the Michael Jordans, Grant Hills and Hakeem Olajuwons -- at risk.

“I don’t want you to take this wrong,” Mullin tells the guy, “but that scares the (expletive) out of me.”

Veteran NBA referee Mike Mathis told that story with no small amount of enthusiasm Monday as he discussed the various problems the league is having during a labor dispute that has resulted in games being officiated by replacement refs.

NBA Commissioner David Stern locked out the regular refs on Oct. 1 after the two sides were unable to reach a new labor agreement and the refs refused to accept a no-strike, no-lockout proposal from the league.

Perhaps as early as Tuesday the two sides are hopeful of having their first meeting in two weeks. But with the referees seeking raises of around 19.6 percent per season and the league offering 7.4 percent per season, there will have to be some huge compromises before an agreement is reached.

Meanwhile, the games go on with the replacement refs, the so-called rent-a-refs, guys from the Continental Basketball Association and pro-am leagues around the country. The replacement refs continue to get horrible marks from both players and coaches.

The coaches aren’t going public with their criticism because Stern has threatened fines of up to $1 million for remarks that could hinder his ability to get an agreement. The players aren’t so shy.