Low Blow: Fan Compares Stern to Don King

Has it come to this? The NBA so desperate for ratings that it stretched out the first-round series over a span of two weeks? Not only that, every year, it seems as though the games are being decided by the referees. The rules are complicated enough for the average person that creative calls by the referees aren’t necessary. Take a look at the Lakers-Kings first-round series. What was an “illegal defense” call in Game 5 wasn’t considered so in Game 4.

Of course, this has coincided with the departure of Michael Jordan. It seems as though it started with that phantom foul by Scottie Pippen against Hubert Davis, which decided that series. You can look at it this way: David Stern’s Jordan is Don King’s Mike Tyson. Ever since the two athletes stepped away from their respective sport, it has gone down.

Nowadays, a Don King promotion has as much credibility as a guy trying to sell you a piece of the Brooklyn Bridge. This is what the NBA has come to. The boxing judges share the same perspective as NBA referees. Please stop before this gets any worse! But then again, I guess it could lead to a lucrative business like the WWF. I assure you, though, that as a basketball fan, that’s one thing I won’t follow.

RAYMOND SANTIAGO

Northridge