Just today, I was conjuring up ideas about how to craft an article on how the NHL is better than the NBA. And while I don't have said article ready to go yet, these revelations from Tim Donaghy's not-going-to-be-published-in-the-near-future tell-all book just handed me the keys.
Making bets on who would call the first foul? Targeting a bad boy to try and call the first technical? Yikes. While that is horrifying, you have to admit...it sounds kind of fun, no?
Anyway, what Steve left out is the disgusting actions taken by the NBA itself. The league was essentially giving referees marching orders on who should prevail in a playoff game? Sure, the refs listened, but the NBA was essentially complicit in it all anyway!
The NBA is seemingly obsessed with the promotion of its stars -- the Kobes, LeBrons, and Garnetts of the world.
While the NHL struggles for legitimacy by NOT shoving its stars like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin down our throats, the league, in the least, retains its integrity and credibility. And don't get me wrong, the NHL does a million things wrong with its sport. I have given up on doing things to my Gary Bettman voodoo doll because it clearly is not working. For now, THANK YOU Tim Donaghy. Thank you for going a long way to helping me prove my point.
NOTE: For a fun look back at the abominable Lakers-Kings series from 2002, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4t5RMFt5u8. Pay special attention to the forearm to the face Kobe lays on Mike Bibby in Game 6 (it's shown about 50 times from different angles). Not even Tim McClelland would've missed that one.
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