NEW YORK — Suddenly, the occasional bad call doesn't seem like such a big deal.
NBA official Tim Donaghy confers with another official during an April 10, 2007 game between the Washington Wizards and the New Jersey Nets.
AP PHOTONBA referees' competency has always been criticized. After three high-profile negative stories in the last three months, the questions have shifted to their credibility.
One official was suspended after allegedly challenging an NBA superstar to a fight, and an academic report suggested a bias by referees against players of the opposite race.
Now a referee's at the center of a potential point-shaving scandal.
With the FBI investigating Tim Donaghy for allegedly betting on games that he officiated, confidence in the guys blowing the whistles may never have been lower.
Lamell McMorris, leader of the referees' union, said he recognizes the perception of officials has been damaged.
"We are going to work hard to restore the public's trust in the integrity of the officials in the NBA," he said. "We're going to do our part to gain and regain the public trust and confidence and to make sure that this is not the final word regarding how referees are defined in the public eye."
Last year, commissioner David Stern said the NBA had "the best officials, the best-monitored officials, the best-developed officials in all of sports."
But now it's their judgment, not their performance that needs defending.
Stern plans to do just that at a press conference next week. The NBA and the referees' union want to make sure Donaghy, who McMorris confirmed has resigned, is the one taking the heat, not his co-workers.
"Bad apples exist in every barrel," McMorris said. "I've never seen a barrel of apples, grapes, anything, and all of them were in the greatest shape and the most beautiful."