What better than a blockbuster trade to direct everyone`s attention away from the referee scandal hanging over the NBA. I could hear the conference call now between Stern, McHale and Ainge. Stern: Right now would be a great time to pull off this trade you guys. Ainge: I agree, hey Kevin, let`s do it. Mc Hale: Uh, I don`t know........... Stern: If it doesn`t go down TODAY, I will make sure you both are fired by All Star Break!! Seriously though, I bet the scandal did perhaps speed up the negotiations of this deal.......
I thought so too Dlev. I loaded up ESPN.com this afternoon, and the NBA page was covered in the trade, with just a little smattering of RefGate.
I am not sure this is not just a coincidence. They were trying to get it done before and now they just came back to the table. It was bound to happen at some point.
If you ask me, it's Refgate that has been the great diversion from what would have been the doldrums of the off-season. After this mess, I will be very interested to see how differently the games are called and played next season. If I weren't still in college, next season would be a lock for NBA League Pass. Of course this trade will make things interesting in the East, and I will like to see what happens with Boston and Minny, but the ref scandal may have repercussions that will affect all the teams. Bring on the next season!!
That's only because it is the Celtics that are involved. If KG had been traded to Orlando for example, the whole coverage on ESPN would have amounted to 5 minutes tops.
And that is the way it will be all season especially on ESPN, I think that ESPN will need a one hour special for each of the regular season games this coming year between Durant and Co and the Celtics.
This is something though. The Celtics have completly re-done their team. They mortgaged their future for about a 3 year window. Ray Allen is 32 so they have about 3 years with that core. It is worthy of the coverage I think. Instant contenders now. Who goes from the 2nd worst record in the league to a possible favorite to win the East? That does not happen every year.
Who really cares about the NBA scandal anyway? Sure it helped damage the intergrity of the game, but that has been long damaged ever since Stern employed these dimwit referees *cough* Joey Crawford *cough*
It has long been damaged, but the scandal is a type of event that might finally make something get fixed.
I wouldn't go that far, but I get the gist of your post. However, if they were never on ESPN or any other major sports media network I wouldn't be disappointed in the least.
This whole thing was also done to bring their fans back to the TD Banknorth Garden and increase memorabilia sales and local TV ratings. It wouldn't surprise me if the Celtics had some media contracts up for renewal in the next year to two.
