Dick Bavetta

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Dick Bavetta (born December 10, 1939) is a professional basketball referee for the NBA. As of February 8, 2006, Bavetta had officiated 2,135 NBA games - a league record for most games officiated. While being interviewed by ESPN about his achievement, Bavetta told the reporter the secret to his longevity was "wearing five pairs of socks," which he claims helped keep his feet in good shape. Contributing to his good health, Bavetta runs five to eight miles every day [1]. He wears uniform number 27.

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[edit] Early life and career

Bavetta got into officiating after his brother, Joe, convinced him it would be an area of interest. As a Wall Street broker for Solomon Brothers with an MBA in finance, Bavetta began officiating games played by fellow brokers after work and later moved on to working high school league games. Bavetta was hired by the NBA in 1975 after working nine years in the Eastern League.

[edit] Officiating by himself

During the 1980s, Bavetta would be forced to officiate an NBA game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics by himself after his partner, Jack Madden, broke his leg in a collision with Celtics' player Dennis Johnson.

[edit] 1998 NBA Finals controversy

In game six of the 1998 NBA Finals, Bavetta made what was possibly the worst officiating mistake of his career when he disallowed a three-point shot by Howard Eisley of the Utah Jazz in the first half. Replays clearly showed that the ball left Eisley's hands before the shot clock expired. The Chicago Bulls went on to win that game (and the series) on a famous shot by Michael Jordan. Since the Bulls' margin of victory was less than three points, the missed call on Eisley's shot was highly significant. Bavetta has been vilified in Utah ever since.[2][3]

[edit] Knicks-Nuggets brawl

During the 2006-07 NBA season, Bavetta was the referee for a December 16, 2006 game between the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. The game involved a brawl where all ten players on the court at the time of the altercation were ejected by Bavetta and his officiating crew. [4]

[edit] Charles Barkley

During the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend, Bavetta raced TNT analyst and former NBA great Charles Barkley for a $50,000 charitable donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, but lost by a narrow margin. The race was scheduled to be 235 feet, from baseline to baseline then back to midcourt. The distance was eventually decided to be three and one half full lengths of the court (329 feet). Bavetta lost the race despite a last-second dive and Barkley running the last portion of the race backwards. The dive resulted in an abrasion injury to Bavetta's right knee, from which blood then dripped during the post-race interviews. Bavetta showed good sportsmanship, however, and gave Barkley a hug and a kiss on the lips after the race.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sheridan, Christ. At 66, Bavetta to break record for most games refereed. ESPN.
  2. ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/1999/playoffs/western/news/1999/05/25/blazers_jazz_game5/
  3. ^ http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/061598/spo_124-4116.shtml
  4. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261216018
  5. ^ http://nfl.aolsportsblog.com/2007/02/17/barkley-beats-bevetta-in-epic-race/

[edit] External links

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