The Fix

Ever since 1998, when the Utah Jazz faced the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals, I've been pretty much convinced of 2 things - 1) Instant replay was desperately needed, and 2) The games are fixed.

A bit of background:  The Jazz had the best record in basketball that year, but also are the league's smallest market city.  They went in to Game 6 against the Bulls, down 3-2, but playing in front of the home crowd in the noisy, friendly (for them) confines of the Delta Center.  With just under 10 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Jazz guard Howard Eisley hit a 3-point shot with 1 second clearly remaining on the shot clock, however, referee Dick Bavetta waved the shot off, and it didn't count.

Later in the game, with the Bulls behind 79-76, guard Ron Harper was credited with a 3 point shot that clearly left his hands after the shot clock had expired.  End result?  The Bulls won the game 87-86, and their 6th NBA Championship, and Michael Jordan walks away a hero.  Fixed?  Most certainly.  There is no way the NBA would allow the small market Jazz to send Michael Jordan with his billions of dollars in merchandise sales, and billion dollar endorsement deals, home as a loser.  The Jazz as NBA Champs? Who, outside of Utah would have bought those hats, jerseys, and t-shirts?  Clearly, for those watching at home, who enjoy watching the game without taking sides, the time for instant replay had come.  With it, the Jazz win by 5, that is of course, assuming the refs wouldn't have controlled the game in other ways....

Fast forward to Tuesday night.  Instant replay has been in use for several years now, to determine matters of shot clock, and possession.  What happened at the end of the Clippers/Thunder game is a travesty of justice, and proves that even with instant replay, the refs can STILL control the outcome of the game in their favor. Everyone in the world watched the ball go out of bounds off Reggie Jackson's hand, never touched by Matt Barnes of the Clippers.  The call on the court?  Out of bounds off the Clippers, Thunder ball.  Time for the replay.  Even with 2 versions clearly showing the ball off Jackson, and the ball should go to Los Angeles, blind ineptitude prevailed.  The refs give the ball to Oklahoma City, and they hit a 3-point shot to win the game.  What else should we expect?  The Clippers to actually have a chance at an NBA Championship? The Clippers - the joke of the NBA? The Clippers - LA's ugly step-sister to the Lakers?  The Fix is in.