Chapter 98 Calling the shots

"They planted a hidden microphone on me."

It was the 1986 NBA Finals, the second game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics at the Boston Garden.

This is an absurd world, full of inconsistencies and contradictions, where we seek fairness and justice, but resort to compromises and bending over backwards.

In my 30 years with the NBA, the league has always tried to eliminate the referees' personalities in the games; by the time I was about to retire, it had come to this: no media interviews, no chatting with fans, no talking to players or coaches off-court.

The game, all we had was the game, and the referees were like plug-and-play black boxes, plugged in during the game, powered on, then cast aside when no longer needed.

When I first entered the league, it wasn't like this; if you wanted to survive in the NBA, you had to show the players and fans who you were.

I was somewhat successful; I knew how to handle everyone and deal with a variety of situations.