While referees in college games deal almost exclusively with head coaches, the panel explained, NBA officials are managing many superstar egos all the time. "In the NBA you essentially have 12 bosses — the two coaches and the 10 players on the floor," said a member of the panel.

Referees also have to deal with the roles players are asked to perform for their teams.

Dennis Rodman is what two panel members referred to as a "game-wrecker." That's because instead of focusing on calling the technical aspects of the game, officials must also be aware that there is a player on the floor who has ulterior motives beyond scoring and rebounding.

In Rodman's case, efforts to get under Malone's skin and subsequently into his head, led to some entertaining physical exchanges — probably the best being the oft replayed stumbling entanglement between the two as they fought to get down the floor during a second-half possession. When fouls involving the pair were called, they followed the established NBA hierarchy — typically they were called on Rodman because Malone, after all, is a star while everyone knows Rodman's job is to wreak havoc.

"Look at that. Karl not going to act up if Rodman isn't in there," said one ref drawing his line between good and evil on the court. "I hate to have guys (like Rodman) doing stuff like that."

So the metaphorical police tape around EnergySolutions Arena can finally come down. There's nothing left but regrets and dashed dreams for the Jazz and a painful reminder why Jordan is the greatest to ever lace up.

Motive perhaps. Circumstantial evidence, maybe. But no crime.

Move along, folks, move along.

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E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com;

chuck@desnews.com