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Utah Jazz: Accept it! The Bulls deserved the series

hey thanks for bringing this up yet again.

This is a ridiculous article. A two bucket swing for the bulls and that is evidence that there was no tampering? Touch calls, even grabs or pushes are one thing, but shot clock violations that were clearly discernible to everyone not wearing stripes does not make the loss easier to swallow. I can "accept" that MJ was an amazing player and I can "accept" that he made the shot when it counted. I can even "accept" that the "push-off" is somewhat questionable, but the 6 point swing? No. Whether it was a conspiracy or scandal I won't know till I'm dead and I apply to Gods' sports archives, but it was a mistake and the game would have been different had a replay or better official been available.

This article just exposes a bigger problem....the NBA star system. If it this complicated to explain why the Jazz weren't ripped off, then the refs lost control in the NBA a long time ago. The most laughable part of the article is the reference to Rodman trying to cause havic in the games. So these refs that are getting the benefit of the doubt in the article... can't call the game or pull it off technically when Rodman would enter the games? He breaks their mental focus to call a normal game. This article just gives me another reason not to get sucked in the NBA again like I did in the 80's and 90's. The league is one big overpriced, overhyped product creating millionaires out of individuals-- most of whom don't deserve it or put their lives on the line for anything of importance.

So four college refs are going to give us the definitive answer to the question? To many National media studies have put that finals in one of the top 10 worst in history. By the way, a series is best of seven, not best of one.

Until they stop catering to the "star" players, and by star, I mean the names bringing in the money, the NBA will never be an example of fair play. The way things are set up now, it teaches kids that the better you are the less the rules apply to you. Rookies are always getting called for stuff you would never see called on an all-star. A FOUL IS A FOUL NO MATTER WHO DOES IT!! And as far as setting up series, just look at the Laker Celtic series. Everybody knew it was going to be these two teams before the playoffs even started because that was the money maker for the NBA.

He pushed off Russell

This is possibly the dumbest article this paper has ever run.

give it up... this was 10 years ago. move on.

Even if the Jazz win this one, they would have still lost the series in the other hypothetical games... Get over it Jazz fans. That's the closest you'll ever get.

That game was the one that finished the NBA for me. I've not watched even one quarter of an NBA game since, and I used to be a huge fan. I just realized after that game that it was rigged and no more honest, in the end, than pro wrestling. Donaghy's revelations just confirmed what I already knew.

I still like basketball, particularly college ball, but I'm not interested in the NBA fakery and there's no likelihood of me ever coming back, either.

anybody notice how refreshing it is to see kobe getting called the same as raul lopez in bejing.
glad to see us winning but enjoy everybody being called the same more.

It's unclear who initiated contact? Hmmm. . .

Most of us realize that it's over, that the Bulls won, whether it was fair or not, and have moved on with our lives. That is not to say that we don't still talk about it from time to time. Who wouldn't talk about it if it were their team in the Finals?

Officials can say what they like, and we will still continue to discuss it, because it is our team.

It seems to be the Deseret News sportswriters who just can't let it go. Most of us are content to discuss the "what ifs" privately, and we lament only that things seem to have deteriorated so far that we are now surprised when Kobe DOESN'T get the call.

Are you kidding me? What possessed you to write a piece bereft of any real insight? Stick to the high school stuff - it's more your league.

Thanks for settling...Nothing.

It is refreshing to see kobe have to play like everyone else, and not get the call when somebody is close to him. Deron Williams , Lebron, Wade they seem to get better in this type of game...... Boozer ????????

I think any day now, the colonies may announce a "declaration of independence" from england. Could you please write an article about that and other recent events.

This goes to all you whiners who continue to cry and protest against the NBA, do you think they really care that you won't watch another game? You are one in a million and you aren't going to convince one person to quit watching, so give it up, go in your room and never come out so the rest of us don't have to listen to you pathetic comments.

Linda Hamilton wrote an article on August 18 2007 where former NBA ref Mike Mathis said Jordan pushed off. It referenced an article in the New York Post.

The Post quoted Mathis as saying, in criticizing NBA officiating, "Remember when Jordan hit that winning shot? I'm going to give you exactly what the commentators said: 'What a great move by Michael.' Was that a great move or was that an offensive foul? There was no question it was a push-off. No buts about it. The only buts you can have is, 'Well, it was Michael Jordan.' That was a defining moment

I can't even believe you wrote this. Did you watch that game? The best team did not win!!!!! In game fixing the game is called or played pretty fair for the most part, untill one or two calls or plays can change the game.
It was all there.

You better win if you're playing 8 on 5(With the Refs). Or should it be 9 on 5 if you count Emperor Stearn.