The fact remains, there was clear foul-level contact between Bibby and Fisher, but no foul was called. Only after that non-call Webber drained the game-deciding trey.

Correction, Webber floored Fisher, and Bibby used the opening to hit a 22 ft. jumper that decided the game.

fossten on June 11, 2008 at 6:20 PM

True that Shaq was fouled frequently with no call, but also true that Shaq committed frequent offensive fouls that were not called. He would bowl over defenders more than any other player I can remember, and rarely got called for the offensive foul. By the way, I was at the Lakers/Clippers game back when Shaq scored 61 in 2000; he was unstoppable that night.

Not just the Kings/Lakers game, but even the Mavs/Spurs 2 years ago, I saw clear signs of deliberate “engineering” of games.

The refs would fix free throw shooting if they could get away with it.

I’ve referred to that game (Kings Lakers Game 6) as “the Fix” ever since I watched it live. I had no dog in the fight but was still livid that they would steal a game like that. [...]

LevStrauss on June 11, 2008 at 2:29 PM

Then you must have missed Game 5 of that same series, or you’d have been livid over how the refs “fixed” the game for the Kings.

Even if Game 6 is all that Laker haters claim it to be, it was nothing more than a make-up for the horrendous reffing that handed the Kings Game 5.

Horry’s shot is the most easily and obviously shown, and I have been peeved at NBC ever since for not pounding that replay into the dirt.

sondiehl on June 11, 2008 at 4:56 PM

Sondiehl, I’ve seen that replay in slo-mo several times. It leaves Horry’s hand with time showing on the game clock. The ball is descending when the game clock expires.

I realize it was a traumatic moment for you, but simply understand it was shot within regulation. Accede to reality, Sondiehl, it happened.

Next thing Spurs fans will get on here and say, “Fisher didn’t really bury that jumper with .4 seconds in ’04!”

certain the sixth game of the Kings/Lakers series was fixed.

Puh-LEEZE!

I guess you don’t remember game five. The closing sequence in that game was …

1) Vlade fouls Kobe as Kobe takes drives toward the net to put the game away, but no call.

2) Next Kings possession, Webber is dribbling by himself at the baseline, and fumbles the ball straight out of bounds. Inexplicably, the refs give the ball to the Kings instead of the Lakers.

3) Kings inbound the ball to Bibby. Fisher sets his feet in front of Bibby, and Bibby plows through Fisher. Refs don’t call the clear charge.

Even if the refs called it a block, the Kings would have had to hit two free throws just to tie, and that’s if the Lakers didn’t score on the few seconds remaining.

The fact remains, there was clear foul-level contact between Bibby and Fisher, but no foul was called. Only after that non-call Webber drained the game-deciding trey.

So Kings fans and basic Laker haters can just zip it on the ‘Refs gave the Lakers Game 6′ mantra, not after how the refs handed the Kings Game 5.

Rovin on June 11, 2008 at 3:21 PM

You’ve made two excellent points, and I was trying to use some form of shorthand. First, the Kobe/Bibby fiasco is the first choice of everyone who has felt that series was rigged. Also, there can be no doubt that the Lakers should never have won game 6. But Horry’s shot is the most easily and obviously shown, and I have been peeved at NBC ever since for not pounding that replay into the dirt.

I am a Sacramentan, and all one has to remember is Horry’s late shot after the end of the third quarter to be certain the sixth game of the Kings/Lakers series was fixed. It was so late no one on the broadcast team thought it was good, nor did anyone with whom I watched the game, including a Kings hater. That would be my final ex-ladyfriend. Anyway, I was devastated when it was ruled good after the station break. Ridiculous.

sondiehl on June 11, 2008 at 12:14 PM

I’ve seen slo-mo replays of the play, sondiehl, and the ball leaves Horry’s hand, climbs up out of camera shot, and comes back down into camera view as the numbers expire to “.00″, then the ball swishes the net.

There was no conspiracy, my friend, Vlade was just dumb enough to slap the ball straight out to Big Shot Rob. :-)

But, any favorable rulings for Tiger,
Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 4:12 PM

That should be preferential rulings.

Snidely Whiplash on June 11, 2008 at 3:36 PM

The rule is that golfers are allowed to remove “movable obstructions” that interfere with their swings or the lie of the ball, provided the ball does not move. The reason he got the ruling was that he was able to recruit enough guys from the gallery to move the rock out of the way. Bob Tway might not have the nerve to ask or the cache to get guys to volunteer for him. So, what Tiger did wasn’t against the rules, though it was, arguably, questionable. To the extent that I think they clairifed the rule to allow the removal of the movable obstruction only by the player himself.

A better example of a superstar ruling for Tiger was the tournament where his approach shot on the ninth hole was launched over the clubhouse. No one monitoring the tournament found the ball, although the blimp shots showed a cook at the back of the building found it. Rather than penalize Tiger the OB or lost ball penalty and make him rehit from the original location, he was given a drop near the 10th tee. From there he made bogey on the hole. Without the favorable ruling it is likely he makes a double bogey.

But, any favorable rulings for Tiger, Phil, or any of the stars of the various tours are rare.

You are forgetting golf where the players call penalties on themselves. Their peer pressure system is pretty strong, where if a player is accused of cheating even once, it follows them their whole career. Ask Vijay Singh.

Mallard T. Drake on June 11, 2008 at 2:02 PM

Well, Tiger Woods has had some pretty questionable rulings from the officials on the course. In one tournament they moved a large stone from next to his ball. If that had been Bob Tway I think they would not have made the same ruling. So even golf has its officiating controversies and seems to favor the star players.

On my blog, I’ve linked back to Ed’s story.

The NBA should divest themselves of all gambling sponsors.

If the Kings didn’t miss 14 FT’s in Game 7 of the 2002 WC Finals, they’d probably have been NBA champions and we wouldn’t be hearing about it.

Except from Phil Jackson…

JammieWearingFool on June 11, 2008 at 12:41 PM

There would have been no game 7 if the refs hadn’t sent the Lakers to the line 20 times in the 4th quarter of game six. It was a total fix by Sterns and the NBA to put LA into the finals. The NBA would have lost millions with a Sacramento Jersey series.

There are Lakers fans in the LA Times that are posting that the game was FIXED against the Kings. Yes, LAKER FANS—–what does that tell ya?

Absolutely! That’s why they won all those titles!!

“How can people think this league is rigged when the Spurs (boring to casual fan) have a dynasty, Nash’s (most exciting/marketable white guy since Bird) teams never win, Yao goes out (with a billion Chinese viewers) in the first round, and the Knicks (NYC market) are the biggest travesty in pro sports?”

“But, instant replay forces umpires to not favor one team over another on the strike zone”

Not true at all. Watch a game that Maddux pitches.

exhelodrvr on June 11, 2008 at 1:21 PM

Thanks for bringing back the other fixed game that is in my mind but this is MLB. Livan Hernandez and his 40 foot strike zone against the Braves in the playoffs while Bob Costas, the Katie Couric of sports reporting is narating a Cuban soap opera in the background. I hate the Braves and that game still made me sick.

Ewing and Starks could do no wrong, ever.