I'm not a big conspiracy guy either, but I have to believe that this is not just one rogue ref trying to make some more cash. This whole ordeal makes me wonder how much the networks themselves are involved and if they had a hand in bribing the refs. The major networks that run the playoffs (ESPN, TNT, ABC) have all payed the NBA to have the rights for a set number of years and there is no stipulation that they pay more to the NBA if a series goes 7 games versus 4. The longer a series goes, the more the network will make, but the NBA sees nothing additional. I'm wondering if somebody at those networks have sent some cash Stern's way and he's told the refs to make the games go longer, or if they sent some cash to the refs directly. I'd be more willing to believe the former; Stern seems like a shady character to me.
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