FIBA basketball being run by referees

[ZEUS]

I was reading a somewhat interesting article of George Vasilakopoulos, ex FIBA Europe general secretary. He became president of the Greek basketball federation once more. What he did talk about, and that I found highly interesting was that at least all high-ranking officials of FIBA were referees in the past, even Bauman, the current FIBA general secretary was a retired ref in his native Switzerland. It got me thinking, how in the world can basketball officials like refs then enter the pantheon of FIBA's hall of fame??? The game should ONLY be about the players (that's why they are called that), and coaches to a lesser extent. If any official should be given any honourable mention it should be someone who contributed profoundly to the improvement of international basketball globally, but certainly NOT someone who was a lifelong referee!!! Refereeing has been a highly debatable issue in many countries, and it seems that the refs in sport have formed their own 'gangs' of support. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case in many sports not just basketball.

We are talking about people who are just accessories in a game of basketball, they are not under the limelight for any good reasons, only when their officiating is bad, suspiciously one-sided, etc.

Anyone have any clue about how this situation came about and refs reign supreme in sport?

[forum troll]

I was reading a somewhat interesting article of George Vasilakopoulos, ex FIBA Europe general secretary. He became president of the Greek basketball federation once more. What he did talk about, and that I found highly interesting was that at least all high-ranking officials of FIBA were referees in the past, even Bauman, the current FIBA general secretary was a retired ref in his native Switzerland. It got me thinking, how in the world can basketball officials like refs then enter the pantheon of FIBA's hall of fame??? The game should ONLY be about the players (that's why they are called that), and coaches to a lesser extent. If any official should be given any honourable mention it should be someone who contributed profoundly to the improvement of international basketball globally, but certainly NOT someone who was a lifelong referee!!! Refereeing has been a highly debatable issue in many countries, and it seems that the refs in sport have formed their own 'gangs' of support. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case in many sports not just basketball.

We are talking about people who are just accessories in a game of basketball, they are not under the limelight for any good reasons, only when their officiating is bad, suspiciously one-sided, etc.

Anyone have any clue about how this situation came about and refs reign supreme in sport?

Many of the refs are obviously connected to the mafia. So of course they will eventually get in powerful positions. We all saw how rigged the 2010 FIBA World Championship was.

[Raze Lupin]

This is sad....