Joe Crawford,” Since Who Has Worked in the NBA 1990
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By Peter Jackel in the world has he been named official, I made a lot of mistakes and the recipient of the prestigious he would not be afraid to let me BA fans’ character sketch Gold Whistle Award, which know about them. But he always of Joe Crawford has been places a significant value on had a way of telling you why you drawn in indelible ink. contributions to the betterment made them and trying it with a They long ago dismissed of officiating, by the National different approach just might be Nhim as that referee with a centimeter Association of Sports Officials better.” fuse who occasionally highjacked (NASO)? Quite simply, the officials who games with his raging inferno of a The answer to the first question embrace the chance to work games temper. is that he has been one of the elite with Crawford cover just about The signature case in point officials in the NBA since 1977 everyone working in the NBA. is unquestionably that Sunday and he overcame his personal “When you talk about an NBA afternoon in Dallas in 2007 when demons in the wake of the Duncan referee, the first guy you think of is Crawford damn near imploded. incident, when Stern’s suspension Joe Crawford,” said Mike Callahan, That’s the time he ejected San evolved into a career-altering who has worked in the NBA since Antonio Spurs all-star center Tim epiphany for Crawford. Among 1990. “Why? Because not only is he Duncan for laughing at Crawford his most passionate desires is to a great referee, but as a partner on from the bench. Duncan even be remembered as an official with the floor, he wants you to be even claimed Crawford challenged him whom peers wanted to go to war better than him. For the time I’ve to a fight as emotions overflowed and that has certainly been the been around the NBA, there is not a in the American Airlines Center. case for years. harder worker at the craft than Joe.” It’s all there on YouTube to see for “One of the main reasons you The answer to the second yourself. wanted to work with Joe was question — why a gifted official That was the end of Crawford’s you knew the game was going who openly concedes that he season, if not career, after then-NBA to be taken care of from a game- tainted his career by periodic Commissioner David Stern handed management point of view,” said seismic outbursts received the down a statement that opened with retired official Steve Javie, an highest honor in his profession — the ominous words, “Especially in ESPN rules analyst who is one of is a little more elusive. While the light of similar prior acts by this Crawford’s closest friends. “Also, I ugly side of Joe has been played official, a significant suspension is knew I could learn each night from out under the bright glare of NBA warranted.” Joe. He is the best teacher and he arenas and replayed ad infinitum So how is Crawford still at it knows how to protect his crew on for public scrutiny on ESPN, his ALBERT PENA/CAL SPORT MEDIA/NEWSCOM PENA/CAL SPORT ALBERT more than seven years after that the court if trouble happens. passionate side has been a far more meltdown for the ages? And why “I know when I was a young clandestine deal. REFEREE August 2014 | 21 GOLDXXX WHISTLE AWARD: JOE CRAWFORD That Joe Crawford exists only all about. And you’d better believe Maybe, just maybe, Sister Rose in the shadows. That Joe Crawford when Crawford was notified by Marie knocked one out of the park will do anything for anyone he Barry Mano, president of NASO, that with her prayer power within the encounters who needs a helping hand he was this year’s recipient, he was confines of her secretive quarters. For or a sturdy shoulder, like the time reduced to tears. a man whose NBA career might have he quietly picked up the $400 tab “I was brought into NASO by gone up in flames in 2007 has now for a frightened young foreign lady Eddie Rush, our former boss,” said been set in stone for what he is: an The NASO Gold Whistle Award stranded at an airport gate so she Crawford, referring to the NBA’s imperfect sweetheart of a guy at the was created by the NASO board of could fly back to her home country. director of officiating from 1998-2003. top of his profession who manned up directors to honor an individual or Or the time he was there for a “He used to tell me about going to his character issues and enhanced organization that has gone above and beyond in overall integrity and childhood friend named Jim Forrest. to the meetings and going to the his already bottomless pit of a heart. has made significant contributions “In 1986, I sought treatment for an conventions and everything. I said, “Joey depicts what every official to the betterment of officiating. The addiction to alcohol,” said Forrest, a ‘Ed, I have so much stuff going on in should strive to be,” said Jeff Gold Whistle is among the most friend of Crawford’s since they were the summertime coaching kids and Triplette, an NFL referee and chair coveted awards in the world of classmates at Cardinal O’Hara High that kind of stuff.’ But then I went and of the NASO board of directors. sports officiating. To be selected as the award recipient by the NASO School in Philadelphia from 1965-69. I fell in love with the event every year. “That’s someone who got to the top board of directors, consideration is “When I was in treatment, Joey called I’ve been to, I guess, six or seven, and of his game early, but always worked given for: my parents to find out what going on. When Crawford (far left with Bill Oakes in 1992) talks, even basketball luminaries such as I used to sit in the audience and I’d to stay at the top of his game and • Significant contributions to the My parents told him where I was and Michael Jordan (right) and Dennis Rodman listen. watch the presentation and I would never stopped trying to improve. He betterment of officiating. how long I might be there. Joey asked say, ‘My Lord, have mercy!’ always has been a caring and giving • A high degree of integrity and ethics. my parents if I needed help to pay for “I was pretty much of a pro individual to lots of individuals, lots • Qualities that are held in high this treatment. He said just let him renounced their worldly lives. Their “I don’t know how much money official snob until I started attending of organizations and has been very regard by the industry. know and he would give them money severely structured lives include he’s given to the Poor Clares over the these things and I found out about quiet in that regard, but had that • Consistent record of presenting for my treatment if it was needed. sleeping on beds of straw, never for years, but I know it’s substantial,” all these officials from all over the hothead image. officiating in a positive light. “He was very supportive of me in more than four hours at a time, rising Perretta said. “He runs a referee clinic world and all these different sports “But he worked hard to change • Exhibiting a “service above self” attitude. Public service to my recovery. Whenever I would go in the middle of the night to pray, during the summer and I know the and what their passions were and that and he’s worked hard to realize officiating, having a motivating to his house, he and his wife, Mary, existing on bare essentials and having proceeds he gets from that he sends how they loved what they did. When that just didn’t get him where he effect on others and/or strong would make sure there was iced tea virtually no contact with the outside to them. He also sends money to me I’d see this guy go up there and personally wanted to be. Some people community involvement are for me to drink. He never judged world. to give to her when I go visit. So he’s get this award ... when Barry Mano who are at the top of their game considered. or turned his back on me or anyone One of those nuns is Sister done a lot over the years.” called me, I still tear up because it’s might say, ‘Nah, I got here for who I The award can be made posthumously. else.” Rose Marie. She was once Shelley And Sister Rose Marie has never like, ‘Man, oh man, these people are am and they’re just going to have to In chronological order, here are Perhaps the most powerful look Pennefather, the NCAA Player of forgotten her flawed, yet treasured unbelievable. They’re all tremendous accept me for who I am.’ But he said, the 26 previous Gold Whistle Award into the side of Crawford so few get the Year in women’s basketball for friend whom she got to know her first stories. And it never entered my head ‘No, I need to change.’ He’s someone recipients: Art McNally, 1988; the to see can be found on a reclusive Villanova in 1987 who turned her season at Villanova.