This “report” looks like more of David Stern’s self-policing. Interesting that Pedowitz relied solely on the NBA’s own employees and experts for analysis of Game 6 officiating. Is there no independent body that could have reviewed it?

I’ve never bought into the speculation that there may have been a spoken conspiracy related to the Lakers-Kings series, because I don’t think it was required. As anyone who has watched the NBA for any period of time knows, there is a strong bias toward superstars in this league. Under Stern, this league has gone out of its way to create them and promote them, and financially the Stern approach has worked in terms of the league’s popularity and viewership. All NBA employees, from the officials on up, know this, and in 2002 it was clear what outcome was in the best financial interest of the NBA regarding the year’s biggest event — the Finals. They were the team with Shaq and Kobe and would also pull in a big media market; the Kings were the no-names from a city most people couldn’t find on a map. And that was that. Not that Referee A and Referee G did anything intentional, but if you go in to offiiciate a game with the knowledge that a Kings-Nets series would risk a financial flop for the League, you might give the rainmakers more benefit of the doubt.

I’ll be right back, I’m going to go steal a car, pick up a hooker, and do some blow. Don’t worry, though, I’m sure after I’m done investigating my actions I’ll come to the conclusion that I was innocent on all charges.