Earl Strom
Earl Strom | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | July 10, 1994 Pottstown, Pennsylvania, US | (aged 66)
Spouse | Yvonne |
Children | 5[1] |
Basketball career | |
Position | NBA referee (1957–1969; 1973–1990) ABA referee (1969–1972) |
Officiating career | 1957–1990 |
Basketball Hall of Fame |
Earl "Yogi"
Over the course of his career, he officiated 2,400 professional basketball regular season games, 295
Early life
Strom was born December 15, 1927, in
In 1952, he married Yvonne Trollinger, and the couple went on to have five children.
Professional basketball officiating career
National Basketball Association (1957–1969)
Early years
Strom became an NBA referee with the start of the
Six years into his NBA career, Strom had worked every playoff game in the semi-finals and finals along with Rudolph.[12] In fact, the former was assigned to any seventh and deciding game in a series during this time.[12] He was also involved in one of the most memorable moments in NBA history during the 1965 Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. In the seventh and final game, the 76ers trailed the Celtics 110–109 with five seconds left. The 76ers had possession of the ball and attempted to inbound the pass as the Celtics' John Havlicek tipped the pass thrown by Hal Greer and preserved the Celtics victory. Celtics' radio announcer Johnny Most made his most fabled call: "Havlicek stole the ball! Havlicek stole the ball!"[13] And all this while, Strom had officiated the game in a cast as he had broken his hand while punching a fan during an altercation at a game the previous night.[14]
Memorable encounter with Wilt Chamberlain
In another significant moment in his officiating career, Strom was saved from an
Controversies
More controversies surrounded Strom when he was again involved in a historical NBA moment during the 1967 NBA All-Star Game. As one of the referees in the game, Strom was responsible for the ejection of Red Auerbach, head coach of the East All-Stars. Auerbach remains the only coach to be ejected in an All-Star Game.[16] Nevertheless, Strom was subsequently designated crew chief in 1967 and 1968[2] when the league hired Dolph Schayes as supervisor of officials for the NBA.[17] He was put in charge of scouting crews, rating referees, and developing the skills of lesser experienced referees as well as working a schedule of games.[17]
Departure to the American Basketball Association
After more than a decade's experience in the game, Strom was offered a salary contract over 82 games for $16,000 for the first time by Commissioner
American Basketball Association (1969–1972)
Differences between the leagues
While Strom earned more than twice as much in the ABA than the NBA, he soon became disenchanted with the ABA for the lack of big name superstars and arenas that the NBA provided.[5] Strom had anticipated that the ABA product would be inferior to the NBA, but assumed that the increase in pay would compensate for the level of play.[21] However, he fed off the energy of the fans when officiating games and the small attendance sizes in the ABA made him feel depressed.[22]
Controversies
Controversy again did not elude Strom in the ABA. In a 1970 game between the
Departure from the American Basketball Association
After the conclusion of his third season in the ABA, the dissatisfied Strom contacted NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy to discuss returning to the NBA.
Return to the National Basketball Association
With his ABA career over following the playoffs in 1972, Strom contacted Nucatola to get an NBA contract signed for the
National Basketball Association (1973–1990)
Changes in the National Basketball Association
Strom returned to the NBA and was among a regular staff of twenty officials.[35] Since Strom had left the NBA in 1969, referees now made twice the salary and received pension, health, and insurance plans.[35]
Memorable games
Strom ejected
During a game in 1982, Frank Layden, then head coach of the Utah Jazz, had seen enough of his team's poor performance and wanted an early exit. Layden verbally abused Strom so he could get ejected from the game. Strom knew what he was trying to do, and when Layden asked why he didn't eject him, Strom replied, "I know what you're trying to do, Frank, but if I've got to stay out here and watch this shit, so do you."[38] After Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, Red Auerbach confronted Strom in the hallway near the locker rooms and told Strom, "That was the worst officiated game I ever saw!", referring to the fact that the Lakers shot 14 free throws in the fourth quarter to the Celtics' 1. Strom stared back at Auerbach and said, "Arnold, you're showing all the class I knew you always had."[39][40]
The Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls played a game in the late-1980s that Strom officiated. Chicago's Michael Jordan attempted a slam dunk on a fast break and was undercut by an Atlanta player.[41] Strom called a flagrant foul and a player on the Atlanta bench yelled at Strom, "Ah, you're just protecting the superstars" to which Strom replied, "Damn right I am, you eliminate these guys from the game and we're all out of work."[41] Strom officiated Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's final game during the 1989 NBA Finals. Strom congratulated Jabbar and gave him the game ball in the locker room.[42]
Referee strike
During the
Controversies
Strom's first notable incident since returning to the league that received attention by the NBA front office was during the
Strom was officiating an NBA game during the mid-1970s between the
Strom was suspended from working any further games in the 1976 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns after Game 2 because the Suns had complained about the foul disparity of the first two games in the series.[53] In the first two games, the Celtics attempted 58 free throws while the Suns had 44.[53]
Strom wrote a weekly column for newspapers near Pottstown which provided a perspective of the life of an NBA referee.
During the early 1980s, The Philadelphia Inquirer spoke with Strom to get a perspective on the life of an NBA referee for an article.[59] The sports reporter met Strom in a hotel lobby and was later joined by Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach, John Killelea.[59] The three of them discussed referees and life in the NBA.[59] When the article was published, the reporter wrote that he and Strom were joined by an assistant coach, whom Strom had bought a drink, and the tendencies for Strom to go into pressboxes to drink a cup of coffee and to talk with spectators that he knew in the stands.[59] While the league had approved the article, Strom was fined $2,000 and suspended a portion of the playoffs.[59]
During the mid-1980s, Strom had a couple incidents with team personnel being in the referees' locker room, which was against league rules. In 1985,
Nearly halfway through the
Final years
During the
Strom's final game was Game 4 of the 1990 NBA Finals between the Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers played June 12, 1990, in a game that saw Strom correctly wave off Trail Blazers Danny Young's half-court heave that would have sent the game into OT, had it come before the buzzer.[64]
Post officiating career
After his retirement from the NBA, Strom worked as a television
Legacy
If there's one official who can't be intimidated or influenced by players, coaches, and fans, it's Earl Strom. The thing I respect him for, aside from being a very good official, is that you can get hot with him one night and have a few words, yet the next time you get him working your team he's ready to start fresh. No grudges or antagonism from him.[68]
— Lenny Wilkens, Hall of Fame player and coach
Earl Strom is a throwback, a reminder of the days when the refs had colorful personalities, the days when war-horses like Mendy Rudolph, Norm Drucker, and a younger Earl Strom were called the father, the son, and the holy ghost.[69]
Coaches, general managers, owners and players always mentioned Earl as the best.[2]
— Mike Mathis, former NBA referee
Watching Strom work a game is like watching Michael Jordan work a defense.[70]
— Jack McCallum, sports journalist
Strom retired having officiated 2,067 NBA games over 29 years.[71] Currently, only referees Dick Bavetta and Jake O'Donnell have officiated more games.[71] Strom was selected to officiate five of the nine NBA Finals that went seven games (the maximum number of games possible in a series) in 1966, 1969, 1978, 1984, and 1988, and is considered the last of an era for the "charismatic referee" type to officiate in the NBA.[72] This is in contrast to today's officials who are said to blend into the background during a game and all bear a similar appearance and use of hand signals.[72] During his career in the NBA, Strom was given the nickname of the "Road Ref" by Harvey Pollack, a statistician for the Philadelphia 76ers.[73] Throughout the year, Pollack noted how many times the home or visiting team was victorious and who were the officials working the game.[73] Strom had the highest percentage of road team victories among NBA referees at 42.9 percent.[73] This was the result of Strom refusing to favor the home team and letting the fans sway his decisions.[3]
When Strom started his career in the NBA, he felt the most important aspect was to get the play right.[74] Instead of selling a bad call, he felt that officials should admit their mistake, and get the call right.[74] To get plays called correctly, he brought up the idea of limited use of instant replay for shots made at the end of a period ("buzzer beaters") and three-point attempts.[75] The NBA eventually adopted the use of instant replay for end of the period field goal attempts and fouls at the start of the 2002–03 NBA season.[76] Strom believed that referee's job was to ensure the game is played correctly, which will allow players to play their particular style.[77] As the NBA began to evolve, Strom opposed the addition of the third official in NBA game for one season, the 1978–79 NBA season, and later in its present form since the 1988–89 NBA season.[78] Strom felt that well-conditioned officials who are able to stay on top of the play would be able to make calls that a third official would be responsible for.[79]
Pottstown High School created the "Earl Strom Financial Aid Scholarship", which is awarded to a member of the senior class who has been accepted by an accredited college.[80]
Work cited
- Strom, Earl; Johnson, Blaine (1990). Calling the Shots: My Five Decades in the NBA. New York: ISBN 0-671-66108-6.
References
- ^ Strom et al., intro
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Earl "Yogi" Strom Biography". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 2002. Archived from the original on 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g Richman, Michael (2007-04-16). "Hall Of Fame Hoops Ref Earl Strom Rarely Blew It". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-06-10.[dead link]
- ^ a b Thomas Jr., Robert (1994-07-12). "Earl Strom, Ex-N.B.A. Referee Known for His Flair, Dies at 66". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ a b c Seltzer, Robert (1994-07-12). "Earl 'Yogi' Strom, former NBA referee, dies at 66". Knight Ridder. Retrieved 2007-06-15.
- ^ Strom et al., 89
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 95
- ^ a b Strom et al., 43
- ^ Strom et al., 96–97
- ^ Strom et al., 114
- ^ Strom et al., 115
- ^ a b Strom et al., 127
- ^ Strom et al., 82–83
- ^ Strom et al., 81–82
- ^ Barreiro, Dan (1999-10-13). "One of a Kind – Wilt was not a caricature, but a complex, caring man". Star Tribune.
- NBA.com. Archived from the originalon 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b Strom et al., 125
- ^ Strom et al., 133
- ^ a b c d Strom et al., 134–135
- ^ a b Strom et al., 140–141
- ^ Strom et al., 143–144
- ^ Strom et al., 143
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 154–155
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 148
- NBA.com. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ Strom et al., 144
- ^ Strom et al., 158–159
- ^ Strom et al., 159–160
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 160
- ^ a b c d Strom et al., 161
- ^ Strom et al., 162–163
- ^ Strom et al., 163
- ^ a b c "Interview with Richie Phillips". Referee. January 1979. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ a b Strom et al., p.166
- ^ a b Strom et al., 172
- ^ a b c d Strom et al., 174
- ^ Hu, Janny (2005-03-20). "Mavs' home-court glow is flickering". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ Taylor, Phil (1999-11-22). "Garbage Time". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
- ^ McCallum, Jack (1987-06-22). "Your ball, L.A." Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ Simmons, Bill (2006-10-30). "Memories of Red". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ a b Strom et al., 203
- ^ Strom et al., 187
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 180
- ^ Strom et al., 181
- ^ Strom et al., 184
- ^ Strom et al., 182
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 174–175
- ^ Strom et al., 176
- ^ Strom et al., 176–177
- ^ Strom et al., 177
- ^ "The big dunk". ESPN.com. May 20, 2003. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- CBS SportsLine.com. Archived from the originalon 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
- ^ a b May, Peter (2005-05-08). "When fouls just don't add up". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ Strom et al., 206
- ^ Strom et al., 207–208
- ^ "Larry Costello Coaching Record". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
- ^ Strom et al., 208
- ^ a b Strom et al., 209
- ^ a b c d e Strom et al., 210–211
- ^ a b c d Strom et al., 214–215
- ^ a b Strom et al., 219–220
- ^ a b Strom et al., 235–236
- ^ a b Strom et al., 236
- NBA.com. Archived from the originalon 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2007-06-13.
- ^ "Ex-NBA Referee Strom Dies". Chicago Sun-Times. 1994-07-11. Archived from the original on 2011-05-16. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
- ^ The Daily Collegian (Pennsylvania State University). Archived from the originalon 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ a b c Powell, Shaun (1994-02-07). "Anderson too resilient for defenses, and fate – guard Kenny Anderson – NBA Report". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on 2016-01-13. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ Strom et al., 210
- ^ Strom et al., 235
- ^ McCallum, Jackie (1988-11-07). "Opening Tips". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
- ^ a b "Dick Bavetta: A Consecutive Legend". Professional Basketball Referees Association. 2006-02-07. Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
- ^ Sporting News. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ^ a b c Strom et al., 56–57
- ^ a b Strom et al., 220
- ^ Strom et al., 240
- NBA.com. 2002-07-29. Archived from the originalon 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
- ^ Strom et al., 202–203
- ^ Strom et al., 198–199
- ^ Strom et al., 199
- ^ "Senior Awards". Pottstown High School. Archived from the original on 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2007-07-04.