He was there in Philadelphia on April 16 when Michael Jordan retired all over again. But nobody noticed.

There were whistles, but no bells, in Tommy Nu?ez's final NBA game.

In a way, the anonymity was perfect. It was a deafening affirmation of a job done well. Or, at least, of a job done according to the book. Referees aren't supposed to get in the way. When they do, something has probably gone wrong. Silence is their biggest cheer.

In part, that's why Nu?ez didn't announce his plans in time for anybody to take notice.

"I didn't let anybody know until the middle of April," Nu?ez, 64, said. "But all along, I knew I was going to do it after 30 years. I wanted to do it before I started slipping."