Yet another columnist calls for the NBA to get a grip on the officiating. Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer writes that, ?Game 6 (of the Western Conference Finals) was the worst-officiated big game I ever saw.?

Livingston continues, ?I'm not a conspiracy theory guy. Conspiracy buffs are probably drawing lines from the bent envelope corner in the Patrick Ewing lottery to Michael Jordan's push-off of Byron Russell to the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Kings-Lakers series to devil worship by Proctor and Gamble to John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind," going quietly nuts.?

In Game 6, the Lakers made 34 field goals and four 3-pointers to the Kings' 38 and eight 3s. The Lakers shot 27 free throws in the last quarter to the Kings' nine. The sixth foul on Scot Pollard and the fifth on Vlade Divac were mythical. There was no contact at all. They helped disqualify the Kings' two best low-post defenders against Shaquille O'Neal. All of this lead to the Lakers winning 106-102 and extending the series to seven games.

The NBA doesn?t allow criticism of their referees. If a coach or player questions the officiating, he is fined. The NBA is judge and jury for its own officials, and bad performances are simply covered up. I don't know how you fix it, either.

Livingston also questions the NBA?s fine and suspension of Cavaliers coach John Lucas for two games for inviting high school superstar LeBron James to a workout. This punishment seems a bit excessive when Michael Jordan, who was part owner and GM of the Wizards did the same thing last year. NBA vice president Russ Granik haughtily refused to discuss the Jordan case, increasing the perception of favoritism. In the LeBron James case, the NBA could say it was trying to discourage high school players from skipping college. It's a worthy cause.

Livingston concludes that the ?3 blind mice? who officiated Game 6 should also be fined and suspended because "nothing less is at stake than public belief that the league is on the level."