Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 11:30 am  |  21 responses

Dick Bavetta Considering Retirement

This could be Dick’s swan song, but hopefully not before he forces yet another shady Game 7: “Veteran NBA referee Dick Bavetta, working the Magic-Thunder game, told the Sentinel he might retire after the end of the season. The personable 69-year-old Bavetta and his wife live on 450 acres in Ocala. He is in his 32nd season as an NBA ref.”

(Thanks to reader Gerard for the heads-up.)

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: ,

  • ab_40

    he’ll have a role in educating and teaching refs.

  • tavoris

    450 Acres???? damn…he owns almost ALL of Ocala

  • Pingback: Tweets that mention SLAM ONLINE | » Dick Bavetta Considering Retirement -- Topsy.com

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    One of the best refs in the game right now.

  • NUPE

    I had know idea he was that old. You have to be in pretty darn good shape to be a ref, and to do it at his age… wow. Hope he enjoys his retirment and can help train some younger refs.

  • http://www.another48minutes.com Gerard Himself

    thanks for posting that, Marcel. And yeah, the man will be 70 next month! 70!!

  • JB

    He doesn’t look a day over 81.

  • tavoris

    I’m sure Charley Rosen will be happy when he finally retires. As will EVERY center/pf that Bavetta makes horrible calls against.

  • dial up

    Good riddance. Now we just need to get rid of every other nba ref in the association so that there are no longer playoff series where one superstar (i.e. dwayne wade or lebron) average 20ft a game. I was boutta pull my eyes out during miami’s championship run, and more recently lebron demolishing every magic player by fouling them out. Nba.. where amazing happens rarely.

  • Sam Z

    he’s terrible. thank god he’s finally getting out of the L. KINGS IN 02!!

  • http://www.garrettelliott.com Garrett

    It’s crazy that he’s 69 years old and reffing NBA games. And yet the league couldn’t find competent young refs to replace him? Hmm.

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Knick Bavetta…

  • http://www.mbenga-mblog.blogspot.com vmcb

    Dick Bavetta loves the attention. Apparently.

  • whalleywhat

    Is he gonna fire the girl who takes note every time his name’s mentioned?

  • Toni Kukoc

    this scumbag will finally retire?

    hope most of you will know the truth about him in the future i guess…

  • tavoris

    Darksaber, he IS the ref that called that “infamous” foul that got Grandmama a four-point play back in the day, isn’t he?

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    I can remember when he ref’d Greg Odens first game back in 1973.

  • http://www.another48minutes.com Gerard Himself

    Dacre, Oden was there alright. But Bavetta started out in ’75.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    …sarcasm Gerard?

  • http://kicksoncard.tumblr.com zack

    good riddance!

  • Chris B

    I might start watching the NBA again if he leaves. On second thought, I’ll wait till his boss leaves also.

Advertisement