Slashing budget or keeping costs down is a top priority in the bj-league, even though the league has expanded at a maddening rate, adding 14 expansion teams since 2006. Increased revenue has been a big problem, though.
Which is why hard-working referees and others in key roles have felt the brunt of the league's problems. Refs, for instance, have had major cuts in pay, as was first reported in The Japan Times in September 2010.
A recap of that story includes:
In its haste to expand at an alarming rate, the bj-league is proving that it is incapable of meeting the most basic standards of professionalism.
The league, looking to save money and force more of the burden on teams to pay the bills, plans to supply two league officials for each game this season while making the home team pay for a third non-league official, The Japan Times has learned.
That way, over the long haul, the league can save the cost of paying for one-third of its officials. That's the rationale behind what many will call a boneheaded decision, one that essentially turns one-third of the refs into freelance employees.
This ill-conceived "solution" will only hurt the league's image. In fact, it may create a public relations nightmare: fan disgust, as well as increased outrage from players, coaches and front-office personnel.
"If it's true about the refs, the quality of games will really suffer," said one league insider.
There's also talk of league officials — those who won't be contracted by teams — being asked to take a 50 percent reduction in pay, according to the source.
Osaka Evessa power forward Lynn Washington, however, doesn't believe there will be a major backlash from referees.
"The refs would not mind," said Washington, a two-time MVP. "I do not think most refs in Japan are professional refs. Most, if not all (of them), have other jobs. I know the economy is way below par, but most of the money these refs make per game is a little above spending money.
"You would have your rogue referees, of course, but ultimately most refs would stay because of the job itself. If some of those refs that leave are caliber refs then the players and coaches could suffer accordingly."
According to a league source, the aforementioned proposal to force teams to take an active role in assigning and paying for game officials has been finalized, though the league hasn't made the announcement official.
Ryukyu Golden Kings president Tatsuro Kimura and Kunio Kurata, the league's chief officer, also known as the director of officials, had the guts to oppose the plan, according to a source with inside information about what was said at a recent league board meeting.
Kurata, who recognizes the league's need to be fiscally responsible, even talked about the officials going out on strike, the source added, hammering home the point that the league is "disrespecting the game" by doing this.
In other words, Kurata sees the big picture and doesn't like what he sees. He's been placed in an impossible position by the league's short-sighted board of directors. He also knows he will have diminished impact on the game.
"If he can't control all three of the officials, then no one can take responsibility of a mistake or a missed call," the source said, explaining Kurata's reason for being ticked off.
Akihiro Ejima, the league's PR director, was asked to issue a statement but he declined to comment.
This much is certain, though: Don't expect the replacement refs — local hires — to enhance the league's reputation.
"We will get inexperienced referees, maybe college students and that could mean the end of having American referees from the different military bases, which was absolutely the best thing about the bj-league," the source said.
"This would have a negative impact on the games, if true. The league should be trying to improve the quality of the officiating. And the bj-league's No. 1 success story is Tim Greene, who moved on and is now working for the NBA, and has been doing NBDL, WNBA, and some NBA (preseason) games."
He added: "At a time when we are bringing in better coaches and players, why would they risk using inferior referees? I hope this rumor isn't true, but fear it is. Watch the technical fouls skyrocket."
Which is why hard-working referees and others in key roles have felt the brunt of the league's problems. Refs, for instance, have had major cuts in pay, as was first reported in The Japan Times in September 2010.
A recap of that story includes:
In its haste to expand at an alarming rate, the bj-league is proving that it is incapable of meeting the most basic standards of professionalism.
The league, looking to save money and force more of the burden on teams to pay the bills, plans to supply two league officials for each game this season while making the home team pay for a third non-league official, The Japan Times has learned.
That way, over the long haul, the league can save the cost of paying for one-third of its officials. That's the rationale behind what many will call a boneheaded decision, one that essentially turns one-third of the refs into freelance employees.
This ill-conceived "solution" will only hurt the league's image. In fact, it may create a public relations nightmare: fan disgust, as well as increased outrage from players, coaches and front-office personnel.
"If it's true about the refs, the quality of games will really suffer," said one league insider.
There's also talk of league officials — those who won't be contracted by teams — being asked to take a 50 percent reduction in pay, according to the source.
Osaka Evessa power forward Lynn Washington, however, doesn't believe there will be a major backlash from referees.
"The refs would not mind," said Washington, a two-time MVP. "I do not think most refs in Japan are professional refs. Most, if not all (of them), have other jobs. I know the economy is way below par, but most of the money these refs make per game is a little above spending money.
"You would have your rogue referees, of course, but ultimately most refs would stay because of the job itself. If some of those refs that leave are caliber refs then the players and coaches could suffer accordingly."
According to a league source, the aforementioned proposal to force teams to take an active role in assigning and paying for game officials has been finalized, though the league hasn't made the announcement official.
Ryukyu Golden Kings president Tatsuro Kimura and Kunio Kurata, the league's chief officer, also known as the director of officials, had the guts to oppose the plan, according to a source with inside information about what was said at a recent league board meeting.
Kurata, who recognizes the league's need to be fiscally responsible, even talked about the officials going out on strike, the source added, hammering home the point that the league is "disrespecting the game" by doing this.
In other words, Kurata sees the big picture and doesn't like what he sees. He's been placed in an impossible position by the league's short-sighted board of directors. He also knows he will have diminished impact on the game.
"If he can't control all three of the officials, then no one can take responsibility of a mistake or a missed call," the source said, explaining Kurata's reason for being ticked off.
Akihiro Ejima, the league's PR director, was asked to issue a statement but he declined to comment.
This much is certain, though: Don't expect the replacement refs — local hires — to enhance the league's reputation.
"We will get inexperienced referees, maybe college students and that could mean the end of having American referees from the different military bases, which was absolutely the best thing about the bj-league," the source said.
"This would have a negative impact on the games, if true. The league should be trying to improve the quality of the officiating. And the bj-league's No. 1 success story is Tim Greene, who moved on and is now working for the NBA, and has been doing NBDL, WNBA, and some NBA (preseason) games."
He added: "At a time when we are bringing in better coaches and players, why would they risk using inferior referees? I hope this rumor isn't true, but fear it is. Watch the technical fouls skyrocket."