Tim Duncan-Joe Crawford: David Stern Wipes Away a Link to the NBA's Past

I wrote two days ago that it is better for the NBA that Joe Crawford's career is more than likely finished as a referee. Perhaps, after 31 years dating back to the year after the NBA-ABA merger, it is better that Crawford steps down as an on-court steward of the professional game. However, the reasons for my feelings are far different today that they were then. There are much deeper issues in Crawford's suspension and Duncan's fine than just a referee's "history" and a player cursing a referee on his way to the locker room. The issues extend far beyond, 'did David Stern overreact' and 'did Tim Duncan, by laughing at a call, show up Crawford.'