Welcome back, refs

And you probably never thought Steve Javie, Joey Crawford and Dick Bavetta would ever look so good. The NBA refs ratified a two-year agreement with the league Friday and will be back on the job Tuesday, when the Mavericks open the regular season against Washington at AAC. "I'm just glad they reached an agreement,'' said Drew Gooden. Gooden had particular reason to be grateful. He was ejected in the preseason finale, then recalled from the locker room when the replacement refs reversed their ruling. It was the first time any of the Mavericks could remember that happening. "It was a do-over,'' coach Rick Carlisle deadpanned. Carlisle, by the way, was a staunch supporter of the job the replacement refs did and stood up for them after Friday's game. "I give the officials credit,'' he said. "These guys have been put in a tough position and through it all, they've maintained a very even-keel disposition. They've been tested on multiple occasions every game they've worked. They're trying their best. That's all we can ask and communicating with us and they'll continue to get better. And if they're going to be working for a while, it'll be our job to make sure we play the game and don't get involved with those guys.'' After learning that the agreement had been announced with the regular refs, Carlisle added: "Then they're on their way out. But they did a solid job, i will say that. They'll all be better officials because of it.'' --Eddie Sefko