Ken Mauer Is a Convicted Felon

[BGrantFan]

Why is he allowed to officiate in the NBA?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Please explain.

 

[BGrantFan]

Please explain.

Mauer was convicted of felony tax evasion in 2000. He served 5 months in federal prison and another 5 months of home arrest.

Somehow, he didn't lose his job. I'd like to know why. For a league with integrity problems in terms of officiating, I think pointing out Mauer's felonious past after last night's debacle is worthy of being a topic of discussion. I don't care that he served his time; I do care that the NBA employs tax cheats as officials, who then proceed to kick people out of front row seats that cost a lot of money.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So felons shouldn't be allowed to work?

Granted if he ever applies for a job as an accountant or a tax preparer I hope they don't license him, but what does cheating on his taxes have to do with calling a basketball game?

 

[The Professional Fan]

Mauer was convicted of felony tax evasion in 2000. He served 5 months in federal prison and another 5 months of home arrest.

Somehow, he didn't lose his job. I'd like to know why. For a league with integrity problems in terms of officiating, I think pointing out Mauer's felonious past after last night's debacle is worthy of being a topic of discussion. I don't care that he served his time; I do care that the NBA employs tax cheats as officials, who then proceed to kick people out of front row seats that cost a lot of money.

I agree. He cheated on one thing, who's to say he won't cheat on another. Fucking asshole.

 

[Minstrel]

So felons shouldn't be allowed to work?

Granted if he ever applies for a job as an accountant or a tax preparer I hope they don't license him, but what does cheating on his taxes have to do with calling a basketball game?

Well, you could argue that bears on his integrity? I think that's pretty important for a referee in a professional sport that is bet upon a great deal.

Felons shouldn't be barred by law from work, but I think it would be reasonable for the NBA to be reluctant to hire convicted cheats to ref games.

 

[Masbee]

So felons shouldn't be allowed to work?

Granted if he ever applies for a job as an accountant or a tax preparer I hope they don't license him, but what does cheating on his taxes have to do with calling a basketball game?

Are you serious?

 

[ABM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Mauer

In 2000, Mauer was convicted of a felony, three counts of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice for not reporting downgraded airline tickets as income to the Internal Revenue Service.[3] Mauer failed to pay taxes on $26,500 of additional income over a three-year period.[3] Mauer was one of two NBA referees who chose not to plea bargain his case believing that there was an injustice done against him.[3] Mauer stated that he never intended to commit a criminal act and his accountants signed off on his tax returns and was not told of any issues.[3] In April 2001, Mauer was sentenced to five months in jail, five months of home detention, three years of supervised release, and 800 hours of community service.[5] At the conclusion of the trial, Mauer said, "I'm proud that I stood up for myself. At the same time, I'm relieved that it turned out this way. This is the first decent day I've had in a year and a half. This summer is going to be hard, serving my sentence. But I'm going to turn it into a positive thing. I'm going to help the kids, I'll get into shape."

 

[Ed O]

There are felonies and there are FELONIES. Maurer's felony doesn't really seem to be much of a much.

Why wasn't this thread started last week, though? It seems like sour grapes at this point.

Ed O.

 

[BGrantFan]

So felons shouldn't be allowed to work?

Granted if he ever applies for a job as an accountant or a tax preparer I hope they don't license him, but what does cheating on his taxes have to do with calling a basketball game?

I never said that, did I? I just don't think the NBA should have felons officiating their games.

 

[BGrantFan]

There are felonies and there are FELONIES. Maurer's felony doesn't really seem to be much of a much.

Why wasn't this thread started last week, though? It seems like sour grapes at this point.

Ed O.

I suppose it is sour grapes in some manner. However, I didn't have real reason to question Ken Mauer's integrity until witnessing him first-hand last night. So, I decided to do some research on him. I can tell you this ... I sure didn't expect to find out the guy was a convicted felon for crimes he committed while working for the NBA.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Also note that Mauer was the official in the first Utah game here. He was booed thru an entire timeout in the first half.

Kenny had an ax to grind last night and will probably do it again the next time in the Garden.

 

[BGrantFan]

Also note that Mauer was the official in the first Utah game here. He was booed thru an entire timeout in the first half.

Kenny had an ax to grind last night and will probably do it again the next time in the Garden.

If I am at the next Mauer game, I'm holding up a sign that says "Ken Mauer is a convicted felon". I wonder how that will go over with the RG crowd?

 

[RR7]

If I am at the next Mauer game, I'm holding up a sign that says "Ken Mauer is a convicted felon". I wonder how that will go over with the RG crowd?

I think instead of these refs suck, a "You're a Felon" chant would be amusing to me.

 

[GoBlazersGo]

However, I didn't have real reason to question Ken Mauer's integrity until witnessing him first-hand last night.

I questioned Ken Mauer's integrity the first time I ever saw that greasy fuck, years ago.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I have a problem with a person who has been convicted of a felony having to do with money being an NBA official where it is easy to decide either the outcome of a game or control the point spread for............... money.

If he was a convicted felon regarding druken driving or hit & run... I'd have a somewhat better feeling about him being a referee. At least I'd know his criminal past could have no possible association with being a ref.

 

[BGrantFan]

I think instead of these refs suck, a "You're a Felon" chant would be amusing to me.

It would be even better if Stern was at the game. Or course, last night the deputy commissioner was there, and it didn't matter in terms of objectivity.

 

[GoBlazersGo]

It would be even better if Stern was at the game. Or course, last night the deputy commissioner was there, and it didn't matter in terms of objectivity.

Yeah, that Adam Silver guy just made my "list of people who can get fucked"... I liked him better when he was on "Arrested Development" a few years back, anyways.

[video=youtube;vvD1EZRYsGM]

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well, you could argue that bears on his integrity? I think that's pretty important for a referee in a professional sport that is bet upon a great deal.

Felons shouldn't be barred by law from work, but I think it would be reasonable for the NBA to be reluctant to hire convicted cheats to ref games.

Are you serious?

Moderately so ... look I get it that cheating on your taxes raises an issue of credibility and integrity, but I don't recall Mauer ever being listed amongst the usual suspects of 'bad officials'.

He called an atrocious game last night for sure, but was it really related to a 10 year old tax related felony?

 

[jlprk]

Who is this guy Chopper? And what's the difference between a convicted felon and a felon?

And why is it a felony that if you trade in plane tickets, you have to put it on your tax return? Why is every crime a felony nowadays? What happened to misdemeanors? That's why nowadays we have to differentiate between minor felonies and major ones, because the crappy legal system no longer has categories.

Why am I asking questions like Chopper right after watching him?

 

[oldmangrouch]

OK, I remember this cluster-chuck.

The league gave the refs first class plane tickets to travel to games. The refs traded them in for cheaper tickets, and pocketed the difference. Quite a few of the refs never declared the extra income on their taxes.

Most tax evasion cases are handled as *civil* matters, not *criminal*. In this case, the IRS was out to make an example of a high profile target. At first, the NBA made noises about taking tough action against any ref involved. Then the refs spilled the beans - the NBA had expressly given its' blessing to the practice!

That didn't deter the IRS, but it left the NBA exposed to a lawsuit if it actually fired the refs. Simply put, the refs got their jobs back in exchange for Stern not winding up in a witness box.

Oh, and I do mean "refs"...plural. Mauer was not alone. There are 10 or 12 guys working games that the IRS considers "felons". Take that FWIW.

 

[BGrantFan]

OK, I remember this cluster-chuck.

The league gave the refs first class plane tickets to travel to games. The refs traded them in for cheaper tickets, and pocketed the difference. Quite a few of the refs never declared the extra income on their taxes.

Most tax evasion cases are handled as *civil* matters, not *criminal*. In this case, the IRS was out to make an example of a high profile target. At first, the NBA made noises about taking tough action against any ref involved. Then the refs spilled the beans - the NBA had expressly given its' blessing to the practice!

That didn't deter the IRS, but it left the NBA exposed to a lawsuit if it actually fired the refs. Simply put, the refs got their jobs back in exchange for Stern not winding up in a witness box.

Oh, and I do mean "refs"...plural. Mauer was not alone. There are 10 or 12 guys working games that the IRS considers "felons". Take that FWIW.

Regardless, Ken Mauer is an NBA referee with a felony on his record. This catches my attention after the Donaghy claims that he wasn't the only one involved in fixing games. I'm sure refs can have a bad game, but not like last night. It was either a grudge against Portland, or worse, but it was fucked up to the point that people were kicked out of their seats.

 

[DUB]

Who is this guy Chopper?

That is Heath Franklin on the Ronnie Johns Half Hour, performing a parody of Eric Bana in the movie Chopper; which was based on the real "Chopper" Read, an Australian standover man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Franklin

[video=youtube;unkIVvjZc9Y]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopper_(film)

[video=youtube;pY-Ho_0939Y]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopper_Read

[video=youtube;mG90K9Oi4OM]

 

[jlprk]

Thanks, kind of, but now I have to ask, what's a standover man? It's probably Australian slang.

In the Reagan era the U.S. greatly increased prison terms, so almost every crime now is a felony. You never hear about misdemeanors anymore. So calling someone a felon has lost its power. "Felony" just means he was convicted of anything, not something big.

 

[DUB]

Thanks, kind of, but now I have to ask, what's a standover man? It's probably Australian slang.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=STANDOVER MAN

Thief who specializes in persuading other thieves to surrender their valuable items.

From the website of Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read:

"My apprenticeship in crime began in the 1970s. This had me robbing massage parlours and taking on contracts to maim and kill rivals. Once I had obtained a doctorate as a "standover man", robbing drug dealers and other criminals, who funnily enough couldn't report me to the police, became childs play. I once told a friend "why rob a straight guy of $20 when you can rob a drug dealer of $10,000 and he can't go running to the police?" After all both involved some work on my behalf, but the man in the street was less likely to give up his $20 as he had to work hard for it. For the drug-dealers it came easy, so why would they put up a fight. Although some of my victims chose to chew razor blades (at their own request of course), before they would hand over cash? And I am the psychopath!

 

[BGrantFan]

Who is this guy Chopper? And what's the difference between a convicted felon and a felon?

A convicted felon is convicted by either a jury or a judge, depending on the court arrangements. A felon doesn't have to be necessarily convicted; rather, they can plead into a lesser felony and admit guilt. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

 

[Masbee]

OK, I remember this cluster-chuck.

The league gave the refs first class plane tickets to travel to games. The refs traded them in for cheaper tickets, and pocketed the difference. Quite a few of the refs never declared the extra income on their taxes.

Most tax evasion cases are handled as *civil* matters, not *criminal*. In this case, the IRS was out to make an example of a high profile target. At first, the NBA made noises about taking tough action against any ref involved. Then the refs spilled the beans - the NBA had expressly given its' blessing to the practice!

That didn't deter the IRS, but it left the NBA exposed to a lawsuit if it actually fired the refs. Simply put, the refs got their jobs back in exchange for Stern not winding up in a witness box.

Oh, and I do mean "refs"...plural. Mauer was not alone. There are 10 or 12 guys working games that the IRS considers "felons". Take that FWIW.

And because of this fiasco it is extremely likely that Mauer HATES Stern and the New York office of the NBA. Those guys tried to hang him and his cohorts out to dry. As it was, Mauer and the other dudes lost a bunch of money and had their name dragged through the mud. At what point does Mauer think, "how do I get my money back?".

Now they have a strained marraige of convenience. Maybe Mauer can get past this 100%. Somehow I doubt that Mauer put the integrity of the officiating and the best interests of the league ahead of his interests at this point. Why should he?

Mauer first. Everybody else - get in line.

 

[jlprk]

BGrantFan--so I can avoid being a convicted felon if I plea bargain guilty to a lesser felony and get convicted of that? So then I'm neither a felon nor a convicted felon, I'm just a convicted lesser felon?

Dub--Thanks, kind of, again. I figure education shouldn't end with college, it should be a lifelong pursuit, so I clicked on the next definition after standover man.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Standing Pooper

Masbee--Someone earlier posted, the reffing wasn't biased, because why would Mauer help the Mavs, when his boss Stern hates Cuban? Your theory reconciles the apparent contradiction. Mauer hates Stern too, so Mauer and Cuban having a common enemy makes them allies.

 

[BGrantFan]

BGrantFan--so I can avoid being a convicted felon if I plea bargain guilty to a lesser felony and get convicted of that? So then I'm neither a felon nor a convicted felon, I'm just a convicted lesser felon?

How are you going to be convicted by a jury if you plead guilty to a lesser felony? You're still a felon, either way. It's more about sentencing, but I realize you're just being obtuse, so carry on ... I'll keep up my end for the next 30 minutes or so.

 

[oldmangrouch]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Standing Wendy


Ya learn something new everyday.