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Report: Big Ten fires long-time referee Ted Valentine
Posted: Fri November 19, 1999 at 6:09 p.m. EST RACINE, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Ted Valentine, a Division I-A referee since 1979 who has officiated six Final Fours, has reportedly been fired by the Big Ten Conference. Referee magazine is reporting that Valentine, who also officiates in the Big East, Atlantic Coast, Conference USA, Big 12 and other major leagues, has been relieved of his duties. "Our policy is clear. We are not going to comment publicly. It does not serve anyone," Rich Falk, assistant commissioner and supervisor of men's basketball officials for the Big Ten told the magazine. The action comes in the wake of an article in Referee earlier this month. The piece contained commments by Valentine concerning a February 28, 1998 contest between Indiana and Illinois in which Valentine ejected Indiana coach Bob Knight. Valentine describes events in the game that led to the ejection, including his altercation with fellow Big Ten referee Ed Hightower during halftime over the way the crew was handling Knight. Knight came under fire from the Big Ten when he called Valentine "a travesty" after receiving three technical fouls and being removed from the game. The Big Ten gave Indiana the option of a $10,000 fine or suspension and Indiana appealed, allowing Knight to coach in the league tournament. Facing a deadline to decide between the fine or having Knight suspended for one game -- an NCAA Tournament contest with Oklahoma -- Indiana chose to pay up. Knight received the first of his technicals when he and Valentine exchanged words in the first half. He picked up his second technical when he walked on the court to attend to injured player Luke Recker and a third followed when he continued to protest. The Big Ten said that the first and third technicals were acceptable, but the second was clearly erroneous because Knight was trying to attend to Recker. Because of the improperly called technical, Valentine did not receive any Big Ten assignments during the non-Conference portion of the 1998-99 season. Following the publication of Referee's story earlier this month, Illinois coach Lon Kruger told the Chicago Sun Times, " Our league left (Valentine) out to dry. It was a pretty tough message from the league to the officials. "All I am able to say is corrective measures have been taken," Valentine told Referee. Valentine has officated three national championship games.© 2000 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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