It's Still Not a Foul

Sad news from Arizona tonight, where longtime NBA referee Darell Garrettson has passed away. He was 76 years old. Garretson began officiating games in the NBA in 1967, and served as chief of the officiating staff for several years. He finally retired from his supervisor position in 1998. Longtime Buffalo sports fans remember Garretson as the man who called one of the most controversial fouls in local sports history. It was the 1974 NBA playoffs, the Braves and the Celtics, and it was Game Six on a Friday night at the Aud. The score was tied at 104 and time was running out. The Celtics had the ball, and JoJo White put up a crazy shot as the buzzer sounded. Garretson called a foul on Bob McAdoo, and it was a bonus situation, three-to-make-two. White missed the first free throw, made the next two, the Braves thought they had one second left to inbound and try a miracle shot, but the game was ruled over. The foul on White was ticky-tack, and it decided not just the game, but a playoff series. The Celtics won 106-104, and won the series four games to two. Reportedly Garretson and his fellow referees needed police protection to leave the Aud that night. It was the most bitter loss in Buffalo Braves history, and I remember it still 34 years later. Let us know if you can remember a more controversial officiating call in local sports history.