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Ref Bavetta tops Ripken’s streak
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Longtime NBA referee Dick Bavetta eclipsed former Major League Baseball player Cal Ripken’s ironman streak, working his 2,633rd straight regular-season game on Wednesday night when the Brooklyn Nets faced the New York Knicks.
The league paid tribute to Bavetta before the game with a commemorative plaque and a basketball given to him by NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn.
The 74-year-old Bavetta started working NBA games in 1975. In addition to 82 regular-season games per season, Bavetta has officiated 270 playoff games, 27 NBA Finals games and three All-Star Games. His resume includes the 1992 Summer Olympics.
“Well, it means that I am here and alive and happy,” Bavetta said, according to ESPN. “And it doesn’t end here as they say. After tonight, there is another game. That is what we (do). I am just blessed that the ironman streak has been broken here (at Madison Square Garden), I couldn’t ask for something any better.
“I can’t think of any reason unless it’s an act of God with weather problems and things like that, but I’ve been blessed by the good Lord above with good health. So that has enabled me to stay healthy over the years and I think it’s symbolic of our profession.”
Nothing has stopped Bavetta — inclement weather, travel problems and injury — from making his rounds in the NBA.
“Oh, I have had many close calls over the years,” Bavetta said. “We are contracted to do 82 games just like the teams. Unfortunately, we don’t get 41 home games, so we are on the road quite often. It is something that becomes a part of your life.”
Bavetta plans to sit down after the season with his family to decide whether or not to return next year.
