NBA WORRIED ABOUT ITS REFEREES?

     The prospects of NBA officials facing punishment for tax
evasion, as first reports in the February 12 Portland OREGONIAN,
has NBA executives worried, according to the current issue of
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.  "Even a resolution that stopped short of
criminal charges would be enough to give the NBA the heebee-
jeebies.  No sports league, pro or college wants even the
appearance that its game officials are under any kind of
financial pressure.  'The job of refereeing is tough enough
without any of this,' one league official said last week.  'We
worry about the integrity of the game, and we worry about
maintaining the appearance of integrity'" ("Scorecard," SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED, 2/27 issue).