ALDRIDGE: NBA USING PRESEASON TO LOOK AT ALTERNATE REFEREES

     ESPN's David Aldridge reports the NBA is taking a "good
look" at rookie referees during the preseason who could be hired
as replacements if the league loses several veteran refs to the
ongoing IRS investigation.  Aldridge: "The pool of potential
replacements will come from these rookies and officials who
worked the first month of last season while the regular referees
were negotiating their new contract."  NBA VP/Operations Rod
Thorn says the league "will not be contacting recently retired
NBA officials, who have more experience" ("SportsCenter," ESPN,
10/18).  In Boston, Peter May adds while the NBA "has not been
updated on the investigation, it does know the names of some of
the referees who may be charged [but] a weightier issue  is what
happens if there are indictments.  Do the referees continue to
work?  Can they continue to work?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/20).