Why, NBA, why?

You have to wonder how the NBA chooses it referees.  Bill Kennedy, widely known as a Doc Rivers hater, will be reffing tonight’s Celtics-Magic Game Two.

Just last week, Tim Donaghy speculated that Kennedy doesn’t like Rivers because Rivers questioned his sexuality.  Donaghy said that Kennedy is gay, and has held a grudge since Doc Rivers questioned him about it during a game.

“I’m just gonna come out and say it like it is,” Donaghy said during an appearance on the Celtics Late Night Show.  “It’s no secret on the staff that Bill Kennedy is a homosexual… I don’t have any ill will towards gays or lesbians, but it was no secret that he’s a homosexual.  It was known around the league, it was obvious during a game Doc Rivers questioned his sexual orientation and I think that has stuck with Kennedy over the years and he has no love for Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics.”

Granted, one should take everything Donaghy says with a grain of salt.  Undeniably, though, there is a history of bad blood between Kennedy and Rivers.

In March of 2009, Rivers was thrown out of a game by Kennedy for what Rivers called “the most unprofessional tech I’ve ever had.”

“[Kennedy] stood there and goaded me and goaded me and goaded me and stared at me,” Rivers explained after the game. “Look at the film. I actually walked away. He asked me, ‘Where do you want the ball?’ And I said, ‘Ask them,’ talking about our players. That’s my right to say that, and I walked away. He stood there and stared me down and stared me down and goaded me until I turned around and said, ‘What?’ That’s when I got thrown out of the game.”

Rivers was fined $25,000 for his comments, and Kennedy was also fined for his behavior.  The amount of Kennedy’s fine was undisclosed.

So why the hell is Kennedy reffing Game Two?  It doesn’t make much sense, unless you’re a conspiracy theorist.  I’m not one by any means but, uhhh, don’t be surprised to see an Orlando parade to the line.