Bennett Salvatore Explained

Bennett Salvatore (born January 9, 1950, in Stamford, Connecticut)[1] is a former professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At his retirement after the 2014-15 NBA season, Salvatore had officiated 1,520 regular season games.[2]

Early life

Salvatore has lived his entire life in Stamford, Connecticut. He was a two sport athlete in high school, playing baseball and football. He earned All-American and All-State honors as a quarterback in 1967 playing at C.W. Post.

NBA Referee

Salvatore became infamous with NBA fans for a key call against Dirk Nowitzki in Game 5 of the 2006 NBA Finals, after which Dallas owner Mark Cuban held one of the angriest press conferences in NBA history, laying blame on Salvatore for his team's loss.[3]

Owner

Salvatore was the principal owner of Bennett's, a steakhouse in Stamford, Connecticut.[4] One of his most intense athletic rivals in Stamford, and a lifelong friend, is former MLB manager Bobby Valentine. Valentine owns a competing restaurant in Stamford.

On October 8, 2010, Salvatore closed the doors on Bennett's, choosing to retire from his career as a restaurant owner.[5]

Income tax fraud

In 2000, he was sentenced to a year of probation, 150 hours of community service and a fine of $500 for his role in airline ticket fraud. He pleaded guilty in a New Haven federal court on July 26, 2000, to filing a false tax return with the Internal Revenue Service for the tax year 1993.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bennett Salvatore #15 . National Basketball Referees Association . 2006 . 2008-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070425153830/http://www.probasketballrefs.com/Default.aspx?tabid=122 . 2007-04-25 . dead .
  2. Web site: ESPN . . Simmons . Bill . Bill Simmons . 2008-05-12.
  3. Web site: ESPN . 13 November 2007 . ESPN.
  4. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9804E4D61539F932A05750C0A960958260 When Steak Is What the Party Wants
  5. Web site: Landmark Stamford steakhouse hangs up its chops . 8 October 2010 .
  6. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E2DB163EF934A25753C1A9669C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fO%2fOfficiating%20%28Sports%29 PLUS: PRO BASKETBALL; REF SENTENCED