The screw is tightened: "The NBA on Jan. 1 began withholding income tax from its referees to account for the two complimentary tickets they get per game.... Players say they are angry that about $10,000 will be withheld from their paychecks for what is supposed to be a fringe benefit...."
But players are not going to stand for this: "They can keep the tickets," said Jerry Stackhouse of the Dallas Mavericks "Maybe I can get a better deal on the Internet."
