{{Short description|American basketball referee (born 1955)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = Deacon | name = Steve Javie | image = Steve Javie (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Javie in 2011 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|1|17}} | birth_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = [[Temple University]]<br />([[Bachelor's degree]], 1976) | spouse = Mary-ellen | parents = [[Stan Javie|Stan]] and Stella | children = | module = {{Infobox basketball biography|embed=yes | position = [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] referee | referee_start = 1986 | referee_end = 2011 }} }} '''Steve Javie''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|t|iː|v|ˈ|dʒ|æ|v|iː}}; born January 17, 1955) is an American retired professional [[Official (basketball)|basketball referee]] who is currently an analyst with ESPN and a [[Catholic permanent deacon]].<ref name=NBRA>{{cite web|title=Steve Javie #29|url=http://www.probasketballrefs.com/Default.aspx?tabid=97|publisher=National Basketball Referees Association|year=2006|access-date=May 29, 2007}}</ref> He refereed in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) from the 1986–87 NBA season to the 2010–11 season, officiating 1,514 regular season, 243 [[NBA Playoffs|playoff]], and 23 [[NBA Finals]] games (a total of 1,780 games); he is one of few NBA referees to officiate 1,000 games.<ref name=NPASHF>{{cite web |title=Steve Javie |url=http://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/steve-javie/ |website=National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=August 23, 2020}}</ref> According to ''Referee'' magazine, Javie was a highly regarded referee in the NBA, and he was respected within the officiating community for his game management skills.<ref name=referee>{{Cite news|title=Steve Javie: One Stand-Up Guy | url=http://www.probasketballrefs.com/Portals/0/Documents/PDF/SteveJavie.pdf|magazine= Referee |last=Simon |first=Dave |date=May 2008 |pages=30–33}}</ref> He was also notable during his NBA officiating career for his quickness in assessing [[technical foul]]s.<ref name=referee/>
Prior to his NBA career, he played and graduated from [[La Salle College High School]]. He later played [[baseball]] for [[Temple University]] from 1974 to 1976 and later was an [[umpire (baseball)|umpire]] in the [[Florida State League]] (Class-A) from 1978 to 1981. Transitioning to basketball, he officiated in the [[Continental Basketball Association]] (CBA) from 1981 to 1986.
==Personal== ===Early life=== Steve Javie was born on January 17, 1955, in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]],<ref name=NBRA/> to Stan and Stella Javie.<ref name=referee/> During his childhood, he attended and later graduated from [[La Salle College High School]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], where he played baseball, [[American football|football]], and [[basketball]], earning All-League honors in baseball and basketball.<ref name=NBRA/> Following high school, he continued a baseball career at [[Temple University]].<ref name=NBRA/> He graduated from the university in 1976<ref name=NBRA /> with a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[business administration]].<ref name=SI>{{cite magazine|title=No More Mr. T |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1020845/1/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530201926/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1020845/1/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2009|last=McCallum|first=Jack|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=October 30, 2000|access-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> As a [[prospect (sports)|prospect]] in baseball, Javie signed with the [[Baltimore Orioles]] minor league organization.<ref name=NBRA /> He was released from the Orioles minor league system (Class-A)<ref name=SI /> after one year due to an arm injury suffered as a [[pitcher]].<ref name=referee />
===Family=== Steve Javie's father, [[Stan Javie]], was also a sports [[official]].<ref name=NBRA /> Stan Javie worked in the [[National Football League]] from 1951 to 1980 as a field judge and back judge, and was assigned to officiate four [[Super Bowl]]s.<ref name=referee /> In an interview with ''Referee'' magazine, Steve Javie described his father as "a guy you'd go to war with. He had a passion. He was probably the official that everyone strives to be, but can't, because you have to be yourself. I can't be a Stan Javie and you can't be, but if you took all the characteristics and makeup, you'd want to be that kind of official."<ref name=referee /> His [[godparent|godfather]], [[John Stevens (baseball umpire)|Johnny Stevens]], was an [[American League]] umpire<ref name=NBRA /> and worked four [[World Series]] in a career that spanned from 1948 to 1975.<ref name=retrosheet>{{cite web|title=Johnny Stevens |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/S/Pstevj901.htm |publisher=[[Retrosheet]] |access-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref>
Javie resides in [[Blue Bell, Pennsylvania]].<ref name=NBRA /> He is married to Mary-ellen, whom he met in 1990 at the [[Philadelphia International Airport]], where she was employed.<ref name=referee /> The couple was married in August 1991.<ref name=referee />
===Charity=== Along with his wife, Steve Javie started the Javie Foundation for Charity to raise money for the [[homeless]], [[disabled]], [[physical abuse|abused]] and neglected children.<ref name=NBRA /> He hosts an annual fundraising [[golf]] tournament to support a variety of causes in the [[Delaware Valley|Philadelphia metropolitan area]].<ref name=referee /> The two-day event, which also includes a [[dinner]], [[dance]], and [[silent auction]], has raised [[US$]]1 million since its inception.<ref name=referee />
In 2007, he participated in a summer clinic at [[Don Guanella High School]] in [[Springfield Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Springfield, Pennsylvania]], along with four other NBA officials, teaching developmentally delayed boys the rules of basketball and how to signal violations.<ref name=Whistling>{{cite news|title=Whistling While They Work |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/06/AR2007080601585.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Lee|first=Michael|date=August 7, 2007|access-date=May 20, 2008}}</ref>
==Baseball umpire== After his baseball playing career was over at age 22, Javie began working at [[Johnson & Johnson]] in their baby products line.<ref name=referee /> Becoming uninterested in his job at Johnson & Johnson, he decided to pursue an occupation within sports, and became a baseball umpire in 1978.<ref name=referee /> Having no prior experience as an arbiter, Javie attended an umpire school operated by [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) umpire [[Bill Kinnamon]].<ref name=referee /> Upon completion of training, he was selected to work in the Florida State League.<ref name=referee /> Looking to be promoted to the Class-AA [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]], he was denied entrance into the league due to scheduling conflicts and later a players' [[strike action|strike]].<ref name=referee /> In June 1981, after two and a half years in the Florida State League, Javie left the organization over disagreements with executives due to the lack of promotion opportunities, and being forced to split from an experienced umpire crew that included [[Jerry Layne]], who later worked in the major leagues.<ref name=referee /><ref name=SI />
==Basketball referee== ===CBA career=== While serving as an umpire, Javie had officiated basketball games at the [[high school]] level in [[Pennsylvania]] during the baseball off-season.<ref name=NBRA /><ref name=SI /> In addition, he was invited to NBA camps for prospective officials.<ref name=referee /> Within a week of return home following the end of his umpiring career, Javie contacted his father's friend, NBA referee [[Earl Strom]], who assisted Javie in reaching then-CBA supervisor Cecil Watkins about the possibility of working in the CBA.<ref name=referee /> After officiating games in Philadelphia's Baker League, he was hired by the CBA in the fall of 1981.<ref name=referee /> He arrived to the CBA with a "baseball mentality" and had to make quick decisions on the court because of the league's reputation for fighting among players and arguing by coaches.<ref name=SI /> During a game at [[Washington Avenue Armory|The Armory]] in [[Albany, New York]], Javie was chased down a staircase by then-[[Albany Patroons]] coach [[Phil Jackson]], who had received a technical foul.<ref name= SI/> He worked CBA games for five years before being hired by the NBA in 1986.<ref name=SI />
===NBA career=== ====Early years==== Upon arriving in the NBA, Javie developed a reputation early for having a "quick trigger finger",<ref name=referee /> and he was believed to be one of the league leaders in calling technical fouls during the late 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name=SI /> Reflecting on his early years in the league, Javie told ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' in October 2000, "I'd get so mad I'd lose control for two or three minutes, and that's when I would miss calls."<ref name=SI /> Javie developed [[mentorship]]s with referees [[Joe Crawford (basketball, born 1951)|Joe Crawford]]<ref name=Arehart>{{cite web| last =Arehart| first =Jim| title =Being Joe Crawford| publisher =Referee| date =May 2004| url =http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers0504/free_joecrawford.html| access-date =May 29, 2007| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070523112929/http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers0504/free_joecrawford.html| archive-date =May 23, 2007}}</ref> and Jack Madden<ref name= SI /> to assist in the maturation process. Working his debut game with Crawford at the [[Pontiac Silverdome]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], Javie received a grade of 40 points out of 100 by supervisor [[Darell Garretson]].<ref name=SI /> While reviewing game film later at the [[hotel]], Crawford noted errors made throughout the game by himself.<ref name=Arehart /> As a result of this film study, Javie learned that experienced officials make mistakes and admitting error will improve a referee's ability in the long-term.<ref name=Arehart /> Ninety minutes after the conclusion of a game, Javie reviews game film.<ref name=SI /> In addition to film review, Madden taught Javie not to lose focus when players and coaches were upset, and to walk away from them rather than becoming angry.<ref name= SI/> Javie credited his mentors for success as a referee saying, "My mentors have made me what I am today. I'm a little part of each of them. It's their success in teaching me."<ref name=referee />
Javie had an on-court incident during the [[1990–91 NBA season]] in a game between the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] and [[Washington Bullets]].<ref name= SI/> Bullets' forward [[Pervis Ellison]] threw the ball at referee [[Billy Spooner]]<ref name=SI /> prompting Javie to run across the court to impose a technical foul on Ellison.<ref name=Foul>{{cite news|title=Foul Called on Referee|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7D71231F932A25757C0A967958260|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=April 11, 1991|access-date=May 31, 2007}}</ref> In the sequence of events that followed, Javie ejected Ellison after protesting the call,<ref name=Foul /> the Bullets' [[head coach]] [[Wes Unseld]] for protesting the dismissal of Ellison, and the Bullets' [[mascot]], "Hoops", for making gestures to incite the crowd.<ref name=SI /> [[Rod Thorn]], then the NBA's vice president for operations, ruled that Javie overreacted in ejecting Ellison and would be subject to discipline.<ref name=Foul /> The extent of the disciplinary action was not disclosed.<ref name=Foul /> Javie reflected on the experience saying, "My fatal mistake was getting involved with Billy [Spooner] and Pervis [Ellison] in the first place. You have to be there for your partners, but most of the time you've got to let them call their game."<ref name=SI />
Nearly three years later in another game involving the Portland Trail Blazers, Trail Blazers [[radio]] [[color commentator|broadcast analyst]] [[Mike Rice (basketball)|Mike Rice]] was ejected by Javie for disputing calls from his broadcast position.<ref name=Rice>{{cite news|title=Wild Rice|url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=28801|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317192742/http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=28801|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2007|last=Eggers|first=Kerry|newspaper=[[Portland Tribune]]|date=March 15, 2005|access-date=May 29, 2007}}</ref>
During the [[2002–03 NBA season]], Javie was fined $1,000 by the league for a verbal altercation with [[Pat Riley]], then-head coach of the [[Miami Heat]].<ref name=Stein>{{cite news|title=Referee Stafford received two-game a suspension|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nba/columns/stein_marc/1514733.html|last=Stein|first=Marc|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=February 26, 2003|access-date=March 8, 2009}}</ref>
In April 2003, Javie was the referee in [[Michael Jordan]]'s final game of his fifteen-year NBA career.<ref name=Jordan>{{cite news|title=Snapshots of a legend's last game|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nba/s/2003/0416/1540096.html|last=Drehs|first=Wayne|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=April 16, 2003|access-date=March 8, 2009}}</ref> During a game break towards the end of regulation, Javie congratulated Jordan on his career and told him he was a "class act".<ref name=Jordan /> Javie then turned around and told the younger players on the court, "You could do a lot worse than modeling yourselves after this guy."<ref name=Jordan />
====Income tax evasion trial==== In January 1999, Javie was the only one of fifteen referees to be acquitted<ref name=referee /> of [[tax evasion]] charges as a result of not reporting income he received by downgrading [[airline ticket]]s provided by the league.<ref name=tax>{{cite news |title=Referee Acquitted Of Tax Charges |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E0DF1730F934A25752C0A96F958260 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 17, 1999 | access-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> Other referees were sentenced to [[probation]] or a period of [[house arrest]], and ordered to pay the taxes.<ref name=tax /> He fought the charges because he believed he did not intentionally do anything wrong.<ref name=referee /> Discussing the trial, Javie told ''Referee'' magazine, "My job is about my name. My dad taught me your name is the most important thing. I had to fight for my name."<ref name=referee /> During the trial, Javie argued that he didn't owe taxes on more than $84,000 in income over three years because the money was value-earned from [[frequent flyer miles]], which are non-taxable.<ref name=referee /> He later described the trial as "the hardest two weeks" of his life.<ref name=referee />
====Retirement==== Javie announced his retirement before the beginning of the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/6977679/steve-javie-veteran-nba-referee-retiring-25-seasons | title=Steve Javie retiring as NBA referee | first=Ric | last=Bucher | date=16 September 2011 | access-date=2011-09-16}}</ref>
On June 22, 2017, Javie was one of four new inductees into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan. He was the recipient of Sports Faith International's Father Smyth Award on May 22, 2021.
He is a [[Deacon#Latin Catholicism|permanent deacon]] in the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sfint.org/|title=The Inductees |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref>
===Media career=== In June 2012, it was announced that Javie would join ''[[NBA on ESPN]]'', serving as a [[rules analyst]] working marquee games during the season and throughout the [[NBA Playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ball-dont-lie/steve-javie-serve-referee-analyst-espn-once-applauding-171624209--nba.html | title=Steve Javie will serve as referee analyst for ESPN, and for once we're applauding the ref | first=Kelly| last=Dwyer | access-date=2012-06-12}}</ref> Javie also appears on ESPN programming to discuss controversial referee occurrences.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.probasketballrefs.com National Basketball Referees Association]
{{Good article}} {{NBA on ABC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Javie, Steve}} [[Category:NBA referees]] [[Category:1955 births]] [[Category:ESPN people]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Philadelphia]] [[Category:Temple University alumni]] [[Category:American people of Polish descent]]