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Bennett Salvatore (born January 9, 1950, inStamford, Connecticut)[1] is a formerprofessional basketballreferee in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). At his retirement after the2014-15 NBA season, Salvatore had officiated 1,520 regular season games.[2]
Salvatore has lived his entire life inStamford, Connecticut. He was a two sport athlete inhigh school, playingbaseball andfootball.[1] He earnedAll-American and All-State honors as aquarterback in 1967 playing at C.W. Post.[1]
Salvatore became infamous with NBA fans for a key call againstDirk Nowitzki in Game 5 of the2006 NBA Finals, after which Dallas ownerMark Cuban held one of the angriest press conferences in NBA history, laying blame on Salvatore for his team's loss.[3]
Salvatore was the principal owner of Bennett's, asteakhouse inStamford, Connecticut.[4] One of his most intense athletic rivals in Stamford, and a lifelong friend, is formerMLB managerBobby 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]
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 aNew Haven federal court on July 26, 2000, to filing a false tax return with theInternal Revenue Service for the tax year 1993.[6]