Just in time for the NBA Finals starting tomorrow on ABC & ESPN Radio, the "Worldwide Leader" has hired a retired NBA referee to provide insight for the upcoming Heat/Thunder series.

Much like FOX Sports has utilized the services of former NFL V.P. of Officiating Mike Pereira during its popular "FOX NFL Sunday" pregame and available at any time during the "NFL on FOX" broadcasts from the network's studios in Los Angeles, ESPN/ABC has now done the same with the hiring of retired NBA official Steve Javie for the Heat/Thunder NBA Final starting tomorrow in Oklahoma City.

According to Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch, Javie, who officiated for 25 years but a bad knee forced him to retire, will join the foursome of Mike Wilbon, Chris Broussard, Earvin "Magic" Johnson & Jon Barry on ESPN on ABC's "KIA NBA Countdown" pregame 30 minutes before tipoff of each Finals' game as well as postgame coverage on the alphabet network. Javie will also provide analysis & clarity of any rules issue on "ESPN SportsCenter" as well.

Javie tells Deitsch that he was inspired by Pereira's work on the "NFL on FOX". Javie believes that Pereira has been "sensational" in trying to explain the NFL rule book to viewers, and ESPN Senior V.P. of Talent Development Laurie Orlando reached out to Steve to do a segment about officiating during the just concluded Celtics/Heat NBA Eastern Conference Final on "SportsCenter". ESPN/ABC bosses liked what Javie brought and have added him to the network's upcoming NBA Finals' coverage.

Considering that both Javie and Pereira are shameless apologists for the officiating in their respective sports, this is not terrible surprising.

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