Four-time Presidential candidate Ralph Nader is in equal parts phenomenally prescient and, to some, downright infuriating. Nader's Presidential runs - in 2008 he's running as an independent -- are regarded by many Democrats as quixotic gestures that only detract, in key states, from the party's vote totals.

Still, Ralph runs. And though Nader's contributions to American consumer advocacy are unparalleled, he is blamed, perhaps unfairly, for causing the electoral failure of the Democrats in 2000. Nader, in his own defense, has always blamed former Vice President Al Gore for beating Al Gore. In 2004, The Nation, usually a Nader fellow traveler, asked him not to run for the Presidency. Nader, as ever resistant to media pressure, even from his own quadrant, ignored them. This same campaign gave us that iconic media moment where Nader, who looked to be enjoying himself immensely, flanked by Bill Maher and Michael Moore (see above), fended off the entreaties to not run in 2004. Nader did anyway.

Now Nader is taking on the NBA and the integrity of its officiating. The perennial Presidential candidate's involvement in the national conversation on NBA refereeing began in earnest in 2002. The consumer advocate and basketball fan, who watched the game six years ago, thought there was something fishy in the officiating. This week Tim Donaghy, a disgraced ex-referee, alleged that the controversial Game 6 of the 2002 Lakers-Kings playoff series was affected by two of the three referees. And while NBA commissioner David Stern has denied the allegations, Nader sees a conflict of interest. From ESPN:

"'There should be a non-partisan commission and an independent review,' Nader said. 'David Stern has a conflict of interest.'

"Nader said he did speak to Stern in 2002 about reviewing the Kings-Lakers game, but he simply got lip service from the commissioner.

"'He was a bit standoffish,' Nader said. 'He said they'd look into it, but it was really a whitewash.'"

Check out Nader's June 2002 letter for NBA Commissioner David Stern that led to their meeting here.

[image: Monthly Review]