21 Facts About Steve Javie

Steve Javie was notable during his NBA officiating career for his quickness in assessing technical fouls.

Steve Javie later played baseball for Temple University from 1974 to 1976 and later was an umpire in the Florida State League from 1978 to 1981.

Steve Javie was born on January 17,1955, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Stan and Stella Javie.

Steve Javie graduated from the university in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Steve Javie was released from the Orioles minor league system after one year due to an arm injury suffered as a pitcher.

Stan Steve 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 Bowls.

Steve Javie was probably the official that everyone strives to be, but can't, because you have to be yourself.

Steve Javie is married to Mary-ellen, whom he met in 1990 at the Philadelphia International Airport, where she was employed.

In June 1981, after two and a half years in the Florida State League, Steve 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.

Steve Javie 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.

Steve Javie worked CBA games for five years before being hired by the NBA in 1986.

Bullets' forward Pervis Ellison threw the ball at referee Billy Spooner prompting Steve Javie to run across the court to impose a technical foul on Ellison.

Rod Thorn, then the NBA's vice president for operations, ruled that Steve Javie overreacted in ejecting Ellison and would be subject to discipline.

In January 1999, Steve Javie was the only one of fifteen referees to be acquitted of tax evasion charges as a result of not reporting income he received by downgrading airline tickets provided by the league.

Steve Javie fought the charges because he believed he did not intentionally do anything wrong.

Steve Javie later described the trial as "the hardest two weeks" of his life.

On June 22,2017, Steve Javie was one of four new inductees into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan.

Steve Javie was the recipient of Sports Faith International's Father Smyth Award on May 22,2021.

Steve Javie is a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church.

In June 2012, it was announced that Steve Javie would join NBA on ESPN, serving as a rules analyst working marquee games during the season and throughout the NBA Playoffs.

Steve Javie appears on ESPN programming to discuss controversial referee occurrences.