Bennett Salvatore

Bennett Salvatore (born January 9, 1950, in Stamford, Connecticut) is a former professional basketball referee in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At his retirement after the 2014-15 NBA season, Salvatore had officiated 1,520 regular season games.

Early life Salvatore has lived his entire life in Stamford, Connecticut. He was a two sport athlete in high school, playing baseball and football.

Owner Salvatore was the principal owner of Bennett's, a steakhouse in Stamford, Connecticut. One of his most intense athletic rivals in Stamford, and a lifelong friend, is former MLB manager Bobby 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.

Income tax fraud 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 a New Haven federal court on July 26, 2000, to filing a false tax return with the Internal Revenue Service for the tax year 1993.