Tuesday, February 12, 2019
We Wuz Robbed!!
I cannot
remember the first time that expression was used to describe an
unfavourable decision made by an umpire, a referee, or any other
adjudicating official.
It certainly
applies to the way that New Orleans Saints felt after their team lost
the Conference Championship against the Los Angeles Rams. As you will
recall, there was a blatant case of pass interference in the end zone
on a Saints' receiver. No call was made. The call could have been
made by at least two officials: the side judge, Gary Cavaletto, or
the back judge, Todd Prukop. No flags flew on that play.
A columnist
for USA Today, Mike Jones, reported after the game that Saints' coach
Sean Payton received an apology from the league. One can just imagine
how that would have been received. That play most certainly
determined the outcome of the game. The Rams are playing in the
SuperBowl this weekend. The Saints will be watching from the
sidelines.
Jones
suggested that a replay would have helped in that situation. League
rules currently do not allow replays on pass interference calls.
League officials have not allowed such a ruling because it might
lengthen the game too much. I am sure they will rethink this during
the off-season. The Canadian Football League does allow replays on
pass interference calls. Without question, the injustice that took
place against New Orleans would have been corrected in the CFL.
I know that
many of you have officiated at some time in your lives. There are
many situations where an interpretation must be made; however, with
the advent of spectacular television coverage, most incorrect calls
can be rectified.
Consider the
situations at first base in baseball. Was the batter safe or out? Was
the fielder's foot on the bag? Was the ball in his glove? Did he have
control of the ball? Did the runner touch the base before the ball
touched the fielder's glove? Before we had replays, the unwritten
rule was that “a tie went in favour of the runner”! Such is not
the case nowadays, as that fine line rarely exists. Most of the time,
the umpires are correct.
There is
nothing that drives us fans more crazy than incorrect calls on balls
and strikes. Television has designed “Strike Zones” to help the
viewer decide on calls. And then an umpire makes a blatant error when
he calls a pitch a ball, after it was thrown down the middle of the
plate. There is no restitution in that case. No replays on balls and
strikes. Pitchers complain, catchers howl, managers rush from the
dugout to protest. To no avail.
The National
Hockey League was wise to implement a two referee system for its
games. It is by no means perfect. It does cut down on the nasty
business “behind the play”. Too often, referees only caught
retaliatory measures taken by players. And the like of Bobby Clarke,
Ken Linseman and other pests skated away, smiling. The league no
longer has to rely on goal judges. All of that is now handled by
replay.
I did
referee basketball games years ago. Not today, thanks. Despite all of
their best efforts to clarify rules of players driving to the
basket, about half the time the calls are correct. Was in charging?
Was the defender stationary? Was the ball touched, and not the hand?
Was there body contact? Truly difficult decisions, even hard to
determine with the replays.
There is no
choice. The game is in the hands of the officials. And yes, the
replay officials as well.
James Hurst
January,
2019.
# posted by James Hurst @ 7:32 AM 
