Bad Officiating

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Don’t be foolish and blame the Warriors’ Game 4 loss on the officials

Referee John Goble and Draymond Green discuss the confusion of the technical foul calls. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

We can all agree that last night’s NBA Finals game was some of the worst officiating in recent memory.

There were the confusing technical foul assessments that nobody knew about. There was also LeBron James and Kevin Durant being allowed to jaw at each other for way longer than they should have. There was also the confusion of Zaza Pachulia and if he did take a swipe at J.R. Smith’s crotch. There was also the seemingly insane amount of foul calls that leaned toward the Cavaliers’ side early on.

It was bad.

But that is not why the Warriors lost.

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Here is the problem with the Draymond Green suspension

When the NBA handed Draymond Green a one-game suspension for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, I was baffled by the decision. This is the accumulation of four flagrant fouls, which the league deemed was worthy after what happened above.

The officials didn’t rule it that way during the game and it only came after nearly two days of reviewing.

“The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game,” NBA Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said in statement. “While Draymond Green’s actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a standalone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for Game 5.”

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NBA officiating continues to be confusing

So instead of a 105-102 game with a free throw coming up for the Raptors to cut into the lead, somehow, someway, Kyle Lowry was called for an offensive foul.

Can someone explain this to me? His shooting motion was a normal motion and he did not appear to stick his leg out intentionally to draw contact.

And of course with a BS call, such a reaction is warranted. Giving him a technical for that is ridiculous. Lowry knows the officials are out to get him. This is embarrassing.

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I understand why the referees said Ahmad Brooks clotheslined Drew Brees

Take a look at this GIF. The play resulted in a fumble by Drew Brees and recover by the 49ers. However, the officials ruled that Ahmad Brooks contacted with Brees’ neck, thus negating the turnover.

I don’t see it that way. But apparently not everyone agrees with me.

Clearly? Not so. Brooks’ shoulder hits Brees’ shoulder. Brooks’ arm connects with Brees’ chest. Contact with the neck? Nope.

Of course the league rules state that contact can’t be made to the “neck area” but if that’s the case, where does the neck area begin? Apparently the shoulder and chest is part of the “neck area.”

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The umpires in the Astros-Angels game have been disciplined

Finally! Some accountability! But it’s still sad that the umpires this week have shown that they are not equipped for this job.

HardballTalk

Relatively unprecedented. From MLB:

Umpire Fieldin Culbreth, the crew chief in Thursday night’s game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, has received a two-game suspension and a fine for the misapplication of Official Baseball Rule 3.05(b) in the top of the seventh inning, Major League Baseball announced today.

The other members of Culbreth’s crew – Brian O’Nora, Bill Welke and Adrian Johnson – have received fines stemming from the same sequence of events … Culbreth’s two-game suspension will be served at a date to be determined by the Office of the Commissioner.

We’ve heard that sometimes umpires get disciplined, but it’s rarely if ever publicized like this.  Good for baseball for doing the right thing.

 

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MLB’s statement on Angel Hernandez’s blown call on Adam Rosales homer brings no solution

How is this not a home run?

In case you missed it last night, the A’s were down to their final out and what appeared to be a game-tying home run was ruled a double, despite the umpire crew going to instant replay and upholding their original call.

All replays show that the ball hit the railing behind the wall. That is a home run. Angel Hernandez, the crew chief, says it was inconclusive. But it was very conclusive.

Here’s MLB’s statement on the matter via Joe Torre.

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There’s too much fear for officials in the NBA to make the right call

It takes courage to make the right call? What do you mean it takes courage? It’s their job to make the right call.

Here’s my problem. The right call is calling that foul. It doesn’t matter if it was Kobe Bryant. You don’t cost a team the opportunity to tie the game just because of reputation.

I know this has gone on long before today in the NBA but lately, the officiating has been really bad. And to say that an official has to have courage to do the right thing? That is absurd when the foul is so clear. I’m really embarrassed about this. No player is bigger than the game.