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Officiating...just Let it Be
When, where, and why did the “star” treatment begin?
by Kris Gardner who also talks hoops on KCOH AM 1430's Sports Rap.
May 2, 2005 --- posted 2:05 p.m.
Please tell me where it is written in the NBA rule book to “let the players decide the game in the final seconds”? In other words, Mr. or Ms. Ref, don’t blow your whistle let whatever happens, happen. Quite simply: “no blood, no foul.” My question: what’s wrong with simply making the correct call — no matter the time of the in the game?
With two seconds remaining in Game 4 of the Houston Rockets - Dallas Mavericks first round series, Rockets forward Tracy McGrady rebounded a missed free throw. Mavericks forward Josh Howard reached in and knocked the basketball off McGrady’s hands out of bounds.
Referee Luis Grillo made the correct call: Mavericks basketball.
Rockets fans were irate! After the game, McGrady boldly claimedthe ball didn’t touch him. (Replays clearly showed the ball going off McGrady’s hands. Heck, I saw theball go off T-Mac’s hands and I was sitting much further away than the ref.) Some people were asking fora foul to be called on Josh Howard for reaching in and making contact with McGrady. I believe Luis Grillo made the right call.
Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy believes the refs have it in for his center, Yao Ming, In fact,Van Gundy credits (and blames) Mavs team owner Mark Cuban for contacting the NBA’s League office which resulted in the NBA’s referees “to treat Yao differently than other players.”
Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman complained to the media, his players were getting beaten up by the SeattleSupersonics’ physical play. Where’s Big Chief Triangle, Phil Jackson, to add his two cents on the officiating and physical play? Phil was the master manipulator when complaining about the referees to the media.
Isn’t it ironic, Rockets fans were not complaining about the officiating when the Rockets won the first two games of the series — despite the fact the Mavs attempted 42 free throws in the Rockets’ Game 1 victory.
I don’t know why Yao Ming doesn’t get the “respect” from the referees the top players receive; but, why does “respect” have to be considered? What does respect have to do with a foul being called on the play? Respect is a key factor which gets referees in trouble. It is widely perceived star players “get the calls” because of their star (re: respect) status. Veterans “get the benefit of the doubt” over rookies, etc.
When, where, and why did the “star” treatment begin?
I’m still amazed at the amount of griping and bitching everyone does about officiating. I am not saying the refs are perfect by any means. They make mistakes; but, they also make the correct calls more than people are willing to admit.
The viewpoint of fans’, coaches’, and players’ is skewed anyway. No one wants to see a call go against them and in favor of the opponent. Coaches and players always say, “We don’t want a foul call to decide a last second play. Let the players decide the outcome.” During thelast few seconds of a game, the refs usually “swallow the whistles”; however, as soon as one team feels “slighted” by a foul call or a non-call, that team cries and complains. You cannot have it both ways.
I don’t believe refs intentionally call things to favor one team over the other team; so, why should I feel like the sky is falling over a missed / blown call? Life is too short. The refs are human; so, they will make mistakes.
Accept the officiating like the Beatles’ song and simply “Let it Be.”
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