Let the Players Play...Let the Referees Ref

After the past couple of weeks full of ejections, technical fouls, and the subsequent analysis of the questionable plays and the player/coach/referee reactions, it's time to make a statement:

LET IT GO

Just think about what's wrong with sports here:

• When the analysis on technical fouls takes up more air time on SportsCenter than the highlights of the game itself, then something is wrong with sports.
• When Jim Leyland's "saw what you saw" bit is heard more than the strikeout in question, then something is wrong with sports.
• When equal punishment is given on court to a coach saying "c'mon Eddie" as a player throwing a two-armed slam to an opponent's head, then something is wrong with sports.
• When players feel the need to argue every single ruling an official makes during a game, and thus seven-year-old kids now are seen kicking dirt on umpires while saying a call is wrong, then something is wrong with sports.

So, let me say why sports and the sports publishing powers that be are again making me rather frustrated. EVERYBODY is to blame.


OFFICIALS

Let's start with the officials, and let's start with the good that they have done through these controversial encounters. First, let me say that I do not envy sports officials at all. I could never do what they do, taking the criticism and craziness of coaches, fans, and players. They are so mistreated (by myself as well) that it's no wonder why local referees and umpires are limited in numbers. In the events of the past two weeks, even in cases where instant replay has proven a call to be incorrect, refs/umpires have stood their ground and passionately made the call as they are supposed to do. They follow the rules of the game, call it as they see it (be it right or wrong), and straight up do their job. In a current world where each call is scrutinized, especially with the assistance of a dozen super-slow-mo cameras, these humans do a great job.

Now, for the bad - LET THE PLAYERS PLAY THE GAME!  Sports is so filled with passion, and it's being taken out of the game. A player does the right thing by walking away from a call that he doesn't agree with. Result: technical foul. A coach says "c'mon" when he thought a play should have been an and-one. Result: technical foul. A coach argues a call, goes back to the dugout. Result: ejection THREE MINUTES after he's stopped arguing the call. I don't agree with keeping the players from playing the game, especially when punishment for saying "c'mon" is the same as smashing a players head going for a shot.

PLAYERS

Again, start with the good. They play with passion, which I have no problem with at all. They want to win the game. Hello?!? You play to win the game!

But the bad - JUST PLAY THE GAME! Let the officials control the game. Don't go thrusting your chest out and bump a ref. In fact, just stay away from them. Do like Ray Allen did, just walk away. Don't say anything, don't shake your head. Let your coaches do their job of discussing a ruling. Let the officials do their job of ruling on the game. You do your job of playing, and shut up.

 

I agree you can't show up a referee, especially physically contacting him. But this is

equally as punishable as a two-armed smackdown?

COACHES

Advocating for your players is a great thing. I will never criticize a coach for doing so. But do it properly. Yelling at an umpire? Screaming profanities at a referee? That's not how you do it. Make your point, say what you need to say, and get out of there. Many do exactly this.

Here's what not to do: talk about it off of the field/court. What Leyland said is borderline acceptable for me. He said he would not discuss it, he said he would not criticize an umpire, and he said the analysts should talk about it. He said the media should make the umps "accountable" for the missed call. I'm glad he didn't go and call out an umpire, but encouraging the media to do so for him? C'mon now! (oops, I just got a technical foul for that)

ANALYSTS

Good - They are talking about things that....you know what, no, there's nothing good that came from an analyst during this past couple of weeks. The only possible good is saying that the number of technical fouls is way too high. But, like Mike Ditka on Monday Night, keep it to a few seconds and a "C'mon Man!" (and now I just got my second technical and I'm ejected...great...) and end it.



Bad - STOP CRITIQUING EVERY SINGLE CALL THAT IS MADE! GO OUT THERE YOURSELF AND MAKE THAT CALL! WITHOUT THE MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING AND THE ASSISTANCE OF SLOW-MO REPLAYS FROM TWENTY DIFFERENT ANGLES! oh, and know the full rules before you try to argue a call too (yes, I've heard wrong analysis for five straight SportsCenter episodes through the night on many occasions, especially on some of the smaller sports where the analysts obviously don't know the sport beyond its name and object).

But, most importantly, keep your eye on the ball. You are on SPORTScenter. Talk about the SPORTS. Don't focus your attention on the officiating. You're first off just trying to put more pressure on the officials in an already painstakingly pressure-filled position. Second, you're teaching youngsters out there watching your show that it's normal and correct to argue a call with an ump. Third, do you really think an official cares about what some quack is saying? If they are listening, they're laughing. But lastly, you ruin the game by talking about its officiating more than the game itself. Make your point and get off of the stage. After that, you're just putting the attention on yourself. Good for you.

 

I've been a player. I've gotten mad at a call and wanted to scream.  But I never did something to try to challenge the authority of an official. I never screamed at an official, but I did get an umpire to scream at me because I asked him a question!

We all are to blame here. Phil Wellman got mad, took physical
action. A player took action earlier in this game, was ejected.
The umpires did not control the game or the players or the
coaches. The media then makes it legendary by playing this
video over and over, to the point that this image is right up
top for the Google Search "baseball grenade coach."

I've been a coach. I've constantly questioned a call on the field. I once asked for clarification on a call. I asked nicely, and was answered nicely. It's not that difficult.

I've been a referee (though in very minor qualities and quantities). I got yelled at during that short time as an official (I was actually in sixth grade officiating a fourth grade basketball game, and fans and coaches yelled at me. nice huh?). I was hesitant to make a couple of calls. But once a call was made, it was made, and time to move on. Don't have any other choice.

I've been an analyst. I got mad at an umpire (Jim Joyce, Jerry Meals). I was mad because my team was taken out of a chance to win thanks to Jerry Meals, and I was extremely disappointed after the Jim Joyce mistake. I reacted immediately (like a coach/player would in the situation) and then afterwards looked at it again and realized that hey it happens. I've made my point here, analyzing players, coaches, officials, and analysts. I've made my point, now I'm done.