I couldn't tell the proximity or distance of either ref, one calling a blocking foul on James and the other calling charging on Durant. But as I saw the play commence, there was no doubt in my mind that the blocking call was correct. I don't know about all the sports talk dudes who discussed the call the next day, but in real time it was quite clear to me that James was moving when contact was made. That makes it a blocking foul on him. The replay made it even more apparent. The sports talkers believed that at any other point in the game, or in any other game, Durant is called for charging. This is nonsense given at least one of the refs called blocking immediately.
So the refs pretend there is a question about the restricted area so the rules say they go to the tape. There was never any real question that James was outside the restricted area. It was just a ruse to settle the question since both refs were convinced of what they saw. Again, not really seeing where they were when they made their respective calls, who knows? But they abused a rule in order to see the tape and the tape showed James was moving.
I thought I heard someone, and it could have actually been while the play was being discussed by the announcers and analysts, that moving doesn't matter. But that's not true. And James was clearly moving, even without benefit of the replay to confirm.
Everybody is saying the Cleveland was robbed, because without the replay, the charge call, which I guess was the call on the floor, would have stood and should have. But here's the truth: if the roles were reversed, and it was James going to the rim and Durant defending, there is no way James would have been called for charging. This is a guy who routinely runs over defenders who are even moving away from him, trying to avoid contact. He could be called for charging two or three times per game on average, and when he is called for charging, he whines.
So for anyone who believes the game was stolen because of this call, go wet yourself. Try scoring more points next time or prevent being scored upon, then these calls won't matter.
As for replays, I hate 'em. Never wanted them to be employed in any sport I watch. That is to say, not for the purpose of correcting or confirming calls. Whiners whine about not wanting a game decided by a bad call. Again, play better. Score more. Ensure that the other team scores less. No one likes a call to go against them whether the call is right or wrong. To blame a loss on the refs is wussy stuff. Suck it up. You weren't good enough. The refs had nothing to do with it.
3 comments:
I’m divided on this. On the one hand, there is a sense in which the human element of the fallibility of officials is a part of the game. On the other hand, I watched my Chiefs get bounced from the playoffs on multiple bad calls by an official who should not have been officiating a playoff game.
I do believe that poor officiating dishonors and devalues the hard work and effort of the athletes and that the lack of accountability for poor performance discredits the game.
It’s a tough call, but I think I tend toward erring on the side of making the correct call.
I get that, but in all sports, there are those calls which are not reviewable and thus cannot be overturned regardless of what the replay shows. I also agree that it sucks to lose games due to poor officiating, but that too can be rectified by hiring better officials, or fining the officials for bad calls. I think it is far more problematic to have the excuse of bad calls at the ready when the real reason a team loses is because they weren't good enough to make bad calls irrelevant.
I agree. In the case of the Chiefs playoff loss, the league intentionally used an inferior official and his made up calls were a factor in the outcome.
Of course better officials are part of the answer, but when the entire process of evaluating officials is secret, it’s hard to believe that there is a ton of effort put into it.
Ultimately, poor officiating devalues the time and effort of the athlete, and cheapens the game.
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