Cal Makes Another Run at Officials on Call-In Show

[Blue Heaven]

Or, the Officials (when in proper position) have a much better look at plays than Fans, Coaches and Announcers in attendance do. And even those of us watching on TV, only have close to the same view until we watch the replays. An official only has a split second to make a call, but we see plays over and over again, and we watch every game through Blue tinted glasses. I'm a Kentucky Fan, why do you think I wait a day or two to evaluate the officials? Because during the games I'm yelling at the officials like everybody else. Some of you accuse me of defending the officials. All I'm trying to do is explain why they call what they do, and if they're wrong I say so. Are Officials perfect? No, but in all the stats of a game, they have a much higher percent of perfection than any player or Coach.

I agree Lighthouse, but when some calls are just so obvious on replays, how can then can they not be in real time? Some replays it is easy to see that a call can go both ways. I saw a game the other night and the ref called the player out of bounds, but his feet were a good 8-10 inches from the line and the official was looking right at his feet.

[Blue Heaven]

Human error sure is a loose term. How do you explain that walking call against Poythress at Vandy? how do you explain all of the walking that doesn't get called when guys are making a handoff and take too many steps before delivering the ball? Or the walking that doesn't get called when guys constantly switch their pivot feet after receiving a pass and most of the time they aren't even pressured? I would call this two things. Blatant disregard for the rules or you just don't know basketball that well and you don't know what walking is. Officiating has made college ball unwatchable for me. If it wasn't for the cats, I would never turn it on.

When Louisville was playing UNC, Damion Lee received a pass out top. He caught the ball with one hand. While receiving the ball, he took two steps, one dribble, then hit a 3. It was an obvious walk that wasn't called. I agree that officiating has gotten worse through the years.

[Lighthouse]

Don and BH. I can't explain the obvious walks that are not called, and I don't like it either, and you're right, not making those calls has changed the game. Missed calls will be a part of the game as long as we watch it, but so will missed shots and bad passes. Missed calls are simply just missed calls, there is no agenda or intent to hurt and I wish we could get past that, but I guess that will be a part of the game too. We will always disagree on the walk call on Poythress.

[Joneslab]

Unpopular opinion, but the missed walking/palming calls don't bother me. I'm not a purist and think basketball needs to be played at a level where it's entertainment.

That's all this is really. Just entertainment. A diversion. Of course you can't let it become the And 1 Mixtape Tour, but I don't think it's such a filthy version of what it once was that it's unwatchable.

I watch clips from the '80s a lot and while that era was definitely more tightly called, it was also strange in how lax the defenses were. Watch a game from, say, 1984 and nobody is playing defense on the perimeter.

So in that way the game has improved. In athleticism and skill it's improved. I don't watch guys get away with walks and think, "God, I JUST CAN'T WATCH THIS."

But I do understand the purist's point of view I guess. But as a person who wouldn't ref a preschool basketball game in an empty gym, the missed calls don't move me one way or the other unless they begin to have a clear impact on the final outcome of the games.

[Lighthouse]

Unpopular opinion, but the missed walking/palming calls don't bother me. I'm not a purist and think basketball needs to be played at a level where it's entertainment.

That's all this is really. Just entertainment. A diversion. Of course you can't let it become the And 1 Mixtape Tour, but I don't think it's such a filthy version of what it once was that it's unwatchable.

I watch clips from the '80s a lot and while that era was definitely more tightly called, it was also strange in how lax the defenses were. Watch a game from, say, 1984 and nobody is playing defense on the perimeter.

So in that way the game has improved. In athleticism and skill it's improved. I don't watch guys get away with walks and think, "God, I JUST CAN'T WATCH THIS."

But I do understand the purist's point of view I guess. But as a person who wouldn't ref a preschool basketball game in an empty gym, the missed calls don't move me one way or the other unless they begin to have a clear impact on the final outcome of the games.

The NBA is all about entertainment, and only in the 4th quarter does competition come into play. Unfortunately the competition that used to be a priority at the college level, is fading fast.

Every time a player walks, palms or commits a foul, the final outcome of the game is affected. An advantage is gained that should not have been, and I think the game is somewhat decided on every play.

[Joneslab]

The NBA is all about entertainment.

It's all entertainment.

What is college basketball? Art? Culture?

Sports can teach life lessons, but it isn't about life lessons. When you turn on the television or go to a game or PLAY a game what you're doing is essentially something productive to provide an outlet for yourself and for the people who pay for that ticket.

The officials have to keep the rules, and that's important because if not for rules the game becomes chaotic and anti-entertainment, but this is still a game meant for enjoyment just like croquet and squash and pickleball.

[Lighthouse]

It's all entertainment.

What is college basketball? Art? Culture?

Sports can teach life lessons, but it isn't about life lessons. When you turn on the television or go to a game or PLAY a game what you're doing is essentially something productive to provide an outlet for yourself and for the people who pay for that ticket.

The officials have to keep the rules, and that's important because if not for rules the game becomes chaotic and anti-entertainment, but this is still a game meant for enjoyment just like croquet and squash and pickleball.

And I agree with all you say. However when I played ball, and that's been a long time, HS and College was all about competition. Like when I coached at The Cabbage Patch, it was used to teach young folks about sportsmanship and other aspects of life and learning. The game has certainly passed those priorities by a whole lot, and what you say is true, today it's all about entertainment and dollars. The game I grew up with, will never be again and that's a shame.

[Joneslab]

I think it's competition for the sake of entertainment, and for the lessons you can learn.

But let's face it: sports is a flawed model when you're talking life lessons. We use all this lofty rhetoric about sports and valor and sacrifice for the team, but why is it that when you look at star athletes they're often turds. (Not always, of course.) So if they're supposed to learn lessons then many of them are failing.

Basketball was created as a physical education tool because the students were bored and couldn't go outside, so Naismith hung peach baskets. It really is as simplistic as that. It was important to me when I played, but it's just as important when I take my kids to watch because I believe there's a massive amount of value in pastimes and traditions and having fun on Tuesday nights while you watch the Cats as a family.

[Lighthouse]

I think it's competition for the sake of entertainment, and for the lessons you can learn.

But let's face it: sports is a flawed model when you're talking life lessons. We use all this lofty rhetoric about sports and valor and sacrifice for the team, but why is it that when you look at star athletes they're often turds. (Not always, of course.) So if they're supposed to learn lessons then many of them are failing.

Basketball was created as a physical education tool because the students were bored and couldn't go outside, so Naismith hung peach baskets. It really is as simplistic as that. It was important to me when I played, but it's just as important when I take my kids to watch because I believe there's a massive amount of value in pastimes and traditions and having fun on Tuesday nights while you watch the Cats as a family.

Family traditions, is there anything more enjoyable? I Love to watch games with any family members. either live or on TV.

Star athletes many times are jerks. I think some of this is because of their upbringing. I remember a star athlete at a local HS, who was thought to be the son of a prominent local college player. When he was under the "hands on" direction of his HS coach, he was fine. As soon as he graduated, things went downhill, and his lack of discipline put him in prison.