RANT: Complaints about officials

[Warhammer]

Specifically, I hate people who say that officials are calling a game too tight. I've played plenty of games, and in any sport, you get an idea of how the game is going to be called in the first 5 minutes, and you respond accordingly.

Why should a foul be called one game, and not in another? For that matter, why should a play be called a foul for the first 99% of the game be a foul, but not be called in the last few seconds of a game? If anything, the crime is not calling the foul at the end of the game. By not calling a foul that you called earlier in the game, you are giving the game to the side that is committing the foul!

I actually wish most sports were called tighter. After a few weeks of calling games tight, players would get the message and stop fouling as much.

[miami_fan]

Specifically, I hate people who say that officials are calling a game too tight. I've played plenty of games, and in any sport, you get an idea of how the game is going to be called in the first 5 minutes, and you respond accordingly.

Why should a foul be called one game, and not in another? For that matter, why should a play be called a foul for the first 99% of the game be a foul, but not be called in the last few seconds of a game? If anything, the crime is not calling the foul at the end of the game. By not calling a foul that you called earlier in the game, you are giving the game to the side that is committing the foul!

I actually wish most sports were called tighter. After a few weeks of calling games tight, players would get the message and stop fouling as much.

The refs should not be calling the game "tight" or "loose". They should be calling the game in accordance with the rulebook. The problems occur when they call the game "tight" or "loose"

[Warhammer]

The refs should not be calling the game "tight" or "loose". They should be calling the game in accordance with the rulebook. The problems occur when they call the game "tight" or "loose"

I'll agree with that statement, however, typical connotation for calling a game "tight" now, means they are calling it by the rulebook.

[miami_fan]

I'll agree with that statement, however, typical connotation for calling a game "tight" now, means they are calling it by the rulebook.
I don't agree with that connotation. I would use this Mavs-Suns game tonight as an example. I felt like there was a difference in the way this game was called in comparison to the first five games. I think it was called "tighter" because of the jawing that went on between Dirk and Tim and the refs decided that they were going to eliminate that early in the game. That is all well and good but they did call the game differently. I also think they called the game differently in the second half when compared to the first half. Maybe the players made an adjustment however IMO the refs "loosened" up in the second half.

I've played plenty of games, and in any sport, you get an idea of how the game is going to be called in the first 5 minutes, and you respond accordingly.

This again point to the problem. If the refs consistantly followed the rulebook, then the players coaches and fans would know before the game even starts how the game will be called.

[oykib]

The NBA is a joke. They expect their officials to 'manage' games. What the hell is that?

It's the only major sport where a refs decision can put points on the board. And they really take advantage of it. It's no wonder that everybody's brother has an NBA conspiracy theory.

[gstelmack]

The problem in the NHL and NBA really lies with refs who call some penalties "tight" and some "loose" within the same game, which can have a direct impact on the outcome based on team playing styles even if the game is called "consistently".