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SPORTS Saturday 14 September 2019
Officiating woes are not monopolized by NFL

By BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer
While Saints fans must be
feeling picked on as NFL
game officials made an-
other error that damaged
them in the opener, it must
be noted that pro football
hardly has a monopoly on
officiating problems.
Yes, things have gotten
murky in that area in the
NFL, so much so that pass
interference now can be
challenged by coaches
and reviewed in video re-
play. Don’t underestimate
how big a step that was
for the league, though
when Commissioner Roger
Goodell seeks something,
he usually gets it.
Issues with NFL officiating
hardly are new. They get
more focus and grow more
controversial as TV technol-
ogy develops. But never for-
get that the guys blowing
whistles are seeing things in
real time, in a sport played
by men who become big- In this May 15, 2019, file photo, San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson (65), of Sweden, scores the winning goal past St. Louis
ger, faster and stronger by Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) during overtime in Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference final series
in St. Louis. A major officiating gaffe occurred in the Stanley Cup playoffs when San Jose’s Karlsson scored a goal set up by a hand
the year. NFL officiating is pass. While hockey officials have the toughest job _ they must be able to skate like the players _ they do not get a pass for their
all about angles and mak- mistakes, either.
ing quick decisions. Associated Press
“No one on the field has tangents and addendums exacerbated by the com- basically limited, with the instance? A player, again
the benefit of slow-motion to the rules. And because puter box that TV puts on main area of focus wheth- highlighting Harden, swing-
replays and lengthy looks the NFL prizes experience the strike zone. If a single er a goal was scored. ing his arms to draw con-
at what just happened,” in its crews, it winds up with pitch misses by an inch, ac- The price for failed chal- tact before shooting a foul
says former NFL officiating older people who, frankly, cording to the box, and is lenges can be more costly on him or the defense? The
chief Mike Pereira, now can’t always keep up. called a strike, it becomes though, including winding league basically put in a
one of Fox’s officiating an- To identify the NFL’s officiat- a war. Several players have up short-handed. Not quite James Harden rule on that.
alysts, along with his suc- ing as the worst in pro sports, been ejected in the past as impactful as what hap- No call in any sport is tough-
cessor at the league, Dean as we often hear when an few weeks as games take pened in the Superdome, er than the block/charge
Blandino. “It’s bang-bang, egregious error such as the on more importance. Many but close, was the entire — particularly when de-
all the time.” one in the NFC title game is of the rants have come officiating crew missing a fenders flop like soccer
As it is in most sports that made, probably is unfair — against Triple-A umpires fill- hand pass in Game 3 of the players.
require rules enforcers. And something Saints fans don’t ing in for vets on vacation Western Conference final, See? Regardless of the
replay, which is designed want to hear. or injured. The Yankees allowing Erik Karlsson to win sport, officiating is a de-
to, well, get things right, is College football has major alone have had three no- the game. There were no manding and thankless job.
not infallible. Or, the judg- issues, too, such as target- table blowups, all against remedies for the Blues, who “Well, I grew up with of-
ment of those watching re- ing. It shouldn’t be easy to Triple-A fill-ins at the plate went on to win the series ficiating,” says John Parry,
plays and then making de- police and enforce, but — and they’re one of MLB’s and, perhaps, save the NHL who left the field after 19
cisions isn’t always perfect. the penalty is so punitive: best clubs. the type of grief the NFL ex- seasons and is now ESPN’s
Maybe the spotlight shines ejection from the game. It’s ramped up, too, de- perienced last winter. analysts on the subject on
even brighter on the NFL The college version of re- bate over using robot um- BASKETBALL Monday nights.
because of all the eyeballs play allows everything re- pires. That’s still way off in The structure of the game, “I don’t remember a world
watching in the stands or viewed, which can really the future, although all the especially on the pro level, without officiating or with-
on TV or streaming games slow the game; four-hour recent high-profile argu- increases the difficulty of out the NFL. And I was
— most of them critics with contests aren’t unusual ments make some think it’s referees’ tasks. Again, like taught early on, old school
their own opinions on every these days. closer than once imagined. the NFL, the NBA prefers by my father, that your job
play. Certainly the fact pro A broader issue is officials HOCKEY experience in its officials. is to go unnoticed. When
football draws the most wa- are still employed by con- Without question, refer- But the huge, powerful and they notice you, you have
gering in the United States, ferences and it creates an ees and linesmen in the quick players often gather worked a poor football
and an officiating blunder appearance of conflicts of ice sport have the tough- in a confined space, espe- game. Make the calls,
can cost bettors tons of interest, especially in non- est jobs. Hey, they have to cially in the lane. Trying to make the calls correct, be
money, leads to hefty cen- conference games. be able to skate as well as determine exactly what’s expeditious with what you
sure. Consider the other three many of the players. Do going on is ultra-difficult. announce and how you
The league itself doesn’t most popular U.S. sports, you think NBA refs can hit Then there are refs’ inter- enforce.”
make it easy on its offi- too. 3-pointers like Steph Curry? pretations of the rules. Is Seems the modern game
cials because there are so BASEBALL The NHL does the best job James Harden’s step-back has made that almost an
many (too many) rules, plus It’s all balls and strikes now, with replay because it’s 3-point shot a travel, for impossible task.q