With the baseball season an overtime or two away, and the A's still performing due diligence in regards to signing a catcher (will Sean Murphy, the non-pitching prospect be in Oakland before summer arrives?) and starting pitcher (Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez remain available), let's take a look from a different angle.
In honor of Martin Luther King, allow me to recommend reading the book of Arthur Ashe's memoirs, "The Days of Grace." The book is simply a great read, by a wonderful, American. Despite being a world class athlete, heart disease would plague this great tennis champion. The last chapter of the book is a thoughtful and emotional letter, that Ashe pens to his daughter Camera. The book delves into many interesting topics, and I highly recommend for tennis fans in particular, and sports fans in general.
Speaking or tennis, currently the first "major" of the year--The Australian Open-- is underway "Down Under." (This event currently resides on my Bucket List!) There is one aspect of tennis that the sport absolutely nails--while professional sports-football in particular bumbles. Instant replay. In tennis, they replay the point, call is made, bang-boom, move on the next point. The crowd joins in with a charming little chant....then boom, the call is made, onto the next point. Well done.
The NFL bumbles (MLB stumbles). They have the technology to get calls right...they simply choose on the side of human error. I just wonder, how many officials--or how many administrators of the officials--have ever coached of played professionally for their livelihood? My guess a few have played, maybe a couple of have coached; the have no idea what being wronged "feels" like. Just so we can all be on the same page or side here, ask the 1972 Olympic Basketball team how they felt about the infamous game with the Russians?
Why do the coaches have to challenge plays? Professional sports have officials, in the land of Oz somewhere looking at the plays. If a call is wrong, see it, call it, overturn it. Move on. Make a decision in 60 seconds. For myself, I am not sure what exactly a catch is in the NFL, or pass interference, or, perhaps most importantly, what conclusive evidence even means?
Officiating may be the single most difficult task on the earth--however, technology is superior! I am not sure if more officials on the field would help....in the booth I know they would help! Perhaps the NFL should take in a little tennis this week, they might learn something.
That Pats-Chiefs game last night was a doozy! As the Raiders are embedded in my sports crest, I do not like the Chiefs, and I can't even think about Tom Brady with having a meltdown of snowy, tucking proportion. That being said, what a second half....and even better 4th quarter! Brady was clutch, and the new quy, Patrick Mahomes, the slinging and side-arm flinging QB found his flashy red sea legs! What a finish!! Heck, those two teams should play every week. (Nice to see both teams balance their collective attacks by running the ball--old school style!)
NFL overtime is just no bueno. I would implement some hybrid overtime system. Teams each would start from the 50 yard line. If the game is tied again, second round, they start from the 45. Each time the game remains tied, they start with the ball 5 yards further back. If they both manage to play 10 overtimes and the game is still scored, well they deserve to tie!? However, in a playoff game....they would have to keep playing from 100 yards our until somebody wins that darn game!
(My second choice to simply play another 15 minutes--after 15 minutes and teams are still ties, play 15 more! I would have loved to see Brady and Co. vs. Mahomes et. al slug it out for 15 or 30 more minutes!)
Regarding the Saints vs. Rams game, well....let's just say, some calls effect games, some calls decide games. That non pass interference, blow-to-the-head call, that sure felt like a "Decider!?" Not necessarily so, but the Saints were beaten by a call that 'aint.
Party on LA....party on Boston. Party like it's the World Series, 1918! For the rest, tennis anyone?
No comments:
Post a Comment