Bilas on officiating

[rainman]

I really have nothing to say to you, I have you blocked and don't care to hear any of your opinions, so go talk to someone else!!

[West Coast Cat]

I really have nothing to say to you, I have you blocked and don't care to hear any of your opinions, so go talk to someone else!!

Good idea to bow out when you don't know the answers to valid questions that should be known if your criticism had any merit. Better to save face and not reveal how miuch more you don't know.

And, FWIW, I've had you blocked since shortly after I came to this site...too much noise relative to useful content. I was giving you another chance by viewing a few of your post but you've again proven you're not worth reading. Be happy in your ignorance.

[Watchtower]

I really have nothing to say to you, I have you blocked and don't care to hear any of your opinions, so go talk to someone else!!

Hmmmm....that's real mature.

[rainman]

Mature has nothing to do with it, I don't like the guy, and have nothing to say to him!
Thats the only way I know how to relay that to them!!

[matt colvin]

Back to the topic at hand, por favor.

[Watchtower]

Defending your position might be helpful. Just a suggestion offered with respect.

[rainman]

I really don't have a position, just an opinion, I've stated it throughout the year!!
I do get tired of defending myself though!! I'm not mad at anyone, just prefer not
to listen to certain people!!

[cnice11]

I wrote an entire 'Block/Charge' post earlier this year....someone commented...'I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the games...'
Apathy is terrible...which is how these things get so far out of hand.
Block/Charge....one suggested change.
Flops should have penalties...
Everyone of the 24K plus fans in Rupp or the 22K in 'The Bucket', or MSG can see when a defensive player FLOPS. It looks so damn ridiculous...if/rather when a player flops we have penalty shots.
Not one soul of those 20K plus fans in any of these venues is that easily fooled...so neither should the ref's be fooled.
They've lost control over that whole part of the game it slows action to a halt...AND even when your team 'gets the call'(after you've flopped) you feel (I feel) stupid.
So...we should have as a point of emphasis..'STOP THE FLOP'.
That, and the above statement...unless the official sees everything required to make it a charge, it's called a block.'

The time out thing too...
NOT because of the time waiting...heck, we ALL, on Network TV suffer through what seems interminable commercials...what I don't like, what matters to me is...it effects the ebb and flow of the game, kills momentum etc.
Anything that has a negative effect on the game should be eliminated.

L

maybe just do a hockey type of penalty with a penalty box.

[UKDonkbet]

And this has what bearing on the conversation?

My firm belief a ref should have some playing experience (like at least college experience, not high school experience, not church league) before becoming a ref. Calls like the Davis techincals for "hanging" on the rim would be eliminated this way. The awful charge/block calls could be avoided this way. The block and charge call on Teague ( can't remember the game) would be avoided this way. And maybe the refs would stop dancing on the court and just blow the whistle, make the call the way they see it and walk a way without dont try to show up the kids on the court playing the game the refs wish they could have played but just didn't have the athleticism

I asked him, not you anyway but there's your answer

[rainman]

I want to appoligize to WestCoast Cat and anyone else I may have offended on here last night!!
I wasn't in the best of moods, but there's no excuse for me acting this way and I'm very sorry
for how I came off!! I will be sending WCC a personal appology, and again if I upset anyone else
I'm sorry!! Wayne!!

[biglabcatdaddy]

He's right on all counts. I heard him present this on Game Day down in New Orleans and what he had to say was just as logical. He firmly believes that college hoops is in trouble and places most of the blame on officiating and the NCAA.

I agree wholeheartedly and said essentially the same thing in a post the day after the UCON Butler championship game in 2011. I used to be a huge fan of college basketball. Basketball games were my default when there wasn't anything else on. Now I just turn the tube off because I can't stand to watch such poorly officiated games even when I'm not interested in the outcome. About the only games I watch are the Cats.

[Watchtower]

I want to appoligize to WestCoast Cat and anyone else I may have offended on here last night!!
I wasn't in the best of moods, but there's no excuse for me acting this way and I'm very sorry
for how I came off!! I will be sending WCC a personal appology, and again if I upset anyone else
I'm sorry!! Wayne!!

Just so you know, you didn't offend me. I just think having an open mind to what others have to say is a good policy. If you disagree, it is within your right to say so AND vice versa.

[rainman]

Just so you know, you didn't offend me. I just think having an open mind to what others have to say is a good policy. If you disagree, it is within your right to say so AND vice versa.

Thank you for responding, I didn't think I did but just in case!
Besides I get on here for enjoyment, and information not confrontation.
I guess dissagreements happen, but I don't want any of it to offend someone!
Thanks again!!

[lighthouse]

I've sat out on the conversation here just to see where this might lead, and it went about like I thought it would. One can tell just by reading, who has ever called a game at any level, and who hasn't. Those who have worn a whistle, in any sport at any level, have a built in respect for their fellow officials because they understand something about the game others have no idea about. For example, WCC and myself. I've never met him, don't know his name, or what level he officiates. We both post on WCN, and for the most part about officials. I don't always agree with what he posts, or his interpretation of a rule or call, but we have a respect for each other and what we say. Officials are human just like each of you. They have families, mortgages, fights with their wives, bad days, and might live next door or down the street from you. They may be more scrutinized that The President, and still they show up for their next game.

From some of the post on this site, I would say some of you actually hate certain officials, and detest all SEC officials. Did you realize there were 4 SEC officials picked to work the final 4, and UK had 1 on the first game and 2 on the final game? I thought all but one of the final 4 officials deserved to be there. Jamie Luckie proved me right with his poor performance in the OSU-Kansas game, however Doug Shows, Pat Adams, Mike Stuart, and Mark Whitehead had great games.


When I'm watching a UK game, I never grade the officials. I'm a fan like all of you. I yell at the officials, I call walking many more times than they do, but I'm always aware of where the officials are because if they are in position, they have the best look possible and only have a split second to make a call or pass on it. I feel like I've been rambling but I sure hope some of what I've written makes sense, and will allow some of you to back off a little.

One more thing. I firmly believe the reason for so many fan challenged block/charge calls, is the "Flex" floor coverage the NCAA put in 2 or 3 seasons ago. It takes the Lead official, the official on the baseline, to far out and allows the Center and Trail official to make that call. IMO, they have a good look the the offensive player but not the defense. The defensive player determines Block/Charge, either he was moving or he wasn't. The Lead, in the old floor coverage had the best look at the defense. I know WCC believes different, but that's my call. May God Bless you all with a wonderful summer and this fall we start again.

[Watchtower]

Great post Lighthouse and thanks for the names of those who officiated during the tournament. Now I can provide some comparisons from statsheet.com and let the numbers speak for themselves. I'm not sure those numbers, however, really say anything because they are based on fouls called. Many don't like "TV" Teddy Valentine, but his numbers actually show he's a pretty good official although I don't always agree with his calls.

I became a USA Wrestling official because I didn't agree with the calls on the mat. Once I did that, my mindset changed to looking at matches and games in a different light. As a fan and a coach, you're emotionally involved which is a luxury that the game officials absolutely cannot do. Most officials try to get the right call and often defer to another when they know something happened but didn't have a clear view. Plus, they don't make the rules. As you said the Block/Charge rule is the most controversial and needs to be looked at by those who make the rules, along with game officials and the coaches. It should be, after all, about improving the game.

[rainman]

Just for clarification on my part, I thought the discussion here was about officiating on the year,
not the NCAA tourney! As a whole I think the officiating in the final four was good, especially as
compared to how it was during the regular season! The championship game IMO was the best I've
seen this year!
I wasn't aware WCC was,( is?) an official! And I will be the first to admit I'm not going to go read
the rule book so as to be up on all calls, or the official way the refs look at certain plays. But it
doesn't take a genius to know when something is terribly wrong, and I think thats the case in
what we all witness at most games! The showboating, unbelievably bad block/charge calls, allowing
too much conversation with coaches, and so forth doesn't seem all that hard to correct. But each
time they try and correct them with a new or "tweeked" rule, it seems like it gets worse!
Anyway I have appolagized to WCC, and I truely appreciate what you do on here LH, (you're the first
person I read if I see you've posted). And I know officials are people too, so that means they make mistakes
just like the rest of us.
PS: If anyone took the time to read all this, Thanks!!
Wayne!

[Watchtower]

I just found this which is very interesting.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ing_chief.html

The PAC12 might have the best officials, but they have the worst teams and the worst conference of the big six. I do like the concept of merit pay and the giving each official a DVD copy of the game they just called.

[lighthouse]

I just found this which is very interesting.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ing_chief.html

The PAC12 might have the best officials, but they have the worst teams and the worst conference of the big six. I do like the concept of merit pay and the giving each official a DVD copy of the game they just called.

That is a good read. Thanks for posting it. I like both the merit pay system and the early access to the DVD. The merit pay system would drastically improve officiating. Most fans would be surprised that most officials want an opportunity to watch the game they just officiated. I don't know about the PAC 12 officials being the best, but if the new guy continues to use these ideas, he will improve things even more.

[cumberlandredskin]

I've sat out on the conversation here just to see where this might lead, and it went about like I thought it would. One can tell just by reading, who has ever called a game at any level, and who hasn't. Those who have worn a whistle, in any sport at any level, have a built in respect for their fellow officials because they understand something about the game others have no idea about. For example, WCC and myself. I've never met him, don't know his name, or what level he officiates. We both post on WCN, and for the most part about officials. I don't always agree with what he posts, or his interpretation of a rule or call, but we have a respect for each other and what we say. Officials are human just like each of you. They have families, mortgages, fights with their wives, bad days, and might live next door or down the street from you. They may be more scrutinized that The President, and still they show up for their next game.

From some of the post on this site, I would say some of you actually hate certain officials, and detest all SEC officials. Did you realize there were 4 SEC officials picked to work the final 4, and UK had 1 on the first game and 2 on the final game? I thought all but one of the final 4 officials deserved to be there. Jamie Luckie proved me right with his poor performance in the OSU-Kansas game, however Doug Shows, Pat Adams, Mike Stuart, and Mark Whitehead had great games.


When I'm watching a UK game, I never grade the officials. I'm a fan like all of you. I yell at the officials, I call walking many more times than they do, but I'm always aware of where the officials are because if they are in position, they have the best look possible and only have a split second to make a call or pass on it. I feel like I've been rambling but I sure hope some of what I've written makes sense, and will allow some of you to back off a little.

One more thing. I firmly believe the reason for so many fan challenged block/charge calls, is the "Flex" floor coverage the NCAA put in 2 or 3 seasons ago. It takes the Lead official, the official on the baseline, to far out and allows the Center and Trail official to make that call. IMO, they have a good look the the offensive player but not the defense. The defensive player determines Block/Charge, either he was moving or he wasn't. The Lead, in the old floor coverage had the best look at the defense. I know WCC believes different, but that's my call. May God Bless you all with a wonderful summer and this fall we start again.

Thanks LH. Your a good man who usually sets us all straight with an honorable and reasonable explanation. I have seen your posts before about flex coverage. That could be the root of the problem with these "blarge" calls. Steve Kerr made an interesting comment about the block/charge calls this season. (I think it was him anyway) He felt, with the arc, the officials were having to look down at the feet about the same time contact was being made, making for inconsistent calls. Sounds plausible to me. What do you think about that comment?

[West Coast Cat]

I wasn't aware WCC was,( is?) an official!

....

PS: If anyone took the time to read all this, Thanks!!
Wayne!

Yes...Current Official...HS (mostly boys) and Men's Small College (D3 and NAIA), 19 years total so far.

FWIW...

My peers largely view me as a rules expert...if there is a question of what a rule is or what it means my fellow officials almost universally defer to me. (Each official has their stronger and weaker facets, knowing and interpreting the rules knowledge is my strongest area).

I've worked a few state tournaments...quarter finals, and semi-finals, and finals... including the boys 5A state championship game this year.

I teach an officiating class to new officials in my area, many of whom are often former players/coaches who quickly find that what they thought they knew from all their years in other parts of the game has a lot of holes and errors.

I teach/evaluate at a official camp that is designed for HS varsity officials who's goal it is to improve their game get to the state tournament or beyond.