Quote:
Originally posted by ChuckElias
Tony, that may be true, but don't you think that the play should be called according to what is explicitly written in the rulebook and official's manual until we're told to do otherwise? I just don't see how you can disregard the explicit instructions concerning this call.
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There are no explicit instructions concerning this call. It's never been addressed by the NF. However, the first page of the rule book does say, "Therefore, it is important to know the intent and purpose of a rule so that it may be intelligently applied in each play situation." I do not believe the NF wants us calling BI on a ball that entered the basket from below. That is not the intent of the BI rule.
The intent is to penalize a team who interferes with a ball when there's a possiblity there could be a basket. The intent of the throw-in rule is to prevent a defender from interviewing with an alley oop pass while it's in the cylinder and to prevent the offensive player from grabbing that same pass while it's within the cylinder and scoring. That's the sole purpose, because the possilbity exist that a basket could be scored. There's no way a basket can be scored in the situation described here. So, to call BI in this situation does not meet the intent of the rule.
Now, ask your assignor how he wants this situation interpreted in games he books. I bet he sides with JR, too.