Eyepoke

Adam · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 04, 2007, 01:40am

Jeff, let me ask you. You ever actually seen the finger contact the eye on this? I think it's almost impossible to catch with the human eye in regular speed. If I don't see the swipe, or if I don't see the hand near the face, I'm not going to call it. But if I see the hand swipe near the face and the ball handler reacts, I'm likely to have a foul.

JRutledge · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 04, 2007, 02:05am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Jeff, let me ask you. You ever actually seen the finger contact the eye on this? I think it's almost impossible to catch with the human eye in regular speed. If I don't see the swipe, or if I don't see the hand near the face, I'm not going to call it. But if I see the hand swipe near the face and the ball handler reacts, I'm likely to have a foul.

Yes I have been poked in the eye or near the eye before. And yes I have called someone being poked in the eye when I have seen it. Now what is your point? The issue is whether we call something that we see. If we do not see something, we should not be in the habit of just calling something because it looks bad or because a player falls. If a player falls to the floor do you make a call because a player was around them? What about if a player is hit in the groin area? Do you just call something because you think something happen? If I missed something like this, it will not be the first time and it definitely will not be the last. I know I am not going to call something just because as many have suggest. Once again, this is why we get paid the big bucks to make the tough decisions.

Peace

Adam · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Jan 04, 2007, 10:24am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And yes I have called someone being poked in the eye when I have seen it. Now what is your point?

My point is that the finger flying through the air and giving a quick poke to the eye is such small and fast moving thing that I don't know that I'm actually capable of seeing it. I see the swipe, I see the hand near the face, and I see the instinctive reaction of the poked player. I call the foul. If I wait until I actually see the finger in the eye for the split second it's in there, I'm never going to be able to make this call, and JohnnyrRingo's friends are going to teach their kids to start poking eyes while guarding the ballhandler.