More Oden Foul Talk

[SMEngmann]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

I have a bit of a problem with the last part of this guideline. Something we haven't called all game - fine. Most everyone can agree that 0.2 seconds left is not the time to have your first 3-second call of the game. That said, I don't give 2 dexters whether or not "the masses" agree with my last-second call. If I have a call at the end of the game, and I'm SURE of that call, I'm making it. If grandma up in the 25th row wants to go home thinking I'm a son of a dexter - so be it!

Well I agree with you, but I think there is a distinction. I think "obvious to the masses" should be replaced by "obvious to the tape." I think what the NCAA is trying to say here is that the call needs to be obvious AND have a direct impact on the play, which goes back to Libbey's point that I brought up in my first post. You can have an obvious illegal pick on the opposite side of the floor when a last second shot is going up, and that call would be incorrect because it did not impact the play, however, if there was an obvious illegal pick that freed up an open look for the shooter, that might not be obvious right away to the masses, but it is a call that we must have. It is a tough distinction, though, between calling the obvious fouls and avoiding calling marginal plays, that's why they pay these guys the big bucks. Not to change the subject, but after watching these NCAA games, it gives me a new appreciation for the guts that it took for Joe DeRosa to make the correct timeout call in Game 5 of the NBA Finals last year.