The media is at it again.

[JRutledge]

It is amazing that people that pride themselves on giving accurate information cannot even get basic officiating information correct.

I was watching Rome is burning and guest host Jemele Hill talked about the NBDL Camp the NBA is running for "Open Tryouts." Then she goes on to say that basically some Insurance Salesman might get a shot as to suggest that anyone who wants to referee is going to be eligible.

At what point do these media people check facts against their ignorant opinion?

I just do not understand, the media prides themselves on getting facts straight. They claim that guys like Canseco, is credible when he exposed steroids in Major League Baseball, then claim he is not credible when he makes similar claims about other players in his new book. But they cannot check the facts of how the NBA or how officials in the NCAA are trained or picked to work games? It is amazing the amount of ignorance of basic facts media has when it comes to basic issues. I do not work for the NBA and I have enough knowledge to know that any "Open Tryout" is not for some guy just walking off the street to be realistically considered. I have enough knowledge that the officials that will be picked to work in the NBA system are already accomplished officials from the HS level to the college level.

Is my frustration even warranted? Or should I just chalk it up as the way it is and always will be?

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Is my frustration even warranted? Or should I just chalk it up as the way it is and always will be?

The two (frustration and chalking it up) aren't mutually exclusive.

[jdw3018]

I agree with what you're saying, though I will say this: it takes actual work to figure out this information about officiating. A journalist might have to call a couple people in order to learn the facts. It's not all spelled out on a "reliable" website to look up, so the next best thing is to trust what some guy tells you. Regardless of who "some guy" is.

[SWMOzebra]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I was watching Rome is burning

I would suggest the problem here is, although this comes from a media outlet, it isn't a news show. It's a show by a commentator who happens to have an opinion on a wide variety of sports subjects. It would be the same if you got your political news from Rush Limbaugh or Jon Stewart.

Otherwise, chalk it up the same way we chalk up ignorant remarks by fans sitting in the stands....'cause neither of them are likely to change anytime soon.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

It is amazing that people that pride themselves on giving accurate information cannot even get basic officiating information correct.

I was watching Rome is burning and guest host Jemele Hill talked about the NBDL Camp the NBA is running for "Open Tryouts." Then she goes on to say that basically some Insurance Salesman might get a shot as to suggest that anyone who wants to referee is going to be eligible.

At what point do these media people check facts against their ignorant opinion?

I just do not understand, the media prides themselves on getting facts straight. They claim that guys like Canseco, is credible when he exposed steroids in Major League Baseball, then claim he is not credible when he makes similar claims about other players in his new book. But they cannot check the facts of how the NBA or how officials in the NCAA are trained or picked to work games? It is amazing the amount of ignorance of basic facts media has when it comes to basic issues. I do not work for the NBA and I have enough knowledge to know that any "Open Tryout" is not for some guy just walking off the street to be realistically considered. I have enough knowledge that the officials that will be picked to work in the NBA system are already accomplished officials from the HS level to the college level.

Is my frustration even warranted? Or should I just chalk it up as the way it is and always will be?

Peace

It's a hot button right now with officiating. Officials at the highest level are under more scrutiny then ever before because of the obvious, Internet, More TV coverage, more everything. Every controversial HIGH SCHOOL call is now seen by everyone in the country 50 times on Youtube, you can't escape the hot lights. God forbid you may just miss a travel or pass on contact in the final seconds.
Its mind boggling. And the more exposure this stuff gets, the more the media will try and create a story. They're lemmings and they all fall to the temptation to amplify, distort, twist, for the sake of what they deem 'news'

I'm with you, and sick especially of all the talking....no make that screaming heads, that permeate the airwaves.

Insurance salesmen becoming officials? What about all the ex jocks that retire and instantly are thrown a microphone or the babe who is hired strictly because she has a couple a things going for her.

Hypocrites.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by SWMOzebra

I would suggest the problem here is, although this comes from a media outlet, it isn't a news show. It's a show by a commentator who happens to have an opinion on a wide variety of sports subjects. It would be the same if you got your political news from Rush Limbaugh or Jon Stewart.

Otherwise, chalk it up the same way we chalk up ignorant remarks by fans sitting in the stands....'cause neither of them are likely to change anytime soon.

I do agree with what you are saying. But these people are only on the show because they hold journalist positions. Hill is a writer for ESPN and writes many articles for ESPN Page 2. Now she does give her opinion and that is OK with me. But I would expect simply picking up the phone and calling the people with the NBA and find out what is the nature of the clinic before saying anything that is clearly not true. My point is she made it seem like the NBA was just picking guys and gals off the street, rather than allowing qualified officials at other levels trying to get hired by the NBA. She even made a reference to the rules as if to suggest the people in attendance would not know anything about the rules of basketball.

Peace

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Now you understand how the rest of us feel when you make one of your factually incorrect statements.

US? Hey......don't include me in your sandbox.

[canuckrefguy]

I like ice cream!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I guess Mary Struckoff is not credible considering that she actually is involved in NF rulings and issues.

[canuckrefguy]

Ice cream with hot fudge sauce!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by fullor30

or the babe who is hired strictly because she has a couple a things going for her.

I happen to think this is a good policy.

[grunewar]

Article title is: UCLA says close victories not officially influenced

The last paragraph reads:

"It is interesting that there seems like there's an idea that there's some kind of conspiracy theory that's helping UCLA with the officials," UCLA Coach Howland says. "I hope that's true, but I assure you that it's not."

The rest of the article is at:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...-26-ucla_N.htm

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I happen to think this is a good policy.

You? Should be those.

[fiasco]

It's funny to hear this board rant and rave about the media just as "fanboys" come here and rant and rave about officiating.

JRut is making a sweeping generalization about the media based on one failure by one reporter.

Maybe you guys should try finding a journalism message board and see if you receive a similar greeting that "fanboys" get when they come on here and run their mouths about things they know nothing about.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by fiasco

Maybe you guys should try finding a journalism message board and see if you receive a similar greeting that "fanboys" get when they come on here and run their mouths about things they know nothing about.

Actually, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on the sports media since I used to be one. In fact, I would bet there are more officials who used to (or still do) work in the media than media people who used to be officials.