Keeping track of games

[Brian Watson]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

For those of you who officiate football, what did you think of this call? This is one of the few times that an official's call actually did change the outcome of a game. The guy thinks the game is over, so he begins celebrating. It certainly wasn't taunting, as he was yelling at the crowd. I understand that there is a rule in place that prohibits removing a helmet, but should it have been enforced at that point of the contest? It seems like T'ing up a coach for stepping out on the floor (as the horn sounds at the end of regulation) to see if the opponent's desparation 3-pointer goes in. Any thoughts?

Chuck

I don't work football, but I think it was the right call.
It was so obvious that I think you have to make that call. Can you imagine the conversation with his super on Monday if he didn't??

The bogus call I thought was the KC guy who got hurt, and took his helmet off as he was rolling around in pain on the ground. The guy was hurt, cut him some slack.

[Rick Vietti]

I think John Madden got it right last night by saying that there are rules and then there is the "Spirit" of the rules. As we all know that circumstances can dictate when you enforce some of the "conduct control" rules. Madden made the point that players routinely come on to the field to celebrate a touchdown etc... and 12 men on the field could be called but is ignored.

I do not think he berated the officials for calling it and since the NFL refs are under a microscope they probably make those calls early in the season and then get a P.O.E. now about enforcing it.

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

For those of you who officiate football, what did you think of this call? This is one of the few times that an official's call actually did change the outcome of a game. The guy thinks the game is over, so he begins celebrating. It certainly wasn't taunting, as he was yelling at the crowd. I understand that there is a rule in place that prohibits removing a helmet, but should it have been enforced at that point of the contest? It seems like T'ing up a coach for stepping out on the floor (as the horn sounds at the end of regulation) to see if the opponent's desparation 3-pointer goes in. Any thoughts?

Chuck

I'm not a football official but I believe the helmet rule is
a safety & fight prevention thing. As I recall seeing it on
replay the official was standing right in front of the
player when he took off his helmet during a live ball. The
player made it easy to make the call. Beyond that, I'm
thinking if I'm paying you $million per year to play
football you had better be smart enough not to draw a seldom
seen flag to give your opponent a last ditch opportunity.
If he would have left his helmet on there would not have
been any "game changing call", now would there?

[Barry C. Morris]

I don't officiate football and I don't know whether that call should have been made or not but I'm sure glad it was. I am hoping this incident might prompt some coaches to tell their players to do a little less celebrating (self-promotion) on the field.

Even before I learned of the Cleveland incident, I had been irritated all day long by all the "look at me" celebrations. If someone caught a pass, there was a dance. If there was a sack, there was a dance. If there was a touchdown, there was a dance, etc., etc., etc.

I can't remember what coach is credited with the saying. It was somebody of the ilk of Bear Bryan but he told his players "When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before."

These guys are professional athletes. You're getting paid millions of dollars to score or tackle. I don't want to see you dance after every one.

It's a team sport!!!

End of Rant

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
If he would have left his helmet on there would not have
been any "game changing call", now would there?

Absolutely. He didn't have his "game awareness". It was not smart. Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask whether in that situation, when the player obviously truly believes that the game is over and is merely celebrating, the infraction (which had no impact on safety of the game) should have been overlooked. Especially since the call literally altered the outcome of the game. I'm just curious what our pigskin brethren might think. Jeff, Tony, anybody?

Chuck

[Brian Watson]

I think the sweet irony is the guy who caught the "pass" and rumbled upfield was the same guy who had his grill caved in with his own lid during a training camp fight.

Guy took like 18 stiches, if there was ever a reason to keep it on...

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
[B
....when the player obviously truly believes that the game is over ...

Chuck [/B]

This gets me back to the thread we had recently about a
player going up for a pregame dunk, then changing his
mind in mid air but ending up hanging from the rim for
"safety reasons". Some calls just beg to be made and you're
doing yourself harm as an official, IMO, if you give these
guys the benefit of the doubt. In football leave the helmet
on until you run off the field. In basketball stay off the
rims pregame. In baseball, as a pitcher don't pick up a
broken bat head and throw it at the batter as he runs to
first...uhmmm, wait, that last one's not a good example...

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Barry C. Morris
I can't remember what coach is credited with the saying. It was somebody of the ilk of Bear Bryan but he told his players "When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before."

Actually,Jimmy Brown of the old Cleveland Browns was the first person that I remember this quote being attributed to--many years ago.Mr. Brown is still the single greatest running back that I have ever seen,as well as being one of the greatest all-around athletes ever.When I was a kid,in the late 50's,I went to to one of the Browns' training camps in the summer and chased down Mr. Brown for his autograph after a practise.He told me to go f*** myself.Didn't bother me at all-still thought he was great.

BTW,Barry,I agree with your rant.You can extend it to basketball,hockey,baseball,etc.My personal favorite is soccer.Guy scores a goal,then runs around the field three times with his arms in the air,falls on the ground on his stomach like he just had an epiliptic fit,kicks his arms and legs,and then his team-mates pile on top of him and try to screw him dog-style.Unbelievable!

End of my rant.

[JRutledge]

It is a rule. It was an obvious violation of the rule, it was an obvious foul.

We are told to call the obvious and this was obvious. Football players at the very least are told to play to the whistle. You play to the whistle. Dwayne Rudd did not do that, he got penalized for it. If the offical did not call that then the opposing coach could have easily questioned the judgement or integrity of the official. Unsportsmanlike Penalties never have to affect the play, they are non-conduct fouls at all levels and the official did the right thing.

If players would stop feeling the need to celabrate after every single play, then this would not have been an issue.

Peace

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee


...runs around the field three times with his arms in the air,falls on the ground on his stomach like he just had an epiliptic fit,kicks his arms and legs,and then his team-mates pile on top of him and try to screw him dog-style.Unbelievable!

End of my rant.

Hey, sounds like the 4 legged Woody! Except for the screwing part of course...

[JoeT]

I keep my schedule, notes, contacts on my Palm Pilot like others have said, but I sync it with my account on Yahoo. For me, there are two advantages to this approach: First, if I forget or lose my Palm Pilot, I can get to my schedule from any connected PC. Second, I can give people (particularly assignors) the URL to my online calendar for availability (only I can edit it, though).

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
[/B]

Hey, sounds like the 4 legged Woody! Except for the screwing part of course... [/B][/QUOTE]Is poor Woody still hanging his head in shame and refusing to go outside and play with his friends?I know I would!

Bad Dan! Bad,bad Dan!

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee

Hey, sounds like the 4 legged Woody! Except for the screwing part of course... [/B]

Is poor Woody still hanging his head in shame and refusing to go outside and play with his friends?I know I would!

Bad Dan! Bad,bad Dan! [/B][/QUOTE]

Nah, for Woody they're just a fading memory by now.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
[/B]

Nah, for Woody they're just a fading memory by now. [/B][/QUOTE]After my anniversary last Wednesday,I'm just about in the same boat.

[Camron Rust]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee


My personal favorite is soccer.Guy scores a goal,then runs around the field three times with his arms in the air,falls on the ground on his stomach like he just had an epiliptic fit,kicks his arms and legs,and then his team-mates pile on top of him and try to screw him dog-style.Unbelievable!

End of my rant.

In soccer it IS a tremendous achievement with many games won by a score of 1-0. There are just not that many chances to score in soccer, so the achievment is pretty high.

But, I do think it is a little over done.