I have been watching the final 4 tourney and for the most part I believe the officiating has been very good. However early in the tourney I saw this rotund, out of shape ,official work a game and he made several really bad calls and didn't expect to see him assigned another game. He couldn't even keep up with the play as he waddled back and forth on the court. Well, guess what? There he was again in the FINAL!!! I couldn't believe it.
Just like the first game I witnessed, he again makes the worst block charge interpretation I have ever seen at that level. He also would pass on one right in front of him then next time call something on the exact same situation. Talk about lack of consistency!! I'm sure he had everyone guessing and confused after a while. I would have thought the selection committee could have found many better choices over all these games. Where I have reffed, a person in that shape with that kind of judgement and consistency would have difficulty getting High School games.

What no comments or replies? Is this guy some kind of political power or officiating Guru down your way that noone wants to comment????I'm sure most of you saw the same thing. Very strange. If we are going to criticize coaches , fans , commentators , we should be able to take criticism ourselves as refs.

You are talking about Gerald Boudreaux. He is a little overweight. Everytime I see him on TV, I do think that he is carrying some extra pounds. However, I disagree with everything else you wrote about him. For my comments on his tournament see the thread entitled, "Center's Call?"

I'm glad I didn't put his name in lights.

He was the crew chief, wasn't he?

And not the first time he's been in that position, either, unless I'm mistaken.

And I totally disagree with the block/charge thing. It was definitely a bang-bang play, but it was a good call.

Maybe, maybe not.
 

If you are saying was he the Referee, that is not something we know for sure. The Referee does not have to do the jump anymore. He could have been the guy that did the best toss.

Peace

I'm actually encouraged that Gerald receives such high profile assignments.

Too much emphasis is placed on how thin an official is.

For some reason, people who make these criticisms try to compare the officials with the athletes on the floor, when in many cases the officials are decades older. Same with baseball umpires, too.

Can the official get to where he needs to be? Can he officiate using good judgement? What else is really important?

Rich

I'll repeat a phrase here that I told a friend of mine the other day (a referee) that was criticizing the officiating in the tournament:

<b>There were <i>three</i> officials working Men's NCAA Basketball last night and <i>you</i> weren't one of them.</b>

What more is there to say really?

Pistol,
Yeah, he looked a little soft, but television puts 10 pounds on a guy and then there are those dang pants....
mick

RUT- Have to agree that was a great toss for the jump ball!

BRAD- Your absolutely correct- We were all watching the game on TV (unless you were there). Easy to be an Armchair referee.....NO Pressure...and maybe even a few brownpops!

AK ref SE

I hate it when people think that you need to be thin to ref.

A few extra pounds does not result in bad officiating.

Officiating at the NCAA final. Has to be doing something right.

Hard to believe that one official can pull the wool over so many people's eyes.

Hey Peter what's next.

People with bald spots/or long hair or long sideburns shouldn't be given an opportunity to ref.

If a short, overweight, waddling balding ref can make it to the NCAA finals it gives every ref out there the indication that call selection way more important than appearance.

Good job in the final guys.

>He also would pass on one right in front of him then next time call something on the exact same situation. Talk about lack of consistency!! I'm sure he had everyone guessing and confused after a while.

Yeah, I thought he was inconsistent too. After letting guys
tackle each other, he called the 5th on Langford when the
Syracuse guy fell over his own feet. I didn't even see contact, and I was rooting for Syracuse.

Joe,
Langford slid his lower body into the opponent while he was holding his hands straight up.
Dumb foul.
Good call.
mick

I do not think anyone made that the only factor.
 

I do not recall anyone saying you had to be a size 6 to officiate a basketball game. But the thinner and more athletic you look, the more likely you will be seen as able to get up and down the court and be in position. No different than the NFL combine. Your draft status is going to be based on raw numbers, whether you like it or not. Byron Leftwich is probably the most talented QB in the draft, but they are questioning his mobility and his size to be affective in the NFL.

If you want to suggest that this is the only factor, it is not. Just like everything else in life we are evaluated on many things. But my question to you is, how many other officials looked like him throught the tournament? So if we see one run-way model that is bigger and all the other models are much smaller, are we not going to notice a trend?

Peace

My question! If this same official was Thinner would our perception of the way he made calls have changed?

AK ref SE

I would say no. I think the fact that this guy was bigger than most has fueled the critical comments made here. But that is my take.

Peace

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Joe
After letting guys
tackle each other, he called the 5th on Langford when the
Syracuse guy fell over his own feet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Langford slid his lower body into the opponent

Maybe, but the only reason they even made contact
was that Edlin lost his balance and fell into Langford.

Also, should that have even been the C's call? The T and L didn't even make it down the court.


> while he was holding his hands straight up.
Dumb foul.
Good call.
mick

[/QUOTE]

I do not recall anyone saying you had to be a size 6 to officiate a basketball game.[/QUOTE]

Is Gerald a girl? :D

What kind of clothes do you wear, Jeff?

I was being facetious.
 

He might be. :D

Joe,
If you are saying the Center beat the Lead down the court, I didn't see it.
Play came from Center side.
He saw the defender step in with his hips.
So did I. ;)
mick

[/B][/QUOTE]

Joe,
In that play, the defender was trailing the opponent near the sideline. The offensive guy was ahead, near the spot, when Anthony flipped the ball in.
At the same time as Anthony released the ball, the trailing defender dived after it, missed the ball; his momentum caused him to roll into Anthony, who was elevating, still out-of-bounds, when he saw the defender falling his way.
With Anthony going up and the defender hitting Anthony's ankles, Anthony took a fall.
That was a real fine example of incidental contact and the use of a no-call spiced with the tincture of the Tower Philosophy. :)
mick

Gentlemen, the L made the call. The C passed on it.

Okay. Makes sense to me. Center wouldn't have seen the hips.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mick

Quote:

[i]] Joe, Langford slid his lower body into the opponent while he was holding his hands straight up. Dumb foul. Good call. mick

Well Mick, its not too often i disagree with you. I don't think that was a foul. Even more so when you consider the way the game was being officiated. There is no question the official was out of position on this play. He was straight line. In fact the C had the best view and he did not have a call. I don't want anyone to misunderstand, I think this game was well officiated. Anyone who thinks they can officiate a perfect game, let them cast the first stone.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bart Tyson

Quote:

Originally posted by mick Well Mick, its not too often i disagree with you. I don't think that was a foul. Even more so when you consider the way the game was being officiated. There is no question the official was out of position on this play. He was straight line. In fact the C had the best view and he did not have a call. I don't want anyone to misunderstand, I think this game was well officiated. Anyone who thinks they can officiate a perfect game, let them cast the first stone.

Well, Bart,
It might not have been called if the offensive guy hadn't fallen/tripped in front of <B><i>T</i></B>-thousand people, not to mention Television Land.
I figgered it was one of those, "Dang, I <u>gotta</u> get that" fouls.
But, hey, if it's in your primary, you got the call and I got yer back. ;)
mick

Are you sure that was the L Primary? I thought the shot was on the Left side of the basket and the L was straight line on the other side of the basket. I don't think he was to the baseline yet.

Bart,
I ain't sure about anything, anymore.
It seems like I could see an official opposite and that the camera shot was from the table side of the lane on the baseline.


Drive from left side? YU.P.
I thought the offensive player was starting to lose the handle on the ball toward out of bounds, and when the defender noticed that, he offered a little thigh thump on the offensive guy in mid-stride which threw off the balance.

At my age my mental synapses short-circuit at times. :(

Was the illegal contact there? Yeah.
Was it consistent with the rest of the game? Dunno.
Did it have to be called? Yes, I think, because of the environment.

I may not even be thinking of the same play. :rolleyes:

mick

Mick, Are you surrrreeee, or are you trying to straddle the fence? Which way are you going?

<I>Drive from left side? YU.P.
I thought the offensive player was starting to lose the handle on the ball toward out of bounds, and when the defender noticed that, he offered a little thigh thump on the offensive guy in mid-stride which threw off the balance.

Was the illegal contact there? Yeah.
Was it consistent with the rest of the game? Dunno.
Did it have to be called? Yes, I think, because of the environment.

</I>

Yeah, Bart,
I'm sure.
No fence.
Dumb foul.
Good call.
mick

..it's all about sacrifice.....
 

The thing about it is....if you are going to be officiating the type of athletes that are out there now on the college floor, you need to make the sacrifices to stay in shape that the college game demands. I also get peeved by guys that "let themselves go" once they have reached a certain level of play. It looks sloppy, and YES I know there is no substitute for experience, but why not keep yourself in shape for presentation purposes?

It's easy to sit at a computer and talk about what this person should do or that person should, especially by those who have never had to fight a weight problem. But the fact is that each person's metabolism and body is different. I'm sure everyone would like to be athletic, fit and trim. But it's not possible. It's extremely difficult to lose weight for many people, especially after a person is into their 30's or 40's.

I didn't see any problems with regards to this official getting into position to make calls. No, he didn't look athletic and slim but he got the job done. I'm 6'4" and weigh 250, so I'm no gazelle myself. But I worked an SC game this year and I got the job done. I wouldn't have been selected if I couldn't do it. I'm confident, that if there was a problem, Gerald wouldn't have been assigned to the game to begin with.

Like Brad wrote, he's on the game, we're sitting at home. 'Nough said.

..I agree...BUT...
 

...my problem isn't with those that battle weight problems. I am now going to be 31 years old and I have to work harder and harder each year, running many miles in the offseason to fit into my size 32 pants season after season. My problem is with those that don't feel they owe it to the kids to come into the season prepared not only mentally but PHYSICALLY as well. I guess I am not even referring to the final four official, but rather to all of us in general...

Re: ..I agree...BUT...
 

I'm referring to those who would criticize this official, in this post, simply because he's overweight. We can certainly discuss the point you make but I think it's separate from this specific issue. I don't think this official fits that mold and, evidently, you don't either.

Well obviously I am not in the final four if that is what you mean, but I DID referee a college juco regional and am rated one of the top officials in a couple conferences, but enough of that..

I agree these folks are chosen by those far more knowledgeable then myself, but to see them "do as I say and not as I do" stuff makes a guy wonder....(see posts about "C" officials and leads calling across the paint)

When has Gerald Boudreaux ever told you to lose weight? Isn't that the topic of this discussion, his physical condition? :confused:

okay....I did stray off topic and no he hasn't ever told me that...I guess my point is made and I will rest....

I have been one of the stronger supporters of Gerald Boudreaux during the last few threads on this board. I was very impressed with his calls throughout. Remember, he is the official who came over and corrected the wrong backcourt violation called in the Mich St. game. That said, he botched the 5th foul on Langford. The contact was slight at best and the dribbler was already falling down. Now there are some mitigating circumstances to consider too. First this was a long outlet pass. The play was a quick transition. The players were one on one down there at the other end. Boudreaux was the new lead. Yes, he got to the endline, but he was on the opposite side of the paint. The C was in decent position on his side in my opinion. I have been taught that this is the lead's call IN TRANSITION. If the C could help fine. Bottom line: I think that he had a poor look at this one and likely thought something had to be called.
If I were evaluating him, I would say: he choked one call there. So what? And yes, he is a bit overweight. However, after watching all three of his tournament games, I can say that he convinced me that I could have confidence in him on a game.

[/B][/QUOTE]
Joe,
That play happened on a throw-in, so it happened right in front of the TRAIL, not the center. Also since Graves, who dove to the floor, and Anthony, who was still OOB after passing the ball in when he tripped over him, both were no longer part of the play, I think that it was a wise choice to let this go as incidental contact. Look at this from Graves's perspective: It is not a foul to be tripped over. The official did a good job to watch the play and make sure nothing unusual happened and then detangle the players. The better officials let the stuff that doesn't matter go.

Tony, I thought you were in North Carolina ;)

I thought you were 220 and floated like a flutterby.

I agree, So what. Well officiated game.

"Also since Graves, who dove to the floor, and Anthony, who was still OOB after passing the ball in when he tripped over him..."

Anthony tripped over Graves??? He tried to jump over him, but was clipped at the ankles when Graves flew through him.
Anthony didn't take a step. He couldn't.

"The better officials let the stuff that doesn't matter go."

Clearly you and Mick are right. The book on Anthony was to
run 270 pounders through him as often as possible, and hit him with a lot of "incidental contact." Texas did it too.

But don't miss any of those couldn't crush a grape hip checks on the ball 'cause we want a good "clean game."

Anyone want to bet if Anthony will be back for another
year of "incidental contact and stuff that doesn't matter"?



Joe,
That play happened on a throw-in, so it happened right in front of the TRAIL, not the center. Also since Graves, who dove to the floor, and Anthony, who was still OOB after passing the ball in when he tripped over him, both were no longer part of the play, I think that it was a wise choice to let this go as incidental contact. Look at this from Graves's perspective: It is not a foul to be tripped over. The official did a good job to watch the play and make sure nothing unusual happened and then detangle the players. The better officials let the stuff that doesn't matter go. [/B][/QUOTE]

But I worked a State Championship game this year and I got the job done.

More like, "sink like a rock."

But I worked a State Championship game this year and I got the job done. [/B][/QUOTE]
Oh, come on. I understood that. I was just funnin' ya. Maybe I used the wrong smiley? :)

Chuck

Whoa!!! Another coupla Snickers and it'll be time to move from the HL to the U.

http://www.uselessgraphics.com/ref2.gif

You did but that don't make a smiley for short people. :p

Now cut that out!!

http://www.uselessgraphics.com/referee.gif

TskTskTsk! That's not nice!

Did I tell ever tell you why Chuck became a ref?
http://www.sodamnfunny.com/Comic/Sport/tall.jpg

Hardy-har-har. The actual truth is that I became a ref b/c I found out that I was not a very good coach.

Chuck

But I bet that you know when a coach SHOULD call a timeout BEFORE he does!

Re: ..I agree...BUT...
 

Watch a bit more college ball (only 8 months to go!) - you'll notice that there are guys who are 50, balding, and probably a few pounds over their "recommended" height/weight/age ratios. The important fact, though - is that they generally can keep up with the play and stay with a good portion of the fast breaks.

..I watch more than my fair share. And I DO respect those like Clogherty, Burr, and others that bring it night after night and bust their ***. I guess this is more of a problem at the level I referee at. Guys either on their way down, or as high as they wanna go, so they think they can get by just on "experience" and trail the play all day long and are out of position, and guess.