Steal, Foul, and Altercation (Video)

[HokiePaul]

Originally Posted by refinks

Easy call for me, flagrant and ejection. I don't see how any official that has an interest in working postseason or moving up the ladder would call this any differently.

Possibly because of the definition of Flagrant and Intentional fouls. The rule book leaves it up to interpretation, but to me, this play meets two of the criteria for a intentional foul almost perfectly and doesn't fit the criteria for a flagrant.

Intentional foul:
a) Contact that neutralizes an opponent's obvious advantage (yes)
b) Contact away from the ball ...(N/A)
c) Contact that is not a legitimate attempt to play the ball ... (yes)
d) Excessive contact with an opponent while playing the ball (N/A or yes)
e) Contact with a thrower-in (N/A)

Flagrant Foul:
*violent or savage in nature (I'm leaning no, but it's debatable)
*violent contact such as: striking, kicking and kneeing (no)
*fighting (no)

Not saying that this couldn't be a flagrant ... a lot of officials here think so. But I have a hard time thinking an evaluator is going to downgrade the officials for only calling this an intentional foul as you suggest.