Conflict of Interest? Vikings-Cowboys divisional play-off game2010
 

Walt Anderson is scheduled to lead the officiating crew for the Vikings-Cowboys divisional play-off game on Sunday, Jan. 17th. He grew up in Texas, played football at Sam Houston State and currently resides in Sugarland, outside of Houston. He is notorious for being hard on the home team, nothing you can do about that except play wise, but the fact that he is a Texan should be a conflict of interest.?

That all you got, Fan Boy ??

No.

Coming from a long time Viking fan and a person who dislikes the whole Cowboy thing.... NO. There is absolutely no conflict of interest here. Guys at this level gave up being fans of any team a long time ago.

Bingo! This concept is so hard for most fans to understand.

Dude, with all due respect where you live has nothing to do with a conflict of interest. For all you know he grew up a 49ers fan because that is where his family is from. You obviously know nothing about officiating or you would have come up with something more than this crap you just stated.

Peace

At your level impartiality is a totally foreign concept beyond your grasp. I'm not smart enough to explain it to you so you would understand, and not dumb enough to waste time trying.

I heard he was a direct decendant of Lief Ericksson, thus a Viking fan and has since declared himself unfit to do the job. Maybe it is just a INTERNET RUMOR though!

Anyone who would think there is a problem with this assignment likey also believes the League will "make sure" Dallas wins because who wants the prospect of the Vikings in the SuperBowl with their "huge" TV market.

Yeah...but you still picked the Cowboys in a coin flip. You are no longer a fan!

Wait...I grew up in Ohio, and still live here. Does this mean I have to go to another state to continue officiating?

Thanx everyone for your insights and opinions! Let the game begin!

I thought I had heard a NFL official wasn't eligible for a city if he lived so many miles from that city or in that city. Anybody know for sure?

It's obvious you have no clue!

Do you honestly think Walt Anderson as he officiates a game with the Cowboys is thinking about where he grew up, went to school and now lives and that he ought to favor them?

Add to that you believe Walt ANderson or any official, especially, at that level believes he should go harder on the team in the dark jerseys.

Grab a Bud my friend.:rolleyes:

This is possible (I don't know for sure either way), but I'm pretty certain Houston isn't nearly close enough to Dallas to qualify for this exclusion.

I doubt there's any kind of "must live so many miles from city X" rule.

One of the official's on Tony Corrente's crew is from the Twin Cities, and his crew worked the Minnesota @ Green Bay game in Week 8. The members of an NFL crew live all over the country... if you had a mileage restriction in place, no crew would be eligible for any game.

I think this confirms your statement:

On November 23, 1986, Chicago native Markbreit worked as an NFL referee at Soldier Field for the first time when the Green Bay Packers visited to play the Chicago Bears. In the second quarter of the game, Bears quarterback Jim McMahon was intercepted, and as he watched the proceedings downfield, Packers defensive end Charles Martin picked up McMahon and slammed him shoulder-first into the AstroTurf. Martin remained hovered over McMahon on one knee, taunting him, until Bears' offensive tackle Jimbo Covert barreled full-speed into Martin. Markbreit ejected Martin from the game, despite strenuous protests from Packers coach Forrest Gregg. It was Markbreit's first ejection as an NFL official. When describing the penalty, Markbreit stated that Martin "stuffed" McMahon into the ground.

Martin was suspended for two games by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, the longest suspension for an on-field incident until Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games by commissioner Roger Goodell for stomping on the face of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode during an October 1, 2006 game [6]. During the game, Martin wore a "hit list" towel with the numbers of several Bears listed, including those of McMahon, running back Walter Payton, wide receiver Willie Gault, and center Jay Hilgenberg. The call was largely credited by the media and NFL executives in helping Markbreit land the assignment as the referee of Super Bowl XXI two months later.

Know for "sure?" No. But, I know for a fact that Tom White (former NFL referee) lives in or near Washington Township, NJ. WT is about 20 minutes from Philadelphia and Tom worked several Eagles games in his career. And, I met Ed Camp who is from Northern New Jersey who has worked Eagles v. Giants games. So, I'm pretty confident you have you answer.

In last years AFC Championship game (BAL/PIT), the BJ was Tony Steratore who lives in the Pittsburgh suburbs....

Having met Markbreit, I asked him about this incident, and he openly admitted that this is true.