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Saturday, February 9, 2013

2012-13 TFFL: Day 99, Technical Fouls 640 - 643

2012-13 TFFL: Day 99 (5 Games, 4 Technicals)
640: 47 Bennie Adams, 11 Derrick Collins, 52 Scott Twardoski. Cavaliers' Zeller; 3rd, 5:38.
The Denver Nuggets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 111-103.

641: 13 Monty McCutchen, 59 Gary Zielinski, 60 James Williams. 76ers' Pargo; 4th, 5:31.
The Philadelphia 76ers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats, 87-76.

642: 9 Derrick Stafford, 61 Courtney Kirkland, 72 J.T. Orr. Kings' Robinson; 2nd, 6:48.
643: 9 Derrick Stafford, 61 Courtney Kirkland, 72 J.T. Orr. Kings' Garcia; 4th, 1:17.
The Sacramento Kings ultimately won the contest, defeating the Utah Jazz, 120-109.

1. (146 pts) Bino.
2. (141 pts) Boredcravens.
3. (131 pts) Drjjulius.
4. (122 pts) Eagle_12.
4. (122 pts) flap0703.

NCAAB: Yes, He Can. Remaining in Game with 2 Technicals

During Saturday's Ole Miss-Missouri game, a fighting incident occurred during the contest's second half. With 7:30 remaining in the second period, Missouri Tigers forward Alex Oriakhi committed a flagrant one foul against Rebels guard Marshall Henderson, provoking an unsportsmanlike dead ball incident during which a brief fighting incident transpired. Ole Miss Rebels forward Reginald "Reggie" Buckner was ejected from the contest with a flagrant Class A technical foul for fighting (threw punch) while officials Anthony Jordan (Referee), Patrick Evans (U1) and Tim Clougherty (U2) issued Class A technical fouls to Tigers forward Laurence Bowers and Rebels forward Murphy Holloway for their respective unsportsmanlike conduct.

The tech was Bowers' second of the contest, leaving some fans—not to mention the CBS broadcast crew—questioning why Bowers was not ejected for receiving two technicals.

Were Jordan, Evans and Clougherty correct in allowing Bowers to remain in the contest?

Video: Bowers hangs on the rim and is assessed a Class B technical foul pursuant to NCAA Rule 10-6-1-f
Video: Bowers receives his second T of the game during a charged fight to Buckner, but is not tossed (Soon)

In short, yes. Though Bowers did in fact receive a prior technical foul, his infraction was for grasping a basket in an excessive and emphatic manner, an action which by rule is not deemed unsporting (10-6-1-f). Specifically, NCAA Rules stipulate this non-unsporting technical foul shall be deemed a Class B technical foul.

Under the college rule, a player must be ejected after being assessed: two Class A technical fouls (10-5-a:f), one flagrant technical A foul, or one Class A and two Class B technical fouls. Individuals actively participating in a fight shall be ejected and subject to suspension (10-7).

Because Bowers possessed one Class A and just one Class B technical foul, his penalties did not qualify for automatic ejection pursuant to Rule 10-5-Ejection, allowing him to remain in the contest.

This rule is similar in principle to, for instance, NFHS high school's direct vs. indirect technical fouls charged to a head coach. In NBA basketball, a player receiving two such technical fouls shall be ejected.

The Missouri Tigers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Ole Mis Rebels, 98-79.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 98, Technical Fouls 632 - 639

2012-13 TFFL: Day 98 (12 Games, 8 Technicals)
632: 25 Tony Brothers, 35 Kane Fitzgerald, 31 Scott Wall. Clippers' Paul; 3rd, 4:58 (consec-633).
633: 25 Tony Brothers, 35 Kane Fitzgerald, 31 Scott Wall. Clippers' Griffin; 3rd, 4:58 (consec-634).
The Miami Heat ultimately won the contest, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 111-89.

634: 17 Joe Crawford, 7 Kevin Fehr, 45 Brian Forte. Grizzlies' Bayless; 2nd, 1:52.
The Memphis Grizzlies ultimately won the contest, defeating the Golden State Warriors, 99-93.

635: 36 David Jones, 16 David Guthrie, 68 Marat Kogut. Timberwolves' Adelman; 2nd, 8:52.
636: 36 David Jones, 16 David Guthrie, 68 Marat Kogut. Timberwolves' Cunningham; 3rd, 3:59.
637: 36 David Jones, 16 David Guthrie, 68 Marat Kogut. Knicks' Stoudemire; 4th, 9:19.
The New York Knicks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-94.

638: 27 Dick Bavetta, 41 Ken Mauer, 63 Derek Richardson. Bulls' Robinson; 3rd, 3:09.
639: 27 Dick Bavetta, 41 Ken Mauer, 63 Derek Richardson. Bulls' Boozer; 4th, 4:11.
The Chicago Bulls ultimately won the contest, defeating the Utah Jazz, 93-89.

1. (146 pts) Bino.
2. (141 pts) Boredcravens.
3. (130 pts) Drjjulius.
4. (122 pts) Eagle_12.
4. (122 pts) flap0703.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

2012-13 TFFL: Day 96, Technical Fouls 624 - 631

2012-13 TFFL: Day 96 (13 Games, 8 Technicals)
624: 47 Bennie Adams, 26 Pat Fraher, 70 Brent Barnaky. Celtics' Rivers; 2nd, 3:59.
The Boston Celtics ultimately won the contest, defeating the Toronto Raptors, 99-95.

625: 8 Marc Davis, 34 Kevin Cutler, 12 Violet Palmer. Knicks' Stoudemire; 2nd, 2:12 (double-626).
626: 8 Marc Davis, 34 Kevin Cutler, 12 Violet Palmer. Wizards' Wall; 2nd, 2:12 (double-625).
The Washington Wizards ultimately won the contest, defeating the New York Knicks, 106-96.

627: 43 Dan Crawford, 42 Eric Lewis, 75 Eric Dalen. Clippers' Barnes; 2nd, 8:37.
The Los Angeles Clippers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Orlando Magic, 86-76.

628: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 6 Tony Brown, 58 Josh Tiven. Bobcats' Henderson; 3rd, 6:53.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats, 122-95.

629: 55 Bill Kennedy, 60 James Williams, 40 Leon Wood. Nets' Blatche; 2nd, 9:38.
The Brooklyn Nets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Detroit Pistons, 93-90.

630: 25 Tony Brothers, 44 Eli Roe, 65 Sean Wright. Thunder's Westbrook; 3rd, 0:11.5.
The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, defeating the Golden State Warriors, 119-98.

631: 17 Joe Crawford, 7 Kevin Fehr, 61 Courtney Kirkland. Timberwolves' Rubio; 1st, 8:24.
The San Antonio Spurs ultimately won the contest, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 104-94.

1. (144 pts) Bino.
2. (139 pts) Boredcravens.
3. (130 pts) Drjjulius.
4. (120 pts) Eagle_12.
5. (116 pts) flap0703.

NBA Ejections (2): D Crawford, Lewis & Scott / TFFL Day 95

Referees Dan Crawford (crew chief), Eric Lewis (R) and Kevin Scott (R2/umpire) ejected Warriors forward Draymond Green for a flagrant foul penalty two and Rockets forward Marcus Morris for a technical foul in the 4th quarter of the Warriors-Rockets game. With 0:34.1 seconds remaining in the 4th period, Green committed a flagrant foul type two against Rockets guard Patrick Beverley after Green was ruled to have excessively and unnecessarily grabbed Beverley's head/neck area. Beverley had driven for a one-handed dunk during a previous possession with over one minute remaining in regulation and received a taunting technical foul at 1:04. Morris was ejected for his conduct during the ensuing dead ball period. At the time of the ejections, the Rockets were leading, 136-106. The Rockets ultimately won the contest, 140-109.

These are Dan Crawford (43)'s fifth and sixth ejections of the 2012-13 NBA season.
These are Eric Lewis (42)'s first and second involvements with ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.
These are Kevin Scott (79)'s first and second involvements with ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Wrap: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, 2/5/13
Video: Draymond's late game foul in a 30-point game is ruled a flagrant 2; results in two DQs (4:16)

2012-13 TFFL: Day 95 (5 Games, 5 Technicals, 1 Ejection)
619: 55 Bill Kennedy, 58 Josh Tiven, 31 Scott Wall. Pacers' Augustin; 3rd, 2:09.
The Indiana Pacers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 114-103.

620: 27 Dick Bavetta, 13 Monty McCutchen, 54 Nick Buchert. Suns' Gortat; 1st, 5:54.
The Phoenix Suns ultimately won the contest, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, 96-90.

621: 43 Dan Crawford, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Warriors' Bogut; 4th, 6:36.
622: 43 Dan Crawford, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Rockets' Beverley; 4th, 1:04.
623: 43 Dan Crawford, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Rockets' Morris; 4th, 0:34.1.
Rockets F Marcus Morris ejected for first technical foul (other).
The Houston Rockets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Golden State Warriors, 140-109.

1. (143 pts) Bino.
2. (139 pts) Boredcravens.
3. (128 pts) Drjjulius.
4. (118 pts) Eagle_12.
5. (116 pts) flap0703.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

tmac: Outlook and Speculation on Future MLB Hiring Moves

UEFL Appeals Board member tmac has dropped by to offer his opinion and prediction for the future of MLB full-time umpire hiring activity in 2014 and beyond. A frequent UEFL contributor and author of Appeals Board opinions, tmac has met and officiated games with several present major and minor league umpires.

The new hires of Gonzalez, Porter, and Carapazza are bad news for four umpires: Mike Estabrook (100+ games last four years, 595 total since 2006), DJ Reyburn (387 total games, 130 in 2012), Angel Campos (549 games since 2007) and Mike Muchlinski (467 total, 132 last season). I expect the new young guns—Jordan Baker (72 MLB games in 1st year of AAA) and Lance Barrett (146 games in career; 104 last year)—to get continued cracks; for some reason, I don't think they are done figuring out John Tumpane either (84 games in three seasons; 10 last year).

Essentially, MLB (Marsh, et al.) is not stupid: League brass knows it needs familiar call ups.

Esta, DJ, Angel, and Mike M. will provide that. Next year, the newer guys who will work 30-45 games in 2013 will be ready to get more games in 2014. This will allow for the release of some AAA mainstay—I think the only one who has a shot at a full time job is Estabrook. Though MLB was not high on Mike M. going into the year, he stayed up (despite a delayed call up) for almost the entire year.

Here are a few things to look for: (1) What umpires will be up to start the season? Those guys are the ones MLB is highest on. (2) Notice the guys that are up for the 1st time. If they stay for a few weeks, MLB supers are high on that individual.

Broken down by umpire, here are my predictions. Included are # of MLB games & seasons worked.
Green represents most likely to be hired while red is most likely to be released. Yellow is the middle ground:

NBA Ejections: Foster/Boland/Maddox & TFFL Days 94-95

Referees Scott Foster (crew chief), Matt Boland (R) and Tre Maddox (R2/umpire) ejected Kings center DeMarcus Cousins for a second technical foul during halftime of the Kings-Jazz game. With 2:23 remaining in the second period, Cousins received a technical foul for demonstrative complaints related to a missed layup attempt. At the conclusion of the quarter, Cousins was seen talking to Maddox before joining Foster and receiving a second technical foul and ejection. At the time of the ejection, the Jazz was leading, 44-43. The Jazz ultimately won the contest in one overtime, 98-91.

This is Scott Foster (48)'s first ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.
This is Matt Boland (18)'s first involvement with an ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.
This is Tre Maddox (73)'s fourth involvement with an ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.


2012-13 TFFL: Day 95 (8 Games, 8 Technicals, 1 Ejection)
611: 24 Mike Callahan, 29 Mark Lindsay, 23 Jason Phillips. Bulls' Hamilton; 3rd, 4:13.
The Indiana Pacers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Chicago Bulls, 111-101.

612: 19 James Capers, 74 Curtis Blair, 36 David Jones. Bobcats' Taylor; 3rd, 6:37.
613: 19 James Capers, 74 Curtis Blair, 36 David Jones. Bobcats' Sessions; 3rd, 2:16.
The Miami Heat ultimately won the contest, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats, 99-94.

614: 41 Ken Mauer, 30 John Goble, 66 Haywoode Workman. Thunder's Perkins; 2nd, 2:38.
615: 41 Ken Mauer, 30 John Goble, 66 Haywoode Workman. Thunder's Durant; 3rd, 6:36.
616: 41 Ken Mauer, 30 John Goble, 66 Haywoode Workman. Thunder's Thabeet; 4th, 7:36.
The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, defeating the Dallas Mavericks, 112-91.

617: 48 Scott Foster, 18 Matt Boland, 73 Tre Maddox. Kings' Cousins; 2nd, 2:23.
618: 48 Scott Foster, 18 Matt Boland, 73 Tre Maddox. Kings' Cousins; 3rd, 12:00.
Kings C DeMarcus Cousins ejected for a second technical foul.
^The Utah Jazz ultimately won the contest, defeating the Sacramento Kings in 1OT, 98-91.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 94 (3 Games, 2 Technicals)
609: 55 Bill Kennedy, 28 Zach Zarba, 44 Eli Roe. Celtics' Garnett; 4th, 9:39.
The Boston Celtics ultimately won the contest, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-104.

610: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 29 Mark Lindsay, 31 Scott Wall. Pistons' Stuckey; 1st, 4:39.
^The Los Angeles Lakers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Detroit Pistons, 98-97.

1. (139 pts) Boredcravens, Bino.
3. (124 pts) Drjjulius.
4. (116 pts) flap0703.
5. (113 pts) Eagle_12.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Appeals Court Affirms $775K Ruling in Wilson v. Hickox

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has affirmedMarch 2011 Superior Court ruling in which Wilson Sporting Goods Co. was ordered to pay MLB umpire Ed Hickox $750,000 in connection with a 2005 jaw and inner ear injury allegedly suffered by the veteran official. Hickox's wife Lisa was awarded $25,000 for a total of $775,000. From Associate Judge Roy McLeese III's opinion:
Baseball umpire Edwin Hickox was injured while wearing a mask manufactured by Wilson Sporting Goods Company. Mr. Hickox and his wife brought products-liability claims against Wilson. A jury found for the Hickoxes on all claims. Wilson appeals, arguing that the Hickoxes presented expert testimony that lacked an adequate foundation; that Wilson was entitled to a jury instruction on assumption of risk; and that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. We affirm.
On May 14, 2005, Hickox took a foul ball to his mask (erroneously described by the court as "foul-tipped"), a traditional Wilson product given as a free sample. Hickox contended that the design of the mask contributed to his injuries, which included a concussion and permanent minor to moderate loss of hearing.

Specifically, the mask Hickox wore on May 14, 2005 allegedly possessed a newly designed throat guard that angled forward as opposed to the classic "dangling" throat guard which extends vertically downward.

The Hickoxes charged the foul ball struck the base of this angled throat guard, pushing the mask with great energy and force into Hickox's jaw and, allegedly, contributing to the injuries suffered. Hickox believed that had he been wearing another style of traditional mask or a hockey-style helmet, energy would have been dispersed or diverted and he probably would not have suffered the claimed injury.

The trial revealed Wilson had not performed testing on the type of mask used by Hickox on May 14, 2005 and that the mask's design was allegedly defective due to the forward angle of the throat guard. Hickox's attorney Patrick Regan had stated, "They were using the umpires and catchers as human guinea pigs."

The trial furthermore stated that while other companies sold forward-angled throat guard masks, those products were not associated with injuries like those sustained by Hickox.

The tort claims included strict liability for a defective product, negligent design, design defect and due to failure to warn and breach of implied warranty of fitness. The court rejected Wilson's arguments regarding inappropriate expert testimony and assumption-of-risk jury instructions; McLeese was joined on the bench by Associate Judges John Fisher and Kathryn Oberly.

This ruling is unrelated to the Hickoxes' still pending lawsuit against Wilson, filed in the New York Supreme Court. In that case, Hickox alleges that he was injured (concussion and left ear) when a foul ball struck his mask on April 18, 2009 while his wife has spent "considerable time caring for and assisting her husband."

Wilson Sporting Goods is a subsidiary of Amer Sports and is the manufacturer of MLB crew chief Joe West's patented West Vest, the only chest protector officially endorsed by professional baseball (both MiLB & MLB).

Sunday, February 3, 2013

NFL Super Bowl and Championship Game Call Leniency

Championship and high-stakes deciding atmospheres in general such as overtimes or final possession situations routinely pose unique challenges to officiating with a very real argument existing in NFL football's one-game championship (Super Bowl) epitomizing such a pressure-packed environment. MLB's World Series, NBA and NHL's Stanley Cup Final are each distributed over a four-to-seven-game period, but the Super Bowl begins and ends on a single Sunday in early February. Television ratings associated with any of these single games attest to this phenomenon.

Accordingly, each call in such a highly conspicuous contest becomes susceptible to heightened scrutiny, which, in some instances, may possess the collateral effect of modifying officials' behavior, which may inevitably result in calls or a lack thereof that otherwise may not have existed.

Take Super Bowl XLVII's hyped fourth-quarter, fourth-and-goal play from the five-yard line with time running out. 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree and Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith made contact—whether incidental or illegal—as quarterback Colin Kaepernick's pass attempt fell out of the end zone untouched.

Options for head linesman Steve Stelljes and side judge Joe Larrew included:
Holding: With the line of scrimmage at the five-yard line and Kaepernick remaining in the pocket, contact between offensive and defensive player within the end zone was incontrovertibly beyond the five yards allotted by Rule 8-4-1. If illegal (e.g., if Smith was ruled to have impeded, redirected or restricted Crabtree), the foul would be defensive holding.
Pass Interference: If contact was ruled to have persisted as the ball was released on a pass attempt, Rule 8-5-2-c (grabbing an opponent's arm/restrict), Smith could have been flagged for DPI.
No Call: If contact beyond the five-yard zone pre-pass was ruled incidental (8-4-4) and contact during and after the pass attempt was ruled permissible (8-5-3), a no call would be correct.

Fight!
The 49ers and Ravens engaged in a post-interception tussle with 6:55 remaining in the second quarter of Superbowl XLVII. Though the large scrum produced multiple instances of conduct that could have been interpreted as disqualifying behavior, officials issued only two offsetting penalties, one against each team. In lieu of penalizing each player who participated in the small brawl, Referee Jerome Boger's crew instead charged 49ers OT Joe Staley and Ravens CB Corey Graham with 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalties.

Meanwhile, Ravens corner Cary Williams appeared to outright shove an official—an offense specifically prohibited by rule 12-3-1 with the preface, "Under no condition is an official to allow a player to..."—and was not penalized.

Prior to this, several instances of dead ball conduct between the clubs may have ordinarily produced unsportsmanlike conduct or roughing penalties in a non-postseason affair, but in this Super Bowl XLVII, resulted in nary a scolding from the nearest arbiter.

Indeed, no Super Bowl has experienced more penalties than Dallas-Denver in Super Bowl XII's 20 flags, a number equaled only by 2004's Super Bowl XXXVIII between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots. By contrast, five Super Bowls have escaped with four or fewer penalties with Super Bowl X leading the way with just two (both Dallas, vs. Pittsburgh). 14 Super Bowls have seen teams commit no greater than two penalties.

The fewest penalties committed by one team over the course of a single season remains 19, produced by the 1937 Detroit Lions. In second place is 1935's Boston squad (21 penalties) followed by 1936's Philadelphia Eagles (24). Meanwhile, 22 penalties is the NFL's all-time single-game record for "most by one team." The number rises to 37 for both teams combined (1951, Bears-Browns).

No NFL game since Pittsburgh-Philadelphia in November of 1940 has escaped without a single flag.

Nonetheless, the Super Bowl is a special breed. Even if the Rules Book is airtight and leaves absolutely no discretion—for instance the Cary Williams incident—officials in such a pressure-packed situation will rarely, if ever, enforce the rule as written in regards to unsportsmanlike conduct or roughing and espcially in regards to an ejection. 15 yards in the Super Bowl can conceivably be the difference between a win and a loss.

In 2009, Pittsburgh's James Harrison came close to that fine line—had it been a regular season game, it could have been argued that he crossed that line and then some. At the time, commentator John Madden declared, "he should be thrown out for that." Harrison remained in the game to help his Steelers win a ring.

The League, its team owners, etc. simply do not want a player ejected from the championship game. Even in baseball, no player or coach has been ejected from a World Series game—and that's a best-of-seven series—since umpire Tim Welke tossed Braves skipper Bobby Cox in 1996. Cox, coincidentally, is the only person in baseball history to have been thrown out of two World Series (he was previously ejected in 1992).

Ejections simply do not generally occur during a Championship Series and absolutely do not exist during a winner-take-all championship game.