The best thing that ever happened to sports was television -- unless you officiate sports.
Ask the umpiring team that is handling the American League Championship Series and blew two calls in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Ask the SEC football officials who were suspended on Wednesday. The crew was punished after the conference determined the crew was mistaken on Saturday in flagging an Arkansas player for a late hit on a Florida player. The call allowed Florida to continue its final touchdown drive in a game it won 23-20.
Ask the replacement NBA referees who whistled Sixers' Willie Green for a foul on Washington's Mike James on Tuesday night as James attempted a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer. The instant replay showed Green never touched James, who was given three free throws and won the game at the line.
Replay. It's become the new four-letter word to game officials.
"I'm just out there trying to do my job and do it the best I can," Tim McClelland told the media after the two erroneous calls he made Tuesday in the Yankees' win over the Angels. "Unfortunately, there was, by instant replay, two missed calls."
McClelland graduated to the big leagues in 1983 when he famously disallowed a George Brett home run because there was more than the allowed amount of pine tar on Brett's bat. He is largely considered the best umpire in baseball. But even the sharpest eyes and judgment in the game can't compete with technology, and they shouldn't have to.
We've been living with instant replay in this country for nearly half a century now, ever since the fourth quarter of the Dec. 7, 1963, Army-Navy Game. That was when CBS, encouraged by a director named Tony Verna, showed a one-yard touchdown run by Army's Rollie Stichweh for a second time immediately after it happened. It prompted CBS announcer Lindsey Nelson to famously tell the TV audience, "This is not live! Ladies and gentlemen, Army did not score again!"
That was one replay in one game of one play that was not up for question. At the Angels' stadium on Tuesday night, we witnessed several replays of two questionable calls captured by multiple cameras from myriad vantage points. The Zapruder film hasn't been dissected so much.
When a replay is shown on a big screen and shows the official was wrong, but the game continues on as if nothing happened, we not only have a problem, we have something worse: fraud.
The Angels' fans in attendance saw the replays too on the stadium's giant TV screen. So did the umpire who erred, McClelland, and there was nothing he could do to correct his mistake. He was only left to look the rest of the night like the heel he isn't.
That's as unfair a punishment as the incorrect call is to the team that suffers it, and it is time to bring an end to it. If we can see it and it is wrong, then it should be corrected, plain, short and simple. What's wrong with recall? We're accustomed to it in politics and the car industry.
I don't want to hear anymore about how getting it right can be so wrong because it might take too long and slow down our games and take the human element out of the contests by diminishing the role of officials. We don't live like the Flintstones anymore; we live like the Jetsons, and the second edition of The Jetsons stopped being made over 20 years ago.
I don't want replay restricted to home run calls, which baseball started last season, or possession plays in football or buzzer-beaters in basketball. Leave judgment calls -- balls and strikes, pass interference, etc. -- out of consideration for review and leave everything else eligible for a second look. Bang-bang plays at first. Facemask pulls that aren't caught. If a couple guys in a booth can't figure it out in due time, let's turn to a few guys on a couch with a six-pack in front of a 52-inch HDTV with a remote control at the ready and a DVR. We're not talking about rocket science. We're talking about the innate ability to watch television. Hockey understands
When a replay is shown on a big screen and shows the official was wrong, but the game continues on as if nothing happened, we not only have a problem, we have something worse: fraud.
The time has long gone when bad calls are lore. Now bad calls are lies and the impact can be dramatic. After all, the SEC crew that got suspended for making a call that further video review showed was wrong may have influenced the bogus national championship game that the BCS gives us. Take away the score that resulted for Florida and all of a sudden the polls look different and another school is in line for the national title loot.
Most of us who simply watch games seem to be in favor of instant replay to correct mistakes, according to polls taken over the years like a small one taken recently by The Los Angeles Times. It is management that more often wrestles with the notion, particularly that which represents officials.
"Not only is pace of game an issue but the continued expansion of replay potentially takes away from the spirit of the game," Lamell McMorris, chief negotiator for the World Umpires Association, told Bloomberg.com on Wednesday. "Part of the game is the potential for human error, not just from umpires, but players, that's part of the spirit of the game. It happens."
But with officials, it no longer has to.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-22-2009 @ 12:41AM
Danielle said...
Blackistone, I couldn't agree more. Everything you wrote is right on! I just can't believe that the issue is still an issue. We have had the available technology for such a long time. I know change is difficult, but come on.
Great article.
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10-22-2009 @ 4:16AM
Ron Pizz said...
Why not have a umpire that is not part of the crew sitting in the press booth with a T V and any questionable call can be looked at immediately and a decision can be made on the spot and no loss time, and his decision is final.
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10-22-2009 @ 10:39AM
capnt45 said...
Ron that is a great idea, expect it will never happen because it is logical thinking
10-22-2009 @ 6:34AM
orlfrd said...
They didn't blow 2 calls. They made a mistake on the pick off at 2nd base. The umpire aw the mistake on the replay. The second was a make up call. He did that on purpose. That happens all the time. Basically he admitted he made a mistake and took steps to make it right.
The call at 3rd was a make-up call.
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10-22-2009 @ 9:44AM
roybostick said...
IF THE UMPIRE WOULD HAVE MOVE A LITTLE TO HIS LEFT & NOT BEEN IN A DIRECT LINE HE WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT BOTH PLAYERS WERE NOT ON BASE & THAT THE CATCHER TAGGED BOTH ON THE PLAYERS OFF THE BASE WHICH IS "2" OUTS.
GOOD OFFICIALS, WHATEVER THE SPORT, STAY CLEAR OF THE DIRECT LINE & GET IN A MORE ADVANTAGOUS POSITION.
ROY
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10-22-2009 @ 10:43AM
justin said...
Hey Roy, if you are going to comment learn the rules, don't use caps.
But to be on point here, we need to get rid of make up calls, an ump/ref missed a call, doesn't mean they should excused for making a bad call, two wrongs don't make a right.
10-22-2009 @ 1:51PM
John said...
This is one of those illogical moments where powers to be have a sack over their heads. Often times a bad or stupid call can determine the outcome of a game. If that is the case, there is absolutely no excuse to exclude showing a replay to make it right. To lose on a mistaken call is inexcusable in today's age of technology. This is nuts!!
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10-22-2009 @ 2:08PM
George said...
Lamell McMorris has a losing argument. Sure, human error is part of the game. But you have the technology to all but eliminate that human error as it pertains to umpiring. And comparing the errors that the umpires make to a player's error is a bit disingenuous. A player drops a ball, it's done. You're not going to redo the at-bat. But if an umpire makes an egregiously wrong call, like the two that Tim McClelland made the other night, you now have the ability to make sure that the proper call is made.
What it comes down to is this: The umpires are terrified that once you expand instant replay, it's going to lead to the ultimate end result where you figure out a way to replace umpires and their constantly changing strike zones (I'm looking at YOU, CB Bucknor) and make them obsolete.
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10-22-2009 @ 3:19PM
mthbwu said...
This play does not come close to the Denkinger call in the 85 world series which was pure on the run judgement and no other ump could be consulted on that type of play. Mclellands call of the two runners at third base could have been spread around to the rest of the crew a discussion could have occured and a better result may have occured.
On the call mclelland missed on the tagging of the fly ball, that is not a discussion that can be spread around to the rest of the crew. HE BLEW THAT ONE BIGTIME. Of all plays on the field to not rule in the favor of the runner in this play is a cardinal sin. How could he say he saw it. Unexplainable for a veteran.
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10-22-2009 @ 5:13PM
WWLeake said...
The games are rigged. The Yankees are in to go back to the world series. Why are all the blown calls helping the Yankees to win? Where is the commish? Money changes hands on these games so you can bet they are rigged. The Black Sox was not that long ago.
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10-22-2009 @ 5:54PM
zinn757 said...
Baseball may be the last sport to not let replay in,it may do more harm then help. What they need to do,is get the xtra umpires they have to have a meeting and make the right call.Some of these umps I thought were pick on how good they did during the season,how wroung was I. They need a better rating system,some umps don't belong calling T-BALL.
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10-22-2009 @ 6:23PM
joemc868 said...
The old saying..........3 blind mice........all
these oversights were perfectly obvious........
get rid of the geezers and hire someone who
can SEE............
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10-22-2009 @ 7:01PM
g8rtj said...
Kevin, apparently your column could use a little instant replay as well...Florida kicked a FG on the final drive.
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10-22-2009 @ 10:30PM
svrdhd said...
A FG on the final TD drive? Perhaps you misread.
10-22-2009 @ 9:16PM
Customize said...
First, it is a gross assumption that Florida would not have scored without the penalty (that was not a fourth down play). Second, you cannot use replay in baseball in the same way you would for football. There are too many continuation plays in baseball. You have a runner on first with two outs. The batter hits a ground ball down the first base line that the umpire rules as foul. But instant replay shows that it was fair. Because the action stops as soon as the ball is called foul, where do you put the batter? Where do you put the runner? Suppose the runner on first is a healthy Jose Reyes or suppose it is Jason Kendall (slowest guy I can think of.) There are so many similar scenarios where there is continous action AWAY from the ball (unlike football). It would make an absolute mockery of the game. Home runs - okay. I would even give you plays at home plate that decide the game in the from 9th inning on(game - tieing or game - winning run). Any play that results in a dead ball - did a pitcher hit a batter; did a fielder trap a FOUL fly ball; any kind of potential fan interference. Other than that, leave the game alone.
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10-22-2009 @ 10:22PM
svrdhd said...
Replay would have dramatically changed the FL/AR game, since FL would then be trailing by 14 during this series of unfortunate events. I do honestly feel for Florida, however: 12*-1 after the CCG carries less respect than 11-2.
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10-23-2009 @ 9:23AM
jzz3skys said...
"What it comes down to is this: The umpires are terrified that once you expand instant replay, it's going to lead to the ultimate end result where you figure out a way to replace umpires and their constantly changing strike zones (I'm looking at YOU, CB Bucknor) and make them obsolete."
While that makes for a nice neat little scapegoat, it's not true that the umpires are driving the opposition to instant replay.
Here, read this [from Dennis Cummings, "Reviewing Baseball's Instant Replay System," May 15, 2009]. The subject is the "limited" use of replay for home run calls introduced earlier this year:
"Instant replay has been well-received by fans. An Associated Press-Knowledge Networks poll released in April [2009] found that 80 percent of fans approved of replay, with 63 percent of fans calling for it to be expanded to review other calls, such as ball and strikes and calls on the basepaths."
So right there, you lose a lot of fan support when you start talking about *unlimited* replay.
The article continues:
"The AP also reported that no umpires have expressed opposition to replay, saying that many feared of being remembered like Don Denkinger, an umpire famous for missing a crucial call at first base in the 1985 World Series.
But there are many traditionalists in baseball who object to the use of replay. Earlier this month [Brewers manager Ken] Macha, after the Brewers were on the wrong end of a close call on the left field foul line, said that he would not like to see replay used to review the call."
The opposition to unlimited instant replay starts at the top, with Bud Selig, who's said he has no intention of expanding instant replay. Then you have the managers, 5 of whom voted against the *limited* use of replay introduced this year, so presumably, more will be opposed to unlimited replay. There's also a hefty chunk of players against it, too. Then you have the commentators, like Buck and McCarver, who were discussing it last night. They don't want an electronic strike zone either. So you see, it's not really about the umpires being afraid of losing their jobs.
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10-23-2009 @ 11:51AM
jssandbhs said...
Well said Kevin, and the accompanying photo shows McClelland standing behind third looking a little too casual, like he just happened to be sauntering by... To me the "ready" position is not just for players; it's a rundown at third, for crying out loud, show some intentness on being aware of all aspects of the play (that includes the runner coming from second)!
I've noticed in NBA games, the refs hustling like mad to keep pace with the play, and they had better, right? Yes, baseball is a slower paced game overall but it absolutely includes many lightning fast moments and these umps have to be able to HUSTLE. I've seen plays where the ump struggles to waddle into position and looks like he can barely move. MlB umpires strke me as an old boys club. This is my biggest issue. They need to be more athletic themselves to keep up with athletes who continually get better, stronger, faster as the years go by.
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10-24-2009 @ 1:14PM
Tom Balboni said...
EVERYONE is missing the big picture. As a FORMER bookie,, I can tell you most refs bet on the games. They make the most money from gambling. All it takes is a few games a year, and the refs are set.. All they need to do is carefully sway the outcome of some games and they are rich.. That is the real reason the refs do not like instant reply. Why do you think the refs heavily petitioned "against" any form of instant reply?? Because it takes away from the "nest egg",,, if you people only new the truth, if you only new how deep it went... Sad.
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10-26-2009 @ 3:02PM
Victor said...
Why arent pro "officials" held accountable for their mistakes. Especially MLB umpires, they act like theyre above questioning. It seems every year as the players get quicker and the games get faster and the officials grow older, it seems more calls are blown in every sport. More now than ever. Umpires should be fined or suspended. No excuses. Smae with refs. Theyre bad calls change outcomes and sometimes can make a difference in a guy going 0-4 or 1-4 and playing the next day or being benched. C'mon pro sports please hold these guys accountable.
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