January 29, 2015
SPORTSCENTRAL
It’s Coach Sid and Steve Johnson on the air tonight with SportsCentral. See show info just below. Scheduled guests include CHS Baseball coach Mike Forbes, with assistants Brandon Efferson, Frank Fresina and Zach Morris.
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Thursday, January 29: 5pm—6pm: SportsCentral… with Sid Edwards and Steve Johnson
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Saturday, January 31: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, Feb 2: 8AM—10AM: The Locker Room with John Goodman and Jim Gazzolo
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
The deadline for submitting this article is Wednesday each week, which means I have to make a determination each as to whether the topics I choose will be relevant on Thursday. That determination can get complicated each week when my availability for writing is on Monday or Tuesday. Sometimes I guess right as to what will be relevant on Thursday, sometimes I guess wrong, and sometimes I don't care.
Last week, I thought the Great Shrinkage Debate would be over by Thursday, but I was wrong. The issue has been debated from all sides, and I figure it is my turn to throw my 75 cents in (since two cents is not enough).
To start, I can eliminate over half of the discussions with one statement. It is COMPLETELY irrelevant whether the footballs being under inflated made a difference in the outcome of the game. All of those discussions are diversions from the real issue which is whether the Patriots intentionally broke a rule.
In college baseball, bat manufacturers pushed the limit that led to "guerilla ball." One the competitive balance was thrown out of whack, rule changes were made. In the long run, the changes over the last 20 years have helped the sport.
In basketball, the examples are too plentiful to mention. One simple example, is coaches that would substitute a better free throw shooter for an "injured" shooter late in the game. That has led to a rule change to where the opponent picks the substitute to shoot the free throw.
Our own Les Miles recently invented the idea of having kickers with the same number so the other team didn't know which player was kicking off or punting. Now you want to talk about something that didn't make a difference in winning or losing, we have the classic example here. Nevertheless, the people in charge decided this practice could lead to a competitive advantage, and banned the practice.
The Patriots have been the best in pushing the limits to find an advantage. Their defensive backs used their hands so well that defensive rules for covering receivers were changed. This year, in the playoffs against the Ravens, they worked within the rules to disguise their formations with an eligible receiver lining up at a position that is not eligible to receive passes.
Again, in the case of the Great Shrinkage Debate, the inflation rule was already in place in the interest of keeping competition fair. If the Patriots broke the rule, they must receive a consequence. That consequence can be debated, and that is the part of the debate I do not wish to enter. As a Saints fan, I cannot enter that debate without extreme bias. Either way, the Patriots will continue to explore and push the limits of the game and let the league will be responsible for the consequences.
At the same time, I don't want to be confused with the people that hate the Patriots and want them banned from the sport. I believe there should be a consequence for their actions, but I respect them. I respect their attention to detail and their willingness to explore new possibilities. These are the qualities necessary for innovation.
I wrote the beginning of this article and that last paragraph on Monday. Now it is Tuesday, and Robert Kraft changed my mind. It blows my mind that owners make billions of dollars and then make some of the decisions they make with their professional teams.
Kraft demanded an apology if the Patriots are found innocent. Why? Because the NFL has the audacity to investigate a situation where they have proof the footballs were lacking air? Has he lost his mind?
Last week I said I was going to be a big Patriots fan during the Super Bowl due to my intense dislike for how the Seahawks and their players handle themselves (with a lack of maturity and professionalism).
Here is a tip for Marshawn Lynch, the league, and the Seahawks. If Lynch doesn't want to answer questions and repeat the same things over and again, how about using his time with the media for a good cause. Example, "While I am here so I don't get fined, please support First Family Foundation." Instead he makes a mockery of people doing their job and turns it into personal gain with skittles endorsements.
Now the Patriots and mostly Robert Kraft have lost me as well. This may be the first year I spend more time watching commercials than the game itself. When does 2015 football start?
HEY REF
By Dennis Dearie
Veteran Louisiana High School Referee
If ever there was not a story but one made up it has to be the so called “Inflate-Gate”. Once again some sports writer is trying to work his way up the ladder and create controversy where there is none. I’ve had to answer this one question about thousand times this past week if I felt the Patriots deserved to be fined or taken out of the Super Bowl because of the allegations that the balls they used in the championship game against the Colts were intentionally de-flatted.
I just can’t believe this supposed “story” is getting so much attention. Let me take you through how any ball makes it onto the field. One of the first things that happen before each and every game is both teams present to the officials all the balls they wish to use for said contest. The officials then inspect each ball to verify they conform to the regulations put forth in the rule book.
Each level of play, i.e. high school, college and pros, have defined weight, color, number of laces, stripe or no stripe, etc., etc. The crew then inspects each ball and if they approve a ball it is then given to game management. Game management is responsible to have these balls ready for use throughout the game. In high school games I’ve worked these “game” balls along with the kicking balls are usually given to the ball boys. Balls are then secured and kept away from all other balls.
Whenever a ball is to be inserted into the game it is given to either the side or field judge. This official then makes a quick inspection of the new ball and if he says its O. K. to play with he’ll then pass it along to the umpire. The umpire is usually the official with the final say as to the legality of equipment. The umpire also does a quick inspection of the ball before he sets it down at the spot where the ball will next be snapped. The umpire will immediately throw a ball out if he feels it’s not in line with the rules.
If we find a ball isn’t “right” we instruct game management to take it out for the remainder of that game. If they fail to remove it from play we’ll mark the ball and give a warning to that team’s head coach not to allow the ball to return. If he fails to do that and his team attempts to re-introduce that ball he’ll be sent home and his team will be penalized for un-sportsmanship conduct.
In over twenty years of working high school games I can only recall one instance where a ball came out for a second time AFTER being marked. And no the coach wasn’t hit with a penalty because the crew caught it before the “ready” was blown. I did walk over to the head coach and I gave him the ball while pointing out the mark that had been put on the ball and ruled as being “ILLEGAL”. My white-hat instructed me to deliver this message “coach if this comes out here again tonight, you’ll be watching from the parking lot”.
It was the first and last time I’d seen a coach take a needle out (they didn’t have a pump on the sideline) and completely deflate a ball during a game. The coach wasn’t upset, he thanked me and the game went on. When it came time to get him and his team out for the second half he looked at me, we had a short laugh and we went on to have no other problems.
So after all is said and done, no matter what a team does to a ball before a game makes no difference. The guys in stripes inspect game balls and it is part of our pre-game duties. We take the job of officiating g seriously and I can say without hesitation that if high school officials catch underinflated balls then you can bet your last dollar the pros look for it. They probably don’t see it very often since these guys play for millions and any infraction could cause you to lose a game and quite possibly your job.
Till next week…
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