Opening Day Double

Here we go folks. First weekend of this blog so I might as well start with a double header.


We Don't Want the Spotlight.... Really. The Game the Refs Play.

When David Stern suspended senior official Joey Crawford indefinitely earlier this week some breathed a sigh of relief, some wondered what took so long, others worried it would come back to haunt the Spurs in the post-season and some shook their heads thinking it wouldn't accomplish much. Frankly, it's a little of everything.

The fact is officiating in the NBA has been suspect to downright outrages for so long most people have come to expect it. When was the last time you saw a travel called? Or a double-dribble? Offensive fouls are becoming increasingly rare and I can't remember the last time I saw charge called when a player plowed over a defender for a dunk. It's painfully obvious to those who follow basketball that the refs have been instructed to put the whistles away for certain situations or players in order to create a flashier, more offensive game. By that same token, they also tend to send certain players to the line more then others regardless of contact.

I'm all for giving players the benefit of the doubt when they drive to the net, but as any non-Heat fan will tell, sometimes the number of free throws handed out is simply outrageous. And what did the NBA do? Instead of correcting the problem, they gave the officials more ability to hand out technical fouls and changed the suspension rules further compounding the problem. It took until the last week of the season, but it eventually came back to bite the NBA in the ass.

Joey Crawford's ejection of Tim Duncan on two straight technical fouls exemplifies not only the problem with the rules, but the problem with the men enforcing them. Far to often, particularly in the play-offs, the men with the whistles take center stage and the new technical foul rules gave them even more power. NBA officials go out of their way to call fouls or other violations just to remind the players, coaches and even the fans at the arena just who is in charge, to the disgrace of the game. But they are far from alone.

Ask any NHL fan what their biggest gripe is and to a man they will tell you the officiating. Inconsistent penalties, un-explained trips to the sin bin and the all to familiar make-up call. When Kerry "Hairspray" Fraser was not included on the list of play-off officials some said Garry Bettman had finally wised up. Yeah, sure he has, that's why Mike McCough, the worst ref since Andy Van Hellman, was kept on board for the Stanley Cup drive. NHL referees are infamous for calling ticky-tack penalties early then putting the whistles away late, and don't even ask for a penalty in over-time during the play-offs. The excuse of course is that they don't want to interfere with the outcome of the game. B.S. and they know it.

As with any sport, hockey, basketball, football, baseball, the decision not to make a call affects the game just as much as a whistle does. Be it a hook, pass interference, traveling or even balls or fan interference(just ask any Cleveland Indians fan), not making the call impacts the game by either denying legitimate scoring plays or allowing illegal ones, giving or taking away ball possession and a laundry list of other situations.

So why do it? Because they can't help themselves. The refs love the spotlight, not to mention the power they wield over millionaire athletes, coaches and owners. If they didn't we wouldn't see Joey Crawford attempting to goad Tim Duncan into an altercation. We wouldn't see NHL refs skate over to a teams bench after shafting them, turn their backs and just stand there daring them to say something. Nor would we see umpires change the size of the strike zone should the fans dare to voice their displeasure over a call.

Does David Stern have brass for suspending Crawford? Some would say yes, but not me. Had Stern done his job properly he never would have had to force his most senior official into early retirement.


Long Summer on Long Island


A year ago Charles Wang, the owner of the New York Islanders, shocked the hockey world by announcing former journeyman back-up goaltender Garth Snow would be taking over as the new General Manager of the team. Snow had only retired from hockey two months earlier and many laughed at the idea of him leading the sad sack Islanders back to the post-season.

Soon after taking the reigns Snow began making deals. He moved Alexie Zhitnik to the Flyers to free up cap room, then began acquiring other players, notably Randy Robitaille, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Richard Zednik and Ryan Smyth. Suddenly those who had been critical of Snow did a 180 and began one of the years great ball washing sessions. Funny thing was, no one seemed to notice to the giant clouds on the horizon for the Islanders.

First of all, five of their top ten scorers including Ryan Smyth are free agents this summer. Smyth has given no indication of returning, and neither has Zednik, Kozlov, Poti or Robitaille. In January leading scorer Jason Blake all but came out and said "Get me the f@#k out of here." Sean Hill and Chris Simon have said nothing either way, but rumors abound that Hill will be seeking greener pastures. Even with Charles Wang's deep pockets, players are getting ready to jump ship

What it boils down to is Garth Snow assembled a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs and may now fall apart before the end of July. And Snow need look no further then the mirror and the two men behind him.

Charles Wang and Mike Millbury have been joined at the hip for over a decade. Despite Millbury trading away more pure hockey talent in five years then most GMs see in a lifetime he continues to work within the organization. Owner Charles Wang is known for singing two of the most ludicrous contracts in NHL history, the ten year 90 million dollar contract for chronic under-achiever Alexie Yashin and the equally insane 15 year, 60 million dollar deal for Rick DiPietro.

Ted Nolan was brought on as head coach, but is faced with the daunting task of trying to get Yashin and Miroslav Satan to play every night, an all but impossible task even for a coach such as Nolan. These are two of the most finely talented players in the league, yet they feel no urgency to play, being the over-paid brats they are.

Players recognize this team for what it is, a disaster. Many, if not most, of the free agents on Long Island will be gone at the first opportunity. Those that remain will do so for lack of options more than anything else. And even with the expected 250 free agents available this summer, who would want anything to do with the Islanders? Those with the big money do not earn it, and are rarely, if ever, punished for lack luster efforts. The rink is a crumbling ruin, then fans are tired of almost fifteen years of futility and each post-season for the last decade has been an early exit.

Even after all the shake-ups this past year, the problems on Long Island remain the same, with no relief in sight. Some have said Snow deserves and award, but that's to short-sighted. Wang and Millbury should stand behind the podium with Snow and cheerfully explain why they are so proud to have picked up the torch Harrold Ballard dropped in Toronto.