Scott Williams <[log in to unmask]> says:
> Well, I am not a hockey official, but I can answer this question as a
> baseball umpire.  First, I don't think many people realize that if in
> hockey, baseball, or any sport that requires judgement calls by
> officials, if a game were called EXACTLY as the rules say, the games
> would be as boring as hell.
 
so far I agree.
 
> Also, if there is a close play on a steal
> of second in the 9th inning by a team that is up by sereral runs, he will
> be out, even if he was safe (assuming a _very_ close play).
 
this is outrageous!  If the play was made, you're out, if not, you're safe. If
it's a tie then maybe there is some margin for the score to impact the call,
but I don't think you would ever get a real umpire to make that statement as
you did.
 
> In hockey,
> near the end of a close game, the refs (same as in basketball) let the
> players play.  Flagrant and obvious penalties are called, but the closer
> stuff is let go.  I am of the opinion that officials late in the game
> should let calls go and let the players play and decide the game.
 
this I agree with, but I think the better way to express it is that the
referee should never influence the outcome of a game; and a marginal
infraction does not deserve a penalty call that could have a major impact on
the result late in the game.
 
>         Finally, Ryan Robbins, said something about regardless if the
> score is a blowout.  Near the end of a game the score makes all the
> difference in what is and what is not called.  With a minute to go, team
> A (who is losing by 4 goals) steals the puck and has a 2 on 1 breakaway, but
> one guy is offsides by 2 a couple of inches.  No ref in thier right mind
> is going to blow the whistle on that and I don't think ( and hope) that
> anyone reading this would do the same.  In a close game in the Final
> Four, when a call like that has same meaning, I sure hope it gets
> called, but not in some (relatively) meaningless non-league game in early
> November.
 
There is a significant difference between a penalty call for hooking which is
a referees judgement call, and an off-sides call.  The latter are never
subjective.  It shouldn't make a difference if the play is 2 inches, 2 yards
or 2 mm offsides, it is still offsides and should be called.
 
As far as the BU/Maine game, I think that Walsh and Parker are two of the best
coaches at knowing and taking advantage of every nook and cranny of the rule
book, which is OK; but I am also sure that Walsh took a calculated gamble that
the 2on1 would result in a goal and that the resulting penalty was worth it.
I am sure he knew about the possibility of a penalty shot, and went for it
anyways, guessing that it wouldn't be called.  That is really no different
than having the penalty the result of a player on the ice hooking or tripping
the BU player; it happens all the time.  I fault the ref for not calling the
penalty shot as the rule book specifically allows, and then worse not
detecting the too many men situation.  Parker knew it was too late to call it
after the game, so as a good coach he probably used it as a motivator for his
team the next night, (BU-5/Maine-1?), and then laughed at being out-foxed.
 
BTW: Scott, please don't Ref any games I am playing in!!
 
-John Hughes
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