Ok People, I’ve been saying it for years, hopefully someone will finally listen. Umpires, referees, judges, officials- ARE PART OF THE GAME! As a competitor, you want nothing more than the rules, strategy, execution, and desire to affect the outcome of a particular event. Well, time and time again, the officials continually make mistakes. What you fail to realize but know all too well is the fact that the athletes screw up just as much if not more! We need to acknowledge that fact and incorporate all factors in OUR new system, yes that’s right, OUR new system. Sports are even better with loyal die hard fans. The fact is athletes wouldn’t be heros and role models unless the fans were there to adore and love them. We’re getting slightly off track here so let me reel you back into my point. An official’s call will not only affect the actual play at hand but continually affect the intangibles of the game that true athletes and fans live for and love. We, as lovers of sports talk for hours on end about the after-effects of officials’ calls and unusual outcomes that have stemmed from great or blown calls. We hear coaches and athletes use cliché after cliché to mask poor performances (by players as well) –“The game had many opportunities, that’s not the only play that cost us” –“I/we could have done this / that” – “if I start blaming officials for losses…” But the bottom line is that in the game, at the time, we are human. It DOES affect us. It will most certainly change mindsets and alter events. This is what it’s all about! How are the athletes going to react!? Are they going to use the new information to their advantage, desire and attitude? Or are they going to crumble or understandably whine and let the adverse situation affect their performance, possibly the outcome of the game.
So, what do we do now?? Shall we talk replay to death until computers and gadgets run sports. We might as well watch simulated video games, which ESPN so casually uses to show predicted outcomes to particular contests. (In my opinion- just another way to advertise and shove video games down our youths’ throats) Instant replay is not the worst idea out there and I would like to see it included but, PLEASE only at a very limited level as we are using it now. The idea of limited challenges and penalties for losing challenges is great! It even adds strategy and analysis for challenges made by coaches. A similar risk-reward system is now used in other sports too. It is important though to not get carried away. Not only are WE waiting, but the athletes are too. Whether it may be an advantage or disadvantage at the time is besides the point. We can’t have it both ways. If we stand here and criticize officials but deny replay, we look just as bad as the athletes that blame and whine about officials on a regular basis. Let’s face it. We LOVE to talk about calls - regardless of right or wrong. We love the aftermath and drama that a call can provide. We love sports including the human error and human nature - all part of the game! We live and die for the emotions that are so evident and graphic -we can feel them.
It is time that we have to officially recognize that officials are part of the game. In this day and age we throw money around like Dez Bryant is picking up the tab. Forget the debatably worthless peer review. Forget the debatably biased manager and owner rating cards. Imagine if that was solely how we measured the value of players and coaches. It is time to really put these guys in the light of day that they deserve - wanted or unwanted. It’s time to take a closer look at the officials. The sports market and economy in the US is a MONSTROSITY. The money, time, energy and manpower that are invested to facilitate the world of sports is simply AWESOME! So, why do we settle for an official who is part-time? It is absolutely absurd to me that you can honestly be ok with that. Somewhere, something is getting compromised. At whose expense?? It’s a travesty-that needs to stop! Why is this person a major league umpire? An NBA official? An NFL referee? Well, if he is and he is performing with the quality of a professional then let’s pay him!
We need to redefine what we consider a professional official. It’s time to pay big and expect big. We deserve it. The players and coaches deserve it. The game deserves it. It is time to complete the game. No more part-time officials. I want more film study, conditioning, player tendency reports, self-analysis, official’s meetings, rules and interpretations of rules meetings, classes, tests…etc. Officials will be reporting to Camp! I want officiating to become as integral and revolutionary as player development.
With money and responsibility comes accountability. Pay them top dollars, promote them, fine them, demote them, fire them - hold them accountable. Create a new culture. More attention on highlighting an aspect of a game that has always been there can only improve the excitement of the sport. Imagine for a second a game that is so true and pure… athletes, coaches, owners, GMs, and now officials who can be fairly scrutinized under the same accountability and microscope.
Lets talk pressure- truly make them work hard for the “right” call. An apologetic umpire wont cut it anymore. We will know if they were at “camp”. We will know tendencies. We will know what there test scores were. Coming into a game, Gruden and Jaws might be trading banter about the officials!
By no means will this solve all the problems involved in officiating. Nonetheless, they will make mistakes. Players will make errors. New problems constantly arise in sports because it is so dynamic. We’re not going to stop the Tim Donaghys from walking through our doors. At least, it’s a step in the right direction. These guys are not going to be perfect. Expect mistakes and errors. But, embrace it like the sports freaks that we are. Be realistic because we don’t want robots - we don’t want umpires to rely on reply. We want the pressure on - sports in its natural state, the way it is supposed to be.
