If you’ve read my past postings then you should be well aware of my disdain for those officiating.  Particular for my wrath are Pac-10 football officials.  All the way back to the botched replay review of the UofO/OU onside kick the individuals who officiate any Pac-10 football game appear better suited for a position as a Walmart greeter, which really puts down Walmart greeters as they need to at least know where they are.

However, there seems to be something afoot lately in all aspects of sport.  The presence of blown calls seems disproportionately prevalent these days.  While those in the NBA continue to lament the use of replacement referees all other facets of the sportsworld look as if they are the ones using replacements.  Let me provide a few examples.

Game 2 of the Yankess/Twins ALDS.  Joe Maurer scorches a ball down the left field line bouncing clearly in fair territory.  Umpire Phil Cuzzi staring intently toward the area where the ball is landing and calls it……..foul?  Replays clearly show the ball landing at least a foot inside fair territory.  Now, a foot doesn’t sound all that much but for somebody who is supposed to be one of the best at what they do, 12 inches may as well be a mile.  Yes, post-season umpires are chosen on their performance.

ALCS game 1.  Torii Hunter lays down a bunt which CC Sabathia fields and throws to Mark Teixiera who is off-balance appearing to pull his foot from the bag.  Hunter is called out and freaks.  Replays are inconclusive but not much is mentioned about what Teixiera is doing as Hunter races by.  Teixiera’s foot is searching for the bag.  I’ve played first base and if I know that I still have contact with the bag when I catch a throw, I’m not trying to feel for it with my toe.

In Game 2 of this series there were a couple of blown calls.  The first being Derek Jeter clearly being safe at first yet being called out.  It wasn’t one of those bang-bang plays.  The ball had not even come close to Kendry Morales’ glove as Jeter touched the bag.  The other call being the “in the neighborhood” miss at second base on a double play.  Erick Aybar takes a flip from Howie Kendrick while straddling the bag and throws to first for an apparent double play, except that Aybar never touched the bag and the runner is called safe.  Now I don’t want to hear anything from those morons who say “He didn’t touch second base…” because that sort of play happens thousands of times during the regular season.  It’s so common that there are no arguments about it from anybody.  Much like the swipe tag where a fielder swipes at a sliding runner without making actual contact.  I hate those who say “rules are rules”.  They can all kiss my big fat white butt.  If a play is called a certain way then it should continue.  Let’s find a reel of that particular umpires calls throughout the season and see how many are not “by the book”.

Other instances cropped up during Sunday’s NFL games.  Incomplete forward passes ruled as fumbles where clearly the quarterback’s arm is moving forward.  Phantom pass interference calls and holding that never occurs, though one could call holding on virtually every single play in the NFL.

I could go on regarding the atrocious officiating of games but I’d go insane.  It’s bad enough to be forced to watch such ineptitude F up my games, but also one is forced to endure the endless drivel that has become the play by play and color commentator.  Long have TV announcers sounding like a bunch of idiots.  Some of what are deemed “venerable” announcers sound as if dimentia is fast setting in.  Dick Stockton and Dick Enberg need to simply retire.  Al Micheals is a walking, talking ad for liberalism pushing his opinions on those of us trapped in watching these games.  Hey, it’s okay to have an opinion and voice it in the appropriate venue, but keep it off my game.  Even those that I agree with shouldn’t be voicing it right after a nasty hit from Ray Lewis.  Okay, it was blatant and uncalled for, but wasn’t it grand seeing OchoCinco get his helmet separated from his skull?  One could only wish that his head would’ve still been in it.  I’m betting he would have still been talking.

I’ve repeated this story to one of the deepest, most dedicated of Steeler’s fans, Black Mike.  It was the start of the season with Pittsburgh playing on Sunday Night Football.  Lynn Swann was being shown on the screen.  Hall of Famer Lynn Swann.  Superbowl Champion and MVP Lynn Swann.  Cris Collingworth was commenting on the storied career that this magnificent, graceful athlete had.  Remarked on the numerous fantastic, acrobatic catches.  Then the wheels came off.  Collinsworth stated that all of the catches Swann had, nothing could compare with the season that Santonio Holmes recently had.  Uuuhhh, what?  Hall of Fame, Superbowl Champ and MVP Lynn Swann was never better than Santonio Holmes of 2008 season?  Great.  Now we have to endure an entire season of this kind of crap.

Yes fans, or fan, I’m back with my long-winded diatribes.  I’ll bitch and moan about officiating all season and post instances of obvious stupidity in the hopes that it will all be stricken from the sports that we love.  Of course, if that were to happen I’d have to find something else to complain about….which shouldn’t be too difficult seeing as I do have an asshole and an opinion.