12/21/24
January 26, 2006
Once, according to legend, [Al McGuire] ran onto the court to protest a call and was told by a disbelieving ref that he was going to get one technical foul for every step it took him to get back to his bench. McGuire called over two of his big men who picked him up and carried him back. The ref laughed so hard he didn't whistle any techs.
posted by kirkaracha to basketball at 11:08 AM - 13 comments
Didn't Morris Peterson get a technical foul (and get tossed) for playfully slapping the back of Vince Carter's head (after Vince playfully slapped MoPete in the cheek)? I thought that was one of the weakest T calls I've ever heard of...
posted by grum@work at 11:24 AM on January 26, 2006
Yes, and then Vince Carter went on to cut the lead and then win the game on two long 3-pointers—and the Raptor best suited to defend against him, and who would've been defending him in that situation, was Morris Peterson. The problem is the ref didn't see the first slap. Heck, Carter even pleaded with the ref for clemency.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:31 AM on January 26, 2006
I love the story...especially the Al Macguire "Irish Alzheimer's" quip. "You forget everything except the grudges"
posted by vito90 at 11:55 AM on January 26, 2006
"Heck, Carter even pleaded with the ref for clemency." That's gilding the lily. I saw the game live, it sure didn't look like he was pleading. He shrugged his shoulders and winced -- but then, Vince is always shrugging his shoulders and wincing, so the refs didn't think anything out of the ordinary about it. And he certainly didn't confess his initial slap. (...And he burned us on a buzzer-beater in win the game... grrrrrr.)
posted by the red terror at 12:10 PM on January 26, 2006
Agree, the Irish Alzheimer's is a classic.
posted by the red terror at 12:11 PM on January 26, 2006
The absolute worst is Tom Penders, University of Houston, getting T'd for having the audacity to fall on the floor after having a cardiac event! Ref must have thought it was over reaction to his player getting rung up for foul. Understandable initially, but when the crash cart and gurney gets rolled onto the floor and Tom gets rolled off, you gotta rescind the T! That's just wrong on so many levels.
posted by soonerdude55 at 12:31 PM on January 26, 2006
Ah, they don't make them like Al Macquire anymore. A great sportsman and - yes - a great showman.
posted by Joey Michaels at 01:26 PM on January 26, 2006
The worst tech I ever saw was called against Rasheed Wallace for staring at a ref. I think it was against the Lakers, but I don't remember when or who the ref was. I remember Steve Smith screaming "he didn't do anything, he didn't do anything!" Rasheed is a lot better now, but it was great theater to watch him when he had less self-control. Only he would have intimidated a ref enough to get teed up for staring.
posted by dusted at 04:01 PM on January 26, 2006
The T for the playful slap was by far one of the most pathetic calls in recent history. Basically because it led to the player being ejected for pleading his case (in which he was correct). Whether he was out of line with the things he said to prove his point or not. Either way he was right. Vince Carter even told the ref what happened. But instead of the ref admitting he was wrong, the T and the ejection stood. This is a case where an off court official should have been able to over rule the call on the court. Whats next, T'ing up players for the pregame handshakes? The line of refs having absolute power has to be drawn somewhere. Its time every league started using off court/field/ice officials for more than determining things that have to do with the score, like football does (ball placement, in/out of bounds, clock management, and to question whether a call made by an official was correct). After all, isn't fairness they are searching for? The only reason an NBA official didn't speak up was due to it appearing as if it would under mind the ref. If the ref can review a shot to see if it went in before the clock ran out, or if they can use replay to see where the clock should be set. why can't they use the replay to see what happened during a play that involves an ejection. I bet if more players were involved in a real situation, there would be no hesitation in looking at the film to make sure they get all who are guilty. But when it comes to refs making a mistake, they certainly don't want to see proof of it. Whats next? Red challenge flags for NBA/NHL coaches? Is it a hard job to make decisions in a split second? Sure it is. Thats even more of a reason to review SOME calls to make sure they are correct. Then to fine the guy because he got pissed off was just a slap in the face. Who's to judge whether someone over reacts and makes a mistake when angry? Did the ref get docked pay for making such a ridiculous mistake? He didn't see what V. Carter did, but he heard what Vince said in regards to the situation. Did he get fined for misusing his authority? Refs are held in a higher regard then the players, and its time it stopped. How do we know if some of those bastards got money on the game? In the words of a great man, Mean Gene Oakerland: "Come on ref, Gimme a break"!
posted by BlogZilla at 05:40 PM on January 26, 2006
Refs gone wild on power trips is way out of control! And before someone uses the lame arguments like "they're under so much pressure" or "have you ever refereed a game?" please save it. I operate a forklift, by choice. If I don't have a steady hand, or can't handle the responsibility of handling 2 ton loads, I shouldn't be the forklift driver. Refs choose their profession. If they can't handle the pressure, let them find a job that suits them.
posted by whitedog65 at 06:00 PM on January 26, 2006
at least in basketball, the only major team sport in which a breach in decorum can result in points for the other side. Backchat in rugby will get you marched, which can easily convert a penalty from kicking for position to kicking for points. And points are least of the concerns for cricket players, who can be fined 50% or more of their match fee for behaviour outside the spirit of the games.
posted by rodgerd at 08:18 PM on January 26, 2006
I found the Rasheed's glaring technical foul. It was in game one of the 2000 Western Conference Finals: In February, Wallace vowed he would never be thrown out of a playoff game. He got thrown out Saturday without saying a word. Referee Ron Garretson had hit Wallace with a technical in the first half as Wallace hollered at him from a seat on the floor near the Portland bench. In a conversation with the Blazers' Steve Smith that was replayed for the NBA television audience because the referee was wearing a microphone, Garretson said he had warned Wallace twice not to stare at him and that he would not be intimidated. When the stare came after Wallace drew his fourth foul in the third quarter, Garretson threw him out. "Rasheed didn't say a word. It was Ronnie's opinion that by Rasheed staring at him that he was trying to intimidate him," Dunleavy said. "I didn't think that referees got intimidated. They're the ones who have all the power." Smith said before his team's practice Sunday that Wallace's ejection was unfair. "To his defense, he didn't do anything," Smith said. "What's he supposed to do? Not look at a person?"
posted by dusted at 11:43 AM on January 27, 2006
There's no I in team, but there is a T — at least in basketball, the only major team sport in which a breach in decorum can result in points for the other side. Whassabout unsportsmanlike minors in hockey? Coaches can't get 'em for jawing at the refs, but players sure can. Otherwise, a fun read. Thanks!