Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site busch.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!we53!busch!dcm From: dcm@busch.UUCP (Craig Miller) Newsgroups: net.sport,net.sport.hockey Subject: officials watching replays? Message-ID: <359@busch.UUCP> Date: Wed, 26-Dec-84 09:42:17 EST Article-I.D.: busch.359 Posted: Wed Dec 26 09:42:17 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Dec-84 03:38:54 EST Organization: Anheuser-Busch Companies - St. Louis Missouri Lines: 37 [] (This discussion probably has taken place before here on the net. If so, sorry, but I missed it.) Basically, the question is: should sports officials be allowed to watch the replays in order to make the most `fair' (or right) decisions? This weekend, I saw the St. Louis Blues play the Buffalo Sabres (I think the game was on Sat, Dec 22, but I can't be sure), and saw two times where the replays could have helped the officials. Both times the dispute was whether or not the puck was in the net. The first time, the ensuing ruckus (for lack of a better word) *completely* turned the game around. The second time wasn't as bad, even though to me it was more disputable, but the damage had already been done on the first (anyone who saw the game and disagrees with my feelings on the calls, please reply by mail to me - let's keep that stuff off of the net). In my opinion, if the ref could have watched the replays, he could have made the right calls. Instead, the calls were made on judgement (after only seeing the plays once), and, as was shown in the replay on the first call, the wrong call was made (at least on the first one - the replay showed the puck *clearly* in the net). Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying the officials blew it or anything - the play was just too hard to call, due to the speed of the puck, etc... I imagine most anyone would have called it the same way in the same circumstances. Any discussion at all? My feeling (obviously) is that the replays should be used if at all possible. Of course, this brings lots of other problems. Delay of the game, when to use it, etc... But I feel these things could be worked out, and the number of games decided on the officials' judgement could be cut down immensely. -- Craig Miller ..!ihnp4!we53!busch!dcm The Anheuser Busch Companies; St. Louis, Mo. "Unix(tm): it's not just a job, it's fun."