Referees

[gym from delhi]

The world’s worst ref (O’Connell) gets an Elite Eight game: shameful!

[ChitownSteve]

The world’s worst ref (O’Connell) gets an Elite Eight game: shameful!

Beg to differ. I’d take Brian O’Connell working any game over Jeffrey Anderson. You can count on Anderson injecting himself into a game at the worst possible time.

[gym from delhi]

They are both awful

[XU'59]

I agree with you Steve and I also feel a problem with James Breeding( I think that's the name). He does a lot of BE games and always seems to like to "change" the game.
To be fair, all you can ask is that the crew is consistent ano inserting themselves into the team roster...be neutral. I'm sure that's difficult.
I'm sure the amount of rules changing and technology makes calling a game difficult.
Brian O'Connell is my favorite referee.

[gym from delhi]

The call on Naji in MSG several years ago? No thanks to the Jimmy Johnson lookalike

[ChitownSteve]

I agree with you Steve and I also feel a problem with James Breeding( I think that's the name). He does a lot of BE games and always seems to like to "change" the game.
To be fair, all you can ask is that the crew is consistent ano inserting themselves into the team roster...be neutral. I'm sure that's difficult.
I'm sure the amount of rules changing and technology makes calling a game difficult.
Brian O'Connell is my favorite referee.

To your point, seem to recall Byron Larkin directly commenting upon Mr. Breeding during a February Wednesday night game. And, as you can guess, it was not giving an accolade.

[XU'59]

Steve, as I recall this was the game where SM was T'd up by Breeding after SM started calling out numbers (5) and things went downhill after that. I always felt that this ref likes inserting himself into the flow of the game.
I won't say O'Connell is perfect, but I believe he's more consistent in a good way and always seems to keep his cool.

[PT71]

I always get a kick outta y'all when "evaluating" the officials. They are scrutinized by knowledgeable supervisors after every game...they are evaluated by same. The men you have cited are ALL superior officials...of course, they are human and make mistakes from time to time. With the speed of the game, the various rules, the split-second decision making required, they do a great job. Several factors are primary to being a good-great official...consistency is paramount...assuring that both teams have an equal opportunity to win the game...the "advantage-disadvantage principle'....positioning...hustle...good mechanics...working as a team...etc. Each season all officials are reviewed and evaluated (ranked)...rule changes are reviewed...situational plays dissected...areas of emphasis are covered, with usually a "rules interpreter" covering the subject. Frankly, I have questioned some calls, but realize the degree of challenge these officials face each game, and temper my reaction.

[XU'59]

PT, well spoken and ultimately, it's my feelings, as well.
For sure, I have never had a desire to be put in a position like that. Guillotine!!??

[Alpalpa]

I’ve always thought consistency in the evaluation of referee performance was quite simple. If the calls were questionable, close and we won…the refs had a better angle than me and deserved the benefit of the doubt. If the calls were questionable, close and we lost….the refs sucked like a sinkhole in a drought and were probably on the take. Don’t see the problem here. It’s served me well for over 50 years.