OPINION [email protected] | the Integrity of the Game, Whatever It Is
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2012 A9 SCOTT C. SCHURZ JR., President, Editor and Publisher JOHN A. NELSON, Executive Editor THE ADVOCATE-MESSENGER OPINION [email protected] | WWW.AMNEWS.COM The integrity of the game, whatever it is fter winning a game he touched the ball first and also happens when a substitute players from “flopping” to get a “home field” or “home court” ad- against the National had his arms wrapped around the teacher takes over a classroom charge call. In some cases, these vantage, where crowds are al- AFootball League’s New ball. e play was automatically temporarily. e students often calls can mean the difference in lowed to intimidate the England Patriots, reviewed, and it was decided the try to see what they can get away winning or losing a champi- opposition players as well as the Baltimore Ravens ruling would “stand." is lan- with. Likewise, the NFL players onship game. ese games often referees. is “advantage” is so in- quarterback Joe guage means there is not enough and coaches tried to intimidate look like free-for-alls in the final grained in our culture that an au- Flacco remarked evidence to overturn the call on the replacement referees. TV minutes because referees have tomobile insurance company that questionable the field. commentators jumped on the been instructed by the league to uses it in an ad that shows a foot- calls by replacement ere were on-going wage and bandwagon and played the “in- “let them play.” ball referee trying to escape an referees had affected retirement benefits issues be- competent” card. For the most dramatic “flop- enraged hometown crowd by Dan Norvell Contributing the “integrity of the tween the owners and the NFL If one analyzes the competency ping” performances, just watch driving through backyard fences. Writer game.” Since the referees since last year. e refer- of the arbiters of our professional any international soccer match. So much for the “integrity of the start of the NFL sea- ees currently earn an average of sports, very few would give refer- ose players deserve an Oscar game.” son, a number of commentators $149,000 a year to oversee 16 ees or umpires high marks. Take for their expertly executed nose- We might be better served to questioned the competency of games, and their earnings are for example professional baseball. dives. concern ourselves with the in- these substitute referees, and the projected to go up to $200,000 by Nearly every televised game now Back to the NFL and the regu- tegrity of that American pastime matter came to a head during a 2018. is kind of money is pretty offers a box showing the “K-zone.” lar referees — now that they’re known as politics. e referees of Monday night game in Seattle good for a part-time weekend job. TV commentators delight in back, all happy and rich, don’t ex- that game, the Supreme Court, when a disputed last minute Most of the “refs” also have other showing the viewers when an pect perfection. Anyone who fol- decided in 2010 that interest catch by Seahawks’ wide receiver fulltime work. (One of the more umpire has missed a strike call. lows football can come up with groups known as “super PACs” Golden Tate resulted in a win over prominent among them — often Both the American and Na- dozens of controversial calls. e could spend unlimited amounts the favored Green Bay Packers. used as an example — is Ed tional leagues have reviews every aforementioned Ed Hochuli blew of money to support their candi- A referee invoked the “simulta- Hochuli, whose fulltime work is year of how accurate the umpires an inadvertent whistle in 2008 dates. neous possession” rule — which that of an attorney-at-law.) After are in making calls. A 75 percent that cost a game for the San Diego Talk about your “level playing anyone familiar with the game of failed negotiations, the owners accuracy rate is considered good. Chargers. He acknowledged his field!” Russian dictator Joseph football is aware of whether in decided to “lock out” the regular In a recent survey this summer, mistake and apologized to Stalin once said about democratic high school, college, or the pros referees and replace them with CNN found that umpires were Charger coach Norv Turner after elections: “Show me who has the — and awarded a touchdown to substitutes — many of whom correct in only 66 percent of calls; the game. guns, and I’ll show you who wins the offensive player, who had his came from collegiate ranks. wrong in 20 percent, with 14 per- In 2001, the Oakland Raiders the election.” Replace the word hands on the ball and was lying As to the competency question, cent too close to call. missed the playoffs because ref- “guns” with “money,” and you on the ground in the end zone. there is little reason to believe How about the National Bas- eree Walt Coleman, relying on the have a pretty accurate description Commentators for the game, that a referee experienced on the ketball Association? Nearly every controversial “tuck rule,” awarded of the election process in America who were seated in a press box at collegiate gridiron is less compe- time there is a “charging” call, a an apparently fumbled football today. least 50 yards away from the play tent than one who works with the controversy ensues. e NBA re- back to New England Patriots and were probably relying on tel- pros. It is, after all, the same quired a semi-circle be painted quarterback Tom Brady, who Dan Norvell, a life-long sports fan, evision monitors, decided that a game, with only minor rule differ- on the floor near the basket in an went on to win the game and also retired to Danville after a career in educa- defender had “clearly” inter- ences. What seemed to be going effort to avoid these controver- the Super Bowl that year. tional publishing and more than 20 years cepted the ball since it appeared on here is the same thing that sies, but that doesn’t prevent One might also talk about the living and working overseas. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Don’t miss theatre’s central to making sure our local elected bodies act in a way that lets ‘Great Debate’ the public (aka voters and taxpay- Dear Editor, ers) know what actions local gov- Recently, my husband and I, ernment is taking. along with several other couples, e city commission is an attended the opening perform- elected body that represents the ance of West T. Hill’s latest produc- public, not themselves individu- tion, “Jerry Peavler and the Great ally. It would be wise for the com- Debate.” To say that we were enter- mission that is elected in tained would be a vast understate- November to make its number- ment. From start to finish, this play one priority a local workshop on is a true laugh-fest with no let-up the Open Meetings Act that is re- in the hilarity. quired for commissioners and Our talented hometown girl, open to the general public. Elizabeth Orndorff, who wrote and Wonder if the commissioners directed this play, has succeeded and city attorney are aware of the again with her portrayal of a small- provision of the Open Meetings town group of folks from fictional Act that prohibits gatherings in Random, Kentucky, who hope to small groups that in total add up to upstage Danville with their own a quorum to make a decision with- debate and manage to create a out the public knowing they are “comedy of errors” you won’t be- meeting? It appears there is a good lieve! chance that is going on, since they e actors are right on the mark. act as if they have little knowledge From the bumbling police chief of the law. Jerry Peavler (played to perfection Any candidate forum this fall by Allen Martin) to the long suffer- should address how the commis- ing Mayor Babe (played by the sioners will govern openly for the ever talented Karen Logue) and people of Danville and not focus everyone in between, this play amined the futility of building country that was founded so we boy stood and dared to say, “e on their individual agendas and showcases once again the tremen- needless walls. “Before I built a would be free to live peaceable emperor is naked.” discuss them illegally. dous talent we have right here in wall,” he wrote, “I’d like to know/ lives and worship God as we I think a lot of people in author- Annabel Girard our own hometown. What I was walling in or walling choose? ity, and sadly many of us, have be- Danville Danville’s own vice presidential out.” It’s insane: come naked. I pray that caring debate is coming soon, but I guar- It’s a good question these days. n When educators have people will dare to stand for truth. Supports King antee it will not be half as enter- Jim Nicholson banned God from our schools. Until we realize how far we have taining as “Jerry Peavler and the Danville n When Christians have be- moved away from God and the Dear Editor, Great Debate.” Don’t miss the final come the hated and the criminal. principles America was founded I am proud to share my conser- performances this weekend. Christians should n When a human life has been upon, we will continue to slip into vative principles with the state representative of the 55th District, Linda Kurtz support Romney reduced to nothing.