Sports Controversy

The Harder You Fight the Better

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

Watching a game of hockey the players are clearly playing very physical and rough. I am concerned of thinking of hockey players as role models. Also because of one their main rules. The rule is when a fight breaks out, the player who wins the fight remains in the game and the opponent is suspended out of the game. 

This rule just blows my mind. It just makes me worried for all those young kids who are dreaming of becoming a hockey player. I do not want them to grow up thinking that fighting is acceptable.

The only time I see fighting as acceptable is if the people fighting are trained to fight and is supervised by a referee such as boxing, mma fighting, and etc. Our generation already has a lot of young ones turning to many bad things, that we should think twice about what we allow. Sports is a big thing to young kids and they see these players as role models.

No Kicking Balls in BBALL

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

It is in the middle of the game, when all of a sudden a player tries to drive in with the basketball and accidentally dribbles the ball off an opponents foot and the referees call it an automatic kick ball.

This call only gets to me when the ball, after it has been touched by a foot, stays inbounds and the player with the ball and the opposing player are able to regain from it and continue on playing. BUT, instead the referees call it as a penalty and they stop the play. It just does not make sense to have to make a big deal about it. 

It makes me mad when it is just a stationary foot that was seen hitting a ball. Like, really?! The player didn’t even lift up his foot to hit it!

Technical Foul

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

Athletes are so limited to the emotions they are allowed to show during a game. In the game of basketball, a ‘technical foul’ is a foul when a player could not control his emotions to an extent that was acceptable to a referee at the time. 

The big ‘iffy’ about this rule for me is the inconsistency the referees call. For example; in the league today, the big power forward from the Orlando Magic holds the record for the most technical fouls received this season. This is because he is such an easy target. For instance, in a recent game, Howard reacted to an opposing player by just shaking off the opponents arm off of him and automatically he got a ‘t’ (technical). Almost a second later, a smaller, point guard player did almost the same thing, if not, even harder and was not called anything.

When is the NBA going to take care of their bigger players?

March Madness game on 3/20/11

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

The ball has been touched out of bounds at 1.5 seconds which was clearly shown on all cameras. However, the clock ran until 0.7 left. With the team with the ball losing by 2. The coaches asked to review the clock and were told that it was reviewed and that 0.7 seconds is the correct time.

Now, looking back at the tapes, the coaches are disappointed in the reffing staff. On the last play with 0.7 seconds the player threw up a long three pointer and almost went it, but honestly with the extra 0.8 seconds would’ve made him get a better look, for 1.5 seconds is enough time to at least gather yourself and make a good shot.

In his case he had 0.7, once he caught it he had to shoot right away and had no time to square up for a clear shot.

It’s Final

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

Have you ever watched highlights of a game that had finished and the announcers are now saying that the referees had made the wrong call? This happens almost in every game that happens. I cannot remember the last time I watched sports news in a whole week without seeing a controversial call. I think it is because referees are human so they are not always likely to see everything clearly and make the right call. But after watching highlights they may feel remorse for making the right call but it will still not change the call that they have made. 

No Room to Express Yourself

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

This blog is for the frustrating call that is called on a player who has said just a little more than he should of said or even reacted a little too much. It is the technical foul call. Looking into the NBA, there are many technical fouls being called and some look more deserving than others. For example; a quick reaction from Dwight Howard would result in him getting a technical being called against him. On the other hand, a smaller player who reacts the same, if not even more won’t be called for a technical.

I think this rule would be fair if it was being called consistently among all players and not single out those who are bigger. When is the league going to protect the forwards and centers in the NBA, just as they protect the guards in the league. Also, if they were to call a technical on someone saying a curse word, they should call it for the next guy that does as well.

Mr. Controversy

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

Ron Artest is the most controversial player currently playing in the NBA and one of the most controversial players in the history of the NBA. His temper has led to several suspensions  including a 73-game suspension for his part in the Pacers-Pistons brawl that spilled into the seats. He is also recognized as one of the top defensive players in basketball.

Ron Artest was born on November 13, 1979 in Long Island City, New York. He spent his childhood growing up and playing basketball in the Queensbridge Projects in Long Island.

Ron Artest chose to attend the St. John’s University where he was touted as one of the top players in college basketball. In 1999, the Chicago Bulls used their first pick, the sixteenth pick overall, to select Ron. Although he was a solid player for the Bulls, they traded him to the Indiana Pacers in 2002.

While playing for the Pacers, Ron Artest made a name for himself with his playing ability and the controversy he created. After the 2003-2004 season, he was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. He is consistently named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team as well. His temper during games added to his intimidation on defense, but he also began to face suspensions as a result of his antics.

In 2003, Ron Artest threw a television in the tunnel at Madison Square Garden during a basketball game against the Knicks. He received a three-game suspension. Later in the season, he had a confrontation with Pat Riley, coach of the Miami Heat, which led to a four-game suspension.

On November 19, 2004, during a basketball game with the Detroit Pistons, a scuffle broke out between Ron Artest and Pistons’ player Ben Wallace. After removing himself from the situation, Ron Artest was hit in the  head by a drink that a fan had thrown at him. Ron Artest jumped over a table and entered the stands where he began hitting a fan he believed to have thrown the drink. He returned to the basketball court where he was confronted by Pistons’ fans that he fought with as well. As a result of Ron Artest’s actions during the controversy in Detroit, he was suspended by the NBA for the rest of the season, 73 games. He returned to the Pacers for the 2005-2006 season, but the Pacers traded him to the Sacramento Kings in the middle of the season.

After Ron Artest joined the Sacramento Kings, they improved their record immensely and made the playoffs as the eighth seed. Unfortunately, controversy continued as Artest was suspended for the second game of the series after elbowing Manu Ginobli in the head. The Kings lost the series in six games.

Not a Fumble

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

In the NFL, which is the National Football league. Their is a rule that states the ground cannot cause a fumble. Which to me, I think is a dumb rule. Like, Oh really? Wait, did you hang onto the football? No. Well then you fumbled it. No. Why not? Because, the ground knocked it out. And that’s not a fumble? No. This rule just baffles my mind. I mean, everyone knows the ground is there. Its not like it comes out of nowhere to cause a fumble like a crazed linebacker. When it comes down to it, shouldn’t the rule just be, did you hang onto the football? No? OK fumble! I don’t want to know why, I don’t care why, you did not hang onto the football, end of story. So in that case, a fumble should of occurred.

The Instant Replay Rule

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

In every sport, there will always be rules that will cause controversy and confusion to know if the call was fair or not. That is why being a referee is said to be a very difficult job. In the game of baseball there is a rule that states the referees are only allowed to review the instant replay on homeruns. Why do official replays in baseball only come into play for home runs? Why not on plays at the bases? Why not be sure to get the call right if there’s useful technology to do it? And if in the future they do decide to put in replay for those plays, they should also take a look at using technology to eliminate the frustratingly arbitrary strike zone.

If MLB (Major League Baseball) wants to speed up the game a bit and stop the batter from stepping out and jabbering about each questionable call, then they should put in a technology that eliminates any questions. 

Harder on the Defense

Written By: Stephanie Santa Maria

In NFL football, which is the National Football League. There is a rule, which is in favor of the offense. This rule applies when a play has been started and the offensive player runs or gains a few yards and gets stopped by the defense, but is still up to where the defense is able to push back the offensive player to where the offense is now losing yards. The referees then will simply blow their whistles and stop the play. The referees then count the down where the ball went the farthest, NOT where the defense was able to push the offensive player back. As if the job of the defensive line isn’t hard enough, they had to add this rule to help the offense score.

This rule I believe is added because the crowd loves seeing teams score, but is this justice enough to let this rule stand? I believe if the offense is good enough to gain their own yards with what the defense is giving them, then it is fair.