Ever since the days of the infamous referee Tim Donaghy, I've questioned the NBA's referees. While the refs generally do quite an amazing job - lets be honest, refereeing a game isn't easy - I've watched many games get ultimately changed due to poor calls. Dwight Howard was recently suspended for a game after he intentionally threw an elbow into an opposing players face. This was the right call. However, during the game he wasn't hit with a flagrent foul. How he wasn't hit with a flagrent is beyond me.
Today I watched the Miami Heat take on the Atlanta Falcons; Dwyane Wade chases an opposing break away player and obviously tries to block his shot from behind as the opposing player tries to dunk the ball. This caused a decently hard foul, but it was clearly understood by the numerous replays that Dwyane had no intention of harming the player, and was going only for the ball.
Guess what?! Wade gets hit with a flagrent foul 1...
"Really?!"
I was left dumbfounded.
Don't get me wrong, I love Dwight Howard, but he deserved a flagrant foul 2 in my opinion, ejecting him from that game and possibly leading to a suspension. The replays clearly showed him intentionally elbowing another player in the face. But no flagrant was awarded. Dwyane Wade makes an incredible rundown play, only goes for the ball, and gets hit with a flagrant. In what damn reality does this make sense?
The NBA referees unfortunately will be under a lot of questioning ever since Tim Donaghy tried to ruin the sport we all love so much. That's when I started becoming extremely critical. I only hope that the NBA looks at some referees officiating and takes action to deter the down slope of their league... Or else every season I will continue to put my hands to my head and wonder how blind some people really are.
/end rant
Picture taken from: http://www.bbsr.de/images/nba/dick_bavetta_gross.jpg
