NBA/NHL Officiating 2009 Playoffs Version

NBA/NHL Officiating 2009 Playoffs Version
(M.D. Wright, J. Albert)
5.7.09

DEAR GOD.

That's all I can say. The officiating in both sports has been CRIMINAL all decade, really. And the crescendo has occurred right under our noses in the playoffs in both the NBA and NHL.

In Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings had a great chance to take hold of the series and go up 2-1 overall. Two horrific calls/decisions were made on the part of the referees. Initially, a very poor interference call stopped a rally for the Wings and with a little over a minute remaining in the game, Marian Hossa had a goal taken away because the referee didn't see the puck and called the play dead. SHEESH. Game ends 2-1. Series 2-1 in favor of the Anaheim Ducks.

The 4th quarter of Game 1 of the Orlando vs. Boston Eastern Conference Semifinals in the NBA -- and ALL of Game 2 of that same series has been a sad joke. The way the refs allowed Rondo and Pierce to simply launch their bodies into defenders and the Celtics go to the line 26 times in the 2nd half AFTER NOT SHOOTING ANY IN THE FIRST -- while not changing the way they played -- is beyond me. I would have no problem with this except the refs did not call Boston for the same fouls when Orlando was on offence.

Then, in Game 2, I saw several non-called fouls on the Celtics when Magic players were pulled blatantly, grabbed, fouled across the arms -- highlighted by Glen "Big Baby" aka Fat F--- Davis RAKING Dwight Howard about the arms for a "steal". This wasn't the worst part of the play. Not the fact that it was not called, not the fact that Eddie House (who I now hate) got a layup off the "steal" but get this:

DAVIS HAD THE BALL IN HIS HANDS WITH BOTH FEET CLEARLY OUT OF BOUNDS. The referee was standing right there.

NO CALL.

For people who are 30 and older (or if you are able to remember the 80s Celtics at the old Boston Garden well enough) were having flashbacks of the Bird, Parish, McHale, Ainge, Johnson Celtics who feasted off cheating referees like this on their way to three titles. This is why I hate Boston. I'm having flashbacks to the 80s.

Wings fans are going to revolt if they lose that series to the overmatched DUCKS. DEAR GOD.