Stu Jackson Speaks Out On Blown Call In Lakers / Warriors Game

Via fanhouse and latimes:

Many, especially Warriors fans, thought if there was a foul at all, it was committed by Fisher. Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of basketball operations, agreed.

"We did review," Jackson said Tuesday. "The call was incorrect. After looking at the play, the foul was on Fisher and not Ellis. It appeared that Fisher pulled Ellis down."

Jackson said the league informed the Warriors of its analysis. Delaney was also informed, though Jackson kept the discussions with the respected referee confidential.

In other news, Kobe Bryant just picked up another technical when he called Stu Jackson to argue the comment.

The Officials Love LA!

Well... the Bruins aren't the only team in LA getting all the calls. Warrior fans are not at all happy at what happened in Overtime of last night's loss against the Lakers:

4 Seconds Left: Inbound pass set in Faker territory. This is it. The last play of the game. Nellie’s timeout prepped the team to tie it or shoot a 3 for the win. As the whistle blew and the players wrestled for position … the unthinkable happened. Fisher fell to the ground grabbing Monta with him, and the ref Delaney, blew the whistle calling an offensive foul.

This was the 2nd call during the 2 day mini-series where Fisher had a call go his way, well... the other was a no-call when there should have been a foul called. At the end of the 3rd quarter of Sunday night's game - The Warriors threw a full court pass to Stephen Jackson who had gotten behind the defense... his intent was to catch and shoot in one motion - but Fisher fouled him knocking the ball loose... however, no call was made. I was listening to both games on the Lakers radio broadcasts, and both of these calls were questioned and criticized by the LAKERS ANNOUNCERS! Now Spiro Didas, (sp?)is a great announcer who's very unbiased, but Michael Thompson tends to be very pro-Laker, pro-Kobe, and EVEN HE questioned these calls.

Going back to UCLA for a second, over at TBL, they are trying to figure out why UCLA is getting all the calls this year - Sunday's no call takes the total to now 3 HUGE calls at the end of games that could have gone either way - but went their way... their possible explainations:

Is this the 100th year of UCLA basketball? Is the NCAA trying to get a final one for ailing John Wooden? Or is karma at play here, for the Bruins having lost the last two years in the Final Four to the eventual champion Florida Gators?

UCLA Benefits From Another No Call

So... UCLA is up by 2 with Texas A&M attempting to tie the game in the closing seconds of Saturday Night's game. The shot was blocked and UCLA raced down the court, dunked the ball as time expired. Game over, all is well in Bruin Country. Take a look at this picture and decide for yourself whether or not it was a clean block...

WVU vs Duke

First half all the calls were going Duke's way. Things have evened out in the 2nd half.

I'm watching this game with a West Virginia student. To say he's pretty excited right now with the 'neers up 10 with 5:07 to go is an understatement. When the camera just showed Ed Hightower (head official) WVA fan shouts "I hate Ed Hightower!"

I'd say it's safe to say this game is over. Great 2nd Half for WVU! Mountaineers are heading to Phoenix to play either Xavier or Purdue. Winner most likely gets UCLA for a chance of making it to the final 4.

AFL Officials To Wear Helmets

Arena Football League commissioner David Baker was on ESPN First Take this morning. Baker was promoting the AFL which kicks off this weekend. (Can you tell I'm excited?!?) Regardless of my excitement level, the AFL does seem to get more and more popular each year. After all... Americans crave football! Commissioner Baker did mention one thing this morning I found interesting: AFL officials will be wearing helmets this year. He said they would be designed to look something like a bike helmet or a baseball helmet. He also said they talked to many NFL officials about this, and there is a chance that the NFL could be implementing something like this in the near future. It really doesn't seem that far fetched especially considering the fact that John Clayton mentioned the possibility of umpires wearing helmets before the 2007 season even started. It will be interesting to see what they look like, and if the NFL decides to follow suit.

Phil Jackson Doesn't Like Joe Forte's Son

Kobe Bryant was ejected during last night's Lakers win at Seattle. Via the OcRegister, Phil Jackson told Kobe to be careful who he argues with - because come playoff time - he wouldn't want daddy to be upset at him:

Jackson had some strong words in response to Bryant's ejection by referee Brian Forte, son of longtime referee Joe Forte, who regularly works postseason games.

"I told him (Bryant) he shouldn't jump on 'Junior'; his dad might carry a grudge against him," said Jackson, who then alluded to nepotism getting the younger Forte his job. Jackson also added about Brian Forte, who gave Seattle guard Earl Watson a technical in the first quarter: "He's got a little bit of a red-ass." Forte is in his first full NBA season.

Bryant said his arm was smacked as he tried to secure an offensive rebound with the Lakers ahead, 88-57, but no call was made — much to Bryant's displeasure. Forte then appeared to wait until Watson missed a shot in transition before calling a technical foul on Bryant for arguing. Restrained by teammate Derek Fisher, Bryant went back at Forte, trailed behind him and offered up plenty of material for Forte to issue a second technical foul and automatic ejection.

"For the first technical I got, I didn't say a word to him," Bryant said.

This is the 2nd time in just a few weeks that we've mentioned Brian Forte's name around here. So far, in his first full league as an official - he hasn't earned too many supporters.

6th Grade Girls Coach Assults Ref...

You know... when I was in high school, I went to a small school where the middle school and the high school were in the same building, and we shared the same gym. I remember the Jr Hi girls coaches always being very competitive guys, but also a little on the strange side. There's gotta be no lower level of coaching than 6th grade girls basketball. Maybe that's one reason why this guy is so upset:

Police arrested a 6th grade girl’s basketball coach after a disturbance at a game in Estacada on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the incident started when the Molalla girl’s coach, 34-year-old Jeffery Scott Larsen, was ejected from the game.

Witnesses told police that a 6th-grade girl was cut on the hand when the coach slammed down his clipboard and stormed off.

Instead of leaving the court, Larsen stood in the corner of the gym and began to verbally harass Houston Webb, the 17-year-old referee, police said.

At the end of the game, witnesses told police that Coach Larsen stormed back onto the basketball court, grabbed the teen referee, menacingly cocked his arm back with a clenched fist and used profanity.

Estacada Junior High School principal Kevin Olds told police there were an estimated 75 parents and children in attendance who witnessed this event. Olds said many of the girls were frightened and cried.

Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies arrested Coach Larsen at his home in Molalla on Sunday morning. He was cited for a Class C Misdemeanor for criminally trespassing at a sporting event and was cooperative with police.

A little strangle hold to the throat, and he's upset about it - this kid will never make it to the college level.

Here's the Video:

Floppers Beware

The Duke Blue Devils, who are famous for their outstanding flopping ability - we're outdone tonight against not only the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, but yes... also the officials. Over at AA, BP shows us that yes... sometimes, albeit rarely... the Dukies don't get all the calls:



Yep - all 5 starters on the bench, fouled out. As a Carolina fan, I couldn't be more thrilled!