Replacement Refs: Not a Big Change

When has the NBA not used the equivalent of replacement refs? Certainly not in my lifetime. Officiating has been broken ever since the day the league decided to scrap the rule book and and let the games become Vince McMahon-like entertainment exhibitions.

There was a time when referees were independent and acted like it. Now, they are too aware of the game clock, which players are involved in a play and how the call will be perceived by the fans, teams, owners and league officials. And they too often want to be part of the drama of the game. This game to game inconsistency and uncertainty gave room for rogue refs like Tim Donaghy (pictured) to operate.

This may be an opportunity for the league to re-invigorate the referees profession.

Or, get rid of refs altogether. Think about it. It may be possible to bring back the integrity of the game by letting the players call their own fouls - "street rules". Let the players call fouls and work things out on the court. Players know what is or is not allowed in the context of a game. Let courtside - not on-court - officials decide the really hard fouls or when replay is needed to be used.

One thing street rules will prevent ... it will stop the flop. What player would dare flop if his peers are calling the game. Regardless, unless we have a return to the basics of Dr. Naismith's' game, it doesn't matter a lick who's blowing the whistle.

Lousiana with Foliage

Rampant corruption in Connecticut has gotten the attention of media across the nation, most recently the Boston Globe. 

My concern, though, is that the headlines also provide cover for numerous small acts that will never see the light of day, but which are costly and erode trust.

We've Been Down This Road Before

A summary of today's headlines:

• Threat of nuclear war. (NYTimes)
  
• Unsuccessful military presence halfway around the globe (CBS News)
  
• Violent domestic protests (Yahoo)
  
• Bank struggles and restructuring (Bloomberg)
  
• Washington is the worst team in the majors (Yahoo)
  
  
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it - George Santayana

Double Dipping

@Walt Handelsman, Newsday

Double dipping by public employees has become endemic. Tens of thousands of educators (higher ed and k12), military veterans, police and fire officers as well as municipal, state and federal bureaucrats practice the fine "art" of receiving compensation from multiple public sources simultaneously. It results in rising taxes, bloated payrolls and long-term debt

In Connecticut, lower tax revenues caused the Governor to consider ways to cut state payrolls. The incentive for employees to leave public service (heaven forbid anyone gets fired) was to offer them early retirement. This followed on the heels of a previous negotiation with public unions to lower the rate of their pay increases in return for a no-layoff guarantee. Nice situation, if you can get it.

Bud Selig's Vision of Baseball

This is what 3-22 looks like

The Yankees and Red Sox are meeting this weekend in an epic meaningless series in the Bronx in front of a sold-out (except for the lower bowl) crowd.

In the meantime, in a galaxy far, far away the Pirates are doing their best to catch the Phillies. Not this year's Phillies. The all-time losingest Phillies.

The Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (not so fast, whitey)

These clever guys appeared outside a Center City Philadelphia hotel this weekend. Their pitch? "It's whitey's fault".

Their message seems a little dated. Nice hair, though.

What's with NL pitchers in Boston?

John Smoltz and Brad Penny were (relative) bargain signings this year for the Sox. Penny was the better of the two, and while he was never great, he chewed up a lot of innings. In that regard, he fulfilled his end of the bargain.

On the other hand, the pitching-smart Braves had given up on Smoltz, and the Red Sox should have paid closer attention to why.

But now the two pitchers have gone back to the National League. And while Smoltz had a one-game revival for the always-smarter-than-you Tony LaRussa, he may be now reverting to form. Penny on the other hand has had back-to-back solid starts for the Giants. Is this a National League v American League thing, or just an anomaly? The Red Sox have had little luck importing National League pitchers.