Posted: May 22nd, 2008 |
Author: 
scou[t] |
Categories: Officiaiting Issues |
Tags: MLB,
MLS,
NBA,
NFL,
NHL,
referess,
Tim Donaghy
The discovery that Tim Donaghy illegally bet on NBA games he refereed has been a sort of 'coming out party' for discouraged fans across the...
Photo by morgan
The discovery that Tim Donaghy illegally bet on NBA games he refereed has been a sort of ‘coming out party’ for discouraged fans across the sporting world. While Donaghy awaits sentencing for his actions, there have been a number of recent events exposing a fatal flaw in officiating professional sports.
Earlier this week, in a New York Mets/New York Yankees game, Carlos Delgado hit a ball deep to left field. The hit was ruled a foul ball by the head umpire Bob Davidson and play resumed, ultimately with the Mets winning 11-2. However, replays showed that the ball hit the ‘foul pole’ and thusly should have been ruled a regulation home run. Davidson recently apologized for his gaffe, and in this case the ends can justify the means, but his incorrect call has been added to a long list of officiating nightmares.
It is high time that officiating in all professional sports is held accountable to its duty: fairness.
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Everywhere else, wage disparities are a huge deal... Why does the NFLPA blatantly disregard this with rookie contracts?
NFL Draft - Jake Long, originally uploaded by Form Digital.
A top corporation with billions of dollars in revenue, a significantly bright future in terms of market stability, and a well-known brand name is in need of an entry level manager for one of their sub-brands. The position would guarantee an influence on the overall vision for the corporation, and a solid position for upward mobility.
The hiring committee settles on a candidate, one with a great upside, and mold-able talent. Before the candidate sets foot in his/her new office, he is offered an executive salary, comprehensive benefits better than those of his superiors, and stock options outnumbering all but those on the board-of-directors.
In the normal business world, a scenario like this would be met with government inquiries, accusation of insider treatment, and numerous front pages in the Wall Street Journal. It would be taboo, and as such, it is never seen.
Yet, take a look at the National Football League (NFL), and one is met with a school of economics that would make John Stuart Mill roll over in his grave. Last month, Jake Long signed with the Miami Dolphins as the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. His contract covered five years and $57.5 million, making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league. Read the rest of this entry »
