Cubs' Milton Bradley Accuses Umps

Milton Bradley Accuses Umpires of Vast Anti-Milton Bradley Conspiracy



Posted May 25, 2009 1:50PM By PAT LACKEY (RSS FEED)

There are a lot of people that would tell you that Milton Bradley's constant run-ins with umpires are no accident. Bradley's hot temper and willingness to speak his mind are just a couple reasons that he's constantly in trouble with the guys in blue. Bradley would agree that his problems with authority aren't an accident, but he thinks it's for a different reason.

No, according to Milton, the reason he's always in trouble with the umps is because the umps are out to get him. He's off to a terrible start with the Cubs, hitting just .188/.310/.333 so far, and he sees vengeful umpires seeking retribution for his bump of Larry Vanover in April as a large part of the reason he's struggling. Seriously.

From today's Chicago Tribune:
"Unfortunately, I just think it's a lot of 'Oh, you did this to my colleague,' or 'We're going to get him any time we can. As soon as he gets two strikes, we're going to call whatever and see what he does. Let's try to ruin Milton Bradley.'

[...]

"What am I supposed to do?" he said. "You lead the American League in OPS (in 2008), and two years in the top three in the league in on-base percentage. All of a sudden now, I come to Chicago and I can't see the ball no more? I don't know a strike from a ball?"
Let's see, strained justification for poor performances? Check. Talking in the third person? Check. Complete ignorance of his lack of line drives and general inability to hit the ball out of the infield? Check. Well, this is certainly going to help Bradley endear himself to those mean umpires that are so clearly out to get him.


http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/05/25/milton-bradley-accuses-umpires-of-vast-anti-milton-bradley-consp/#cont

The Referee Report: 2nd Round Edition (NHL)

Interesting look at NHL penalties in the postseason from fanhouse.com...

Earlier this season we took a look at the power play/penalty kill differential for every team in the league to gain a better understanding of which team may (or may not) benefit from penalty calls during games. Some of you asked to see a similar analysis for the postseason, and because we aim to please, your wish is our command. The first round report can be found by clicking here.



For the rest of the story click here.

Ducks and Red Wings goal tender interference?

Check out the last 10 seconds of the video. Dan Cleary was practically standing on Hillers leg! GOOD GOAL?

Did Dan Cleary interfere with Hiller on the 3rd goal of game 5? HELL YES! no way! view results

Soccer Ref Forced Into Hiding

Soccer Ref Forced Into Hiding

Posted May 08, 2009 10:58AM By MICHAEL CARDILLO (RSS FEED)

Throughout the history of team sports, spectators have probably joked about causing bodily harm to an umpire or referee. In the wake of Barcelona's last-minute Champions League semifinal victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, this sort of thinking has become no laughing matter as the match's official -- Tom Henning Ovrebo -- has been forced into hiding after receiving numerous threats.

The Norwegian denied Chelsea, what the Blues felt, were three possible penalty kicks -- the first when Dani Alves dragged down Flourent Malouda in the box in the first half and the next two on possible handballs on Barcelona players Gerard Pique and Samuel Eto'o. The second call, which would have gone against Eto'o in injury time, has already sparked numerous YouTube parodies featuring Chelsea's Michael Ballack's over the top reaction.

In fairness, Ovrebo had a night to forget and let the game get away from him in the dying minutes. The missed call on Pique was especially egregious. Yet, that's obviously no excuse for people to publish the ref's Oslo address and make threats on his life.

It's certainly got to be tough to be a Chelsea fan this week after another gut-wrenching Champions League defeat. The club is full of stars and is good enough to win the competition, but last year lost to Manchester United in the final on penalty kicks and Wednesday got knocked out in the 93rd minute in the second leg of the semifinal. Ouch.

While Chelsea's general frustration can be understood, we still live in a world where you have to abide the ref's whistle and decision. Or as my friend John puts it, "Friends, you gotta play by the rules."

Ron Artest Wanted Kobe Suspended

Ron Artest Wanted Kobe Suspended
Posted May 08, 2009 2:57PM By BRETT POLLAKOFF (RSS FEED)

The Lakers will head into Game 3 against the Rockets without the services of Derek Fisher, who was suspended for running through a screen set by throwing a forearm at Luis Scola. But Kobe Bryant will be in uniform, even though the elbow he threw was certainly deliberate, and was also enough to send Ron Artest running halfway across the court to let him know it wasn't appreciated.

Artest, as you might imagine, believes the league got it wrong, and was surprised at Stu Jackson's ruling that Bryant's play was only upgraded to a flagrant foul, penalty one. Artest believes it should have resulted in a suspension.
"I thought above the shoulders was a game (suspension), but I guess you can throw elbows above the shoulders," Artest said. "I think Stu (Jackson, the NBA vice president) needs to re-look at that. When you look at that elbow, if that was me throwing that elbow at Kobe, first of all I would have hurt Kobe way more than he hurt me. I probably would have knocked him out with the same force he used on me. Second, it's dangerous.

"That shows me, if Kobe hits me with an elbow, I can just get hit. That just goes to show what type of person Stu Jackson is. I got suspended for a lighter elbow in San Antonio (in the 2006 first round). Maybe David Stern needs to talk to Stu Jackson. It's not fair. He just got a flagrant-1?"
Yes, Ron, he just got a flagrant one. And it was the correct call.

As Matt Watson and I discussed on the RoundCast at the time, Kobe's play -- while excessive -- was not intended to injure Artest. It was meant to clear space, after Artest was leaning on Kobe's neck to prevent him from getting position just seconds before the elbow came flying. It certainly was a play that should have been called a flagrant foul at the time, but it wasn't one that warranted a suspension.

This series is shaping up to be the most physical of the (still young) postseason. There will undoubtedly be more hard fouls, technicals, and controversial plays in the games that follow. Artest might not be correct in this particular instance in calling for a Kobe Bryant suspension. But his comments can't hurt, and might simply be a way of preemptively lobbying the league to rule on his side the next time something like this goes down.

How is the NHL officiating?

NHL officiating poll

Be sure to read the comments. Wow, there are some unhappy hockey fans out there!

McPhee Is Unhappy With Officiating in Series

McPhee Is Unhappy With Officiating in Series

PITTSBURGH, May 7 -- Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee is not one to seek the spotlight. But on Thursday he did, going before cameras and microphones to voice his displeasure with the officiating in his team's second-round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Capitals lead Pittsburgh, two games to one, but the Penguins have enjoyed 17 power plays to the Capitals' nine. In Pittsburgh's 3-2 victory Wednesday, the Penguins had a 7-2 edge in power plays, and, at one point, six straight penalties were called against the Capitals, the most penalized team in the playoffs.

The Penguins scored once on the power play and took 12 of their 42 shots while enjoying the man advantage in Game 3.

"I was disappointed with the officiating last night," said McPhee, who made the comments knowing he could face a stiff fine from the league for commenting about the officials. "One team gets seven power plays and the other team gets two; it's hard to win that game. Your defense is tired, your role players are tired from killing penalties all night, and your top players don't get on the ice as much as they'd like to."

McPhee said he was disappointed with two calls in particular: slashing infractions assessed to goaltender Simeon Varlamov and defenseman Mike Green. McPhee also mentioned Chris Kunitz's slash to the neck of Varlamov in Game 2. No penalty was called on Kunitz, but the Penguins' forward was later fined by the league.

In the second period Wednesday, Varlamov was whistled for slashing Evgeni Malkin with his stick moments after Malkin had made contact with the goalie in his crease. No penalty was assessed to Malkin. Earlier in the period, Green was sent to the penalty box for slashing Penguins center Jordan Staal after receiving a heavy hit in the Washington zone.

"Some penalties you deserve, and some of them shouldn't be called in an NHL playoff game," McPhee said.

Washington has been assessed 57 minor penalties this postseason, 10 more than any other team entering Thursday's games. The team was also among the most penalized teams in the regular season, taking the seventh-most minor penalties.