The most dangerous man in the stadium these days is not the speedy WR with the great hands, the power RB whose time in the 40 is sub 4.4, or the absurdly accurate QB with the rocket arm. Nope, it is the replay official. He is the one person who can decide the likely outcome of a game with a single reversal of a call on the field or, as is becoming more and more prevalent, refusing to overturn a play called on the field.
I was afraid this was going to happen when they instituted this insane change in the rule book. We were told it was necessary to ensure games were decided on
the field of play and not some blown call by an official.
I didn't buy it for a minute. There's far too much money on the line for these powerhouse teams and their respective leagues. What easier way is there
to, in essence, guarantee the higher ranked teams in a given conference remain the higher ranked team, than having one guy sitting in the booth making
judgments regarding critical plays in a close game? And when these game changing decisions just happen to overwhelmingly favor, time and time again, the
Anointed Ones; I'm supposed to conclude it is mere coincidence? I'm sorry, but I don't believe in coincidence.
At first, it looked to be a wise decision when they implemented the replay rule. More often than not the call on the field was confirmed, and sports media
lauded it as a way of leveling the playing field and the best thing to happen to the game since the forward pass. And a couple of years into it they tweaked
the rule further by adding the "coaches' challenge," whereby allowing the head coach to now challenge a play called on the field by means of
tossing a little red flag onto the field; a more ridiculous sight I've never seen.
The coaches' challenge was used moderately in the beginning, which devolved into sparingly. It was along about this time I realized the fix was in; to the
point that now the challenge is rarely used. Coaches also know the fix is in. Why risk being assessed a time out when the replay official can review a play in
living color and super slow motion, no less, and still make the wrong call?
But I don't feel sorry for the gamblers among us who just lost their child's tuition money on a teased three team parlay; they should be ashamed of
themselves anyway, or the rabid fan that lives or dies each week based on whether their team wins or loses; they should've gotten a life years ago, I
don't even feel all that bad for the coaches whose livelihood and careers could be adversely affected; no one held a gun to their heads when they signed
their multimillion dollar contracts.
No, I feel really bad for those kids out there on the field. They're the ones who've toiled untold hours under the hot August sun and enthusiastically
contribute immeasurable amounts of blood, sweat, and tears year round just for the opportunity to do their best for their school and team mates on Saturday
afternoons; only to see it all blown to hell by some insidious cretin watching a video monitor in a booth.
I don't know what can or should be done concerning this travesty. I don't have the answers.
To extrapolate this out to its logical conclusion if nothing is done, there will come a time in the not so distant future where there will be no officiating
crew at all.
Instead there will be hundreds of video cameras recording all 22 player's every move on every play and from every conceivable angle. Penalties will be
called and assessed by as yet unwritten computer software. I suppose there will be one zebra on the field whose sole responsibility will be to mark the ball
ready for play, but even he may not be necessary or required.
One thing is for certain; I will have long ceased watching the game I've so enjoyed most of my life before it reaches that point. And I will miss it.
