Tony Greene's first NCAA Division 1 game of the 2010-2011 season occurred on Friday night in Baton Rouge, LA.
Working with Bert Smith (one of ITGOTT's favorite officials, and one that ITGOTT thinks does the best job), Tony Greene officiated a 9-point, 87-78 LSU victory.
There was no television for this game, so there will be no ITGOTT review.
Showing posts with label Bert Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bert Smith. Show all posts
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Game 52 - Florida @ South Carolina - Feb. 10, 2010
Game - Florida @ South Carolina - Wednesday, February 1o, 2010
Line - South Carolina - 1 1/2
Result - South Carolina wins 77-71 and covers the 1 1/2 point spread
Tony Greene continued his work in the 2009-2010 NCAA basketball season when he worked his 52nd game of the year in Columbia, SC. Just two weeks ago on the same floor, South Carolina had defeated #1 Kentucky, but tonight the Gamecocks were just a 1 1/2-point favorite on visiting and unranked Florida. With such a small spread, it was likely that any officiating that demonstrated the possibility of an official "on the taek" would also affect the outcome.
Use Calls To Stop The Momentum Of The Team You Are Not Helping
After Florida had built an 8-point lead with about 5 minutes to go in the first half and was threatening to push their lead to double digits, the officiating changed. Only FOUR total calls had been made on either team throughout the first 15 minutes of the game, and with that style of officiating, Florida had taken an 8-point lead and clearly had the momentum. When South Carolina's Brandis Raley-Ross drives into the lane, out of control, and crashes into Florida's Dan Werner, not only is the foul called on Warner, but Raley-Ross is awarded free throws, as well. On the VERY NEXT possession, Devan Downey does the SAME THING, driving into the lane and crashing into Florida's Erving Walker. SAME CALL - free throws for Downey, and suddenly the Florida lead is whittled to two, and their momentum is stemmed. The Florida lead stood at four at halftime.
Use Calls (Or Non-Calls) To Seize The Momentum For The Team You Are Helping
Halfway through the second half, Florida STILL lead by 4, and it appeared this margin was pretty static. Unless something external happened - such as a big call by the officials - neither team looked like it could make a run. So with just under 10 minutes to go in the second half, Florida's Dan Werner is called for a mystery travel, and on the ensuing possession, South Carolina's Brandis Raley-Ross drains a three, and the momentum had switched.
A minute later, Florida's Chandler Parsons was OBVIOUSLY fouled on a lay-up attempt, but Tony Greene - staring RIGHT at the play - didn't call a foul. Of course, South Carolina scored on its ensuing possession, and took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game. The momentum in this game had CLEARLY changed on two calls (actually, one call and one no-call), and South Carolina, just up 1, was now in control of the game.
The Gamecocks extended their lead to 7 with 4 minutes to go, then with Florida missing free throws, South Carolina lead by 10 with one minute to go. The Gamecocks eventually won 77-71, covering the 1 1/2 point spread. The ENTIRE outcome of this game hinged, in our eyes, on a couple of calls (and a huge no-call by Tony Greene) in the middle of the second half.
One other thing. Joe Dean, Jr., calling this game for the SEC Network, referred on-air to the officiating crew of Tony Greene, Mike Nance, and Bert Smith as the "A-Team" of SEC officials. While this point is clearly debatable, what bothers ITGOTT is the fact that Joe Dean says that he also made this comment TO the officials before the game. Why is this a problem? Because it indicates a familiarity between the color commentator and the officials. That familiarity almost certainly precludes Joe Dean from criticizing the work of this officiating crew, if necessary, and thus Joe Dean is CLEARLY not calling the game with a pair of totally objective eyes. ITGOTT wants to hear announcers who criticize officials when necessary as well as praising them when warranted. The familiarity that many announcers, including Joe Dean, Jr., have with officials prevents this objectivity.
Line - South Carolina - 1 1/2
Result - South Carolina wins 77-71 and covers the 1 1/2 point spread
Tony Greene continued his work in the 2009-2010 NCAA basketball season when he worked his 52nd game of the year in Columbia, SC. Just two weeks ago on the same floor, South Carolina had defeated #1 Kentucky, but tonight the Gamecocks were just a 1 1/2-point favorite on visiting and unranked Florida. With such a small spread, it was likely that any officiating that demonstrated the possibility of an official "on the taek" would also affect the outcome.
Use Calls To Stop The Momentum Of The Team You Are Not Helping
After Florida had built an 8-point lead with about 5 minutes to go in the first half and was threatening to push their lead to double digits, the officiating changed. Only FOUR total calls had been made on either team throughout the first 15 minutes of the game, and with that style of officiating, Florida had taken an 8-point lead and clearly had the momentum. When South Carolina's Brandis Raley-Ross drives into the lane, out of control, and crashes into Florida's Dan Werner, not only is the foul called on Warner, but Raley-Ross is awarded free throws, as well. On the VERY NEXT possession, Devan Downey does the SAME THING, driving into the lane and crashing into Florida's Erving Walker. SAME CALL - free throws for Downey, and suddenly the Florida lead is whittled to two, and their momentum is stemmed. The Florida lead stood at four at halftime.
Use Calls (Or Non-Calls) To Seize The Momentum For The Team You Are Helping
Halfway through the second half, Florida STILL lead by 4, and it appeared this margin was pretty static. Unless something external happened - such as a big call by the officials - neither team looked like it could make a run. So with just under 10 minutes to go in the second half, Florida's Dan Werner is called for a mystery travel, and on the ensuing possession, South Carolina's Brandis Raley-Ross drains a three, and the momentum had switched.
A minute later, Florida's Chandler Parsons was OBVIOUSLY fouled on a lay-up attempt, but Tony Greene - staring RIGHT at the play - didn't call a foul. Of course, South Carolina scored on its ensuing possession, and took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game. The momentum in this game had CLEARLY changed on two calls (actually, one call and one no-call), and South Carolina, just up 1, was now in control of the game.
The Gamecocks extended their lead to 7 with 4 minutes to go, then with Florida missing free throws, South Carolina lead by 10 with one minute to go. The Gamecocks eventually won 77-71, covering the 1 1/2 point spread. The ENTIRE outcome of this game hinged, in our eyes, on a couple of calls (and a huge no-call by Tony Greene) in the middle of the second half.
One other thing. Joe Dean, Jr., calling this game for the SEC Network, referred on-air to the officiating crew of Tony Greene, Mike Nance, and Bert Smith as the "A-Team" of SEC officials. While this point is clearly debatable, what bothers ITGOTT is the fact that Joe Dean says that he also made this comment TO the officials before the game. Why is this a problem? Because it indicates a familiarity between the color commentator and the officials. That familiarity almost certainly precludes Joe Dean from criticizing the work of this officiating crew, if necessary, and thus Joe Dean is CLEARLY not calling the game with a pair of totally objective eyes. ITGOTT wants to hear announcers who criticize officials when necessary as well as praising them when warranted. The familiarity that many announcers, including Joe Dean, Jr., have with officials prevents this objectivity.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A comment on Curtis Shaw
Curtis Shaw is one of the most respected officials in college basketball, but ITGOTT is not a fan. One might think that because Curtis Shaw has been honored with the privilege or working multiple Final Fours, he could be considered one of the best officials in college basketball. But his officiating in general, and his behavior yesterday in particular, demonstrate why he should no longer be allowed to officiate college basketball games.
In last night's game between #5 Purdue and unranked Alabama from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, AL, Curtis Shaw was working along with (an ITGOTT favorite) Bert Smith and John Hughes. Behind the emotion and momentum of the Heisman Trophy announcement, when Mark Ingram was able to become the first Alabama player EVER (can that even be possible?) to win the Heisman trophy, the Crimson Tide were able to take a double digit lead on the heavily favored Boilermakers from Purdue. But talent won out, and Purdue quickly closed the gap in the second half, pulling away to win by nearly double digits.
But the story of this game is the unfortunate behavior of Curtis Shaw. One of the most "respected" officials in college basketball, once again, had to make the game about him, ejecting several Crimson Tide students from the students section.
We've seen this sort of petty, childish behavior from Curtis Shaw before. Last season, the thin-skinned bully Curtis Shaw ejected Rice's mascot, Sammy the Owl, for commenting on a Curtis Shaw call with about 8 minutes remaining in a game where Rice was hosting Tulane.
This season, Curtis Shaw took it on himself to inject himself into the game, and even the crowd, last night when excited, boisterous Alabama fans were apparently saying something Curtis Shaw didn't like. The fans were not entering the court; they were not interfering with the game; and they were not throwing items onto the floor - all of those are acceptable reasons for a fan to be ejected. But with the trend of universities placing student sections closer to the floor to create a more intimidating home atmosphere, as Alabama has done, there will be enthusiastic students who loudly support their teams. Who can argue an Alabama student, sitting peacefully in his team's student section on the first day of the academic holiday break and just hours after learning his football team's star had won the school's first Heisman Trophy, getting vociferously involved in the game? Well, apparently Curtis Shaw, who began singling out students for ejection with about 4 minutes left to go in the game.
This game isn't about you, Curtis Shaw! This game is about students! It's about fun! And it's about the thrill of cheering for your team - even the fun of criticizing a lazy, overrated, past-his-prime, ref like you! This sports has so many great officials - like Bert Smith, who was working with Curtis Shaw last night - that it's a shame that a thin-skinned, lazy, bully of a coward like you had to be considered one of the best in the game. You are not, Curtis Shaw. You, because of your attitude, are one of the worst.
And it's not just your attitude. It's your lazy officiating. Here is an example:
Every official in every game is expected to demonstrate a "visible ten-second count" if he's working the backcourt as a team approaches mid-court with the ball. Offensive teams have ten seconds to move the ball into the frontcourt, or it's a turnover. Ten times per possession, each official is expected to demonstrate this with his arm until the offensive team crosses midcourt and enters the frontcourt. To avoid doing so is either the height of laziness or the pinnacle of arrogance - or in the case of Curtis Shaw, both.
ITGOTT watched last night's game. Every single possession, without exception, Bert Smith offered the players (and coaches and fans) a visible ten-second count. Every single time.
Curtis Shaw did not, on any possession that we noticed. He's too lazy, too arrogant, too SOMETHING to do the most basic of officiating duties. Yet he injects himself into games time and time again, ejecting mascots, and even pointing out vociferous students to the police so they can be escorted out.
Watch the next game Curtis Shaw officiates. He will NOT demonstrate a visible ten-second call, an easy way to tell if an official is willing to do the little things as part of his job.
Curtis Shaw is the WORST official in college basketball. He's an arrogant, thin-skinned bully who can't do the basics of his job, yet oversteps his purview repeatedly to show people who's really in charge. Way to go, Curtis Shaw. You truly are an embarrassment to officials, a disgrace to the NCAA, and a humilation to anyone who knows you.
In last night's game between #5 Purdue and unranked Alabama from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, AL, Curtis Shaw was working along with (an ITGOTT favorite) Bert Smith and John Hughes. Behind the emotion and momentum of the Heisman Trophy announcement, when Mark Ingram was able to become the first Alabama player EVER (can that even be possible?) to win the Heisman trophy, the Crimson Tide were able to take a double digit lead on the heavily favored Boilermakers from Purdue. But talent won out, and Purdue quickly closed the gap in the second half, pulling away to win by nearly double digits.
But the story of this game is the unfortunate behavior of Curtis Shaw. One of the most "respected" officials in college basketball, once again, had to make the game about him, ejecting several Crimson Tide students from the students section.
We've seen this sort of petty, childish behavior from Curtis Shaw before. Last season, the thin-skinned bully Curtis Shaw ejected Rice's mascot, Sammy the Owl, for commenting on a Curtis Shaw call with about 8 minutes remaining in a game where Rice was hosting Tulane.
This season, Curtis Shaw took it on himself to inject himself into the game, and even the crowd, last night when excited, boisterous Alabama fans were apparently saying something Curtis Shaw didn't like. The fans were not entering the court; they were not interfering with the game; and they were not throwing items onto the floor - all of those are acceptable reasons for a fan to be ejected. But with the trend of universities placing student sections closer to the floor to create a more intimidating home atmosphere, as Alabama has done, there will be enthusiastic students who loudly support their teams. Who can argue an Alabama student, sitting peacefully in his team's student section on the first day of the academic holiday break and just hours after learning his football team's star had won the school's first Heisman Trophy, getting vociferously involved in the game? Well, apparently Curtis Shaw, who began singling out students for ejection with about 4 minutes left to go in the game.
This game isn't about you, Curtis Shaw! This game is about students! It's about fun! And it's about the thrill of cheering for your team - even the fun of criticizing a lazy, overrated, past-his-prime, ref like you! This sports has so many great officials - like Bert Smith, who was working with Curtis Shaw last night - that it's a shame that a thin-skinned, lazy, bully of a coward like you had to be considered one of the best in the game. You are not, Curtis Shaw. You, because of your attitude, are one of the worst.
And it's not just your attitude. It's your lazy officiating. Here is an example:
Every official in every game is expected to demonstrate a "visible ten-second count" if he's working the backcourt as a team approaches mid-court with the ball. Offensive teams have ten seconds to move the ball into the frontcourt, or it's a turnover. Ten times per possession, each official is expected to demonstrate this with his arm until the offensive team crosses midcourt and enters the frontcourt. To avoid doing so is either the height of laziness or the pinnacle of arrogance - or in the case of Curtis Shaw, both.
ITGOTT watched last night's game. Every single possession, without exception, Bert Smith offered the players (and coaches and fans) a visible ten-second count. Every single time.
Curtis Shaw did not, on any possession that we noticed. He's too lazy, too arrogant, too SOMETHING to do the most basic of officiating duties. Yet he injects himself into games time and time again, ejecting mascots, and even pointing out vociferous students to the police so they can be escorted out.
Watch the next game Curtis Shaw officiates. He will NOT demonstrate a visible ten-second call, an easy way to tell if an official is willing to do the little things as part of his job.
Curtis Shaw is the WORST official in college basketball. He's an arrogant, thin-skinned bully who can't do the basics of his job, yet oversteps his purview repeatedly to show people who's really in charge. Way to go, Curtis Shaw. You truly are an embarrassment to officials, a disgrace to the NCAA, and a humilation to anyone who knows you.
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