We’ve all groaned about it but it keeps happening.
The worst call in all of sports is in basketball when a player with the ball intentionally jumps into a defender who is standing still. The defender always get called for the foul.
The player making the contact is rewarded for aggressive play, gaining a clear advantage. If the aggressor was also taking a shot, he is rewarded with free throws, with the potential of scoring up to four points on a call that makes little common sense.
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Probably the most painful reminder for Louisville fans came in the closing seconds of a game against Kentucky in 2004 when Patrick Sparks jumped sideways into Ellis Myles. Sparks hit three free throws and UK won 60-58.
Common sense goes out of the window. It was obvious to everyone that Sparks, who was also walking, initiated the contact. But the officials called Myles for the foul.
To add insult to injury, Dick Vitale, who in his position as a TV personality should be crusading against such foolishness, said it was obvious that Sparks was fouled. Sparks who jumped into Myles, and Myles who was unable to get out of the way.
The herd mentality is in full effect, no one daring to challenge it for some unknown reason. Officials have seen other officials call it that way for years so they continue to do it. The call seems to be almost automatic and universal, totally defying common sense and every other rule in the game.
If the call is written that way in the rule book, the book needs to be revised. If it weren’t so pathetic, it would be laughable.
Here’s that egregious example:
Just as egregious is the non-call of Sparks’ two traveling violations. With ball in hand, he shuffles his feet on the baseline before inbounding the ball. Then again, Sparks takes 3 or 4 shuffle-steps right before he drew the foul on Myles.
Aside from the dumb “jump-into-the-defender” rule, these are two obvious calls that were missed. I hate this video.
There isn’t an official in the world who would call an inbounds passer for a travel on that little movement with no advantage gained, but I’m with you on the travel before the shot.
What had me screaming at Myles was that if he’d left well enough alone, Sparks had no chance of making that shot — Otis George was all over it.
Traveling aside, I’m surprised there’s not more outrage about shooters jumping into defenders.
The most amazing thing about that clip is that Vitale isn’t talking about an ACC team during that sequence.