Blown Calls will help NFL See the Light

 

Week 3 of the 2012 NFL season has come and gone with even more calls, non-calls, SNAFUs, and controversies. The Ravens win over the Patriots was a hot topic of conversation until the drama in the waning seconds over Monday night's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks.

 

(photo: cbs news)

In case you missed it: The NFL has been using replacement officials while the league locks out the regular officials who were asking for a raise in salaries and pensions. The NFL, meanwhile, wants to convert from a pension system to a more widely-used 401(k). While the league and its permanent referees are working together to bridge the labor gap, replacement officials are manning the games. They, like players and coaches, had the preseason to fine-tune their skills and prepare for the regular season. Now that the season is underway it looks like they need another preseason.

The first three weeks of the season have been fraught with penalties, non-calls and irate players and coaches who have been flagged for things when they didn't touch anybody and who were held halfway down the field with no penalty for it.

Two glaring examples of the officiating debacles are the aforementioned games. In Baltimore, kicker Justin Tucker kicked a 27-yard field goal in the closing seconds of Sunday night's matchup between Baltimore and New England. The disputed kick appeared to go directly over the right upright but was ruled good by officials.

That call sent an irate Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick after an official. Belichick demanded to know what officials saw that made them rule the kick was a succesful field goal.

Meanwhile in Seattle, The Seahawks defeated the Packers on the last play of the game. Russell Wilson's pass to Golden Tate appeared to be intercepted by M.D. Jennings. Officials ruled that the ball was caught by Tate and Seattle had scored, winning the game.

Both of these games were decided on the last play of the game by controversial calls. I believe the contentious negotiations between the referees and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will soon come to an end.

Coaches and players on both teams were furious and they let officials know it. Belichick and Green Bay Head Coach Mike McCarthy lost a gmae because of disputed calls. Losing a game in September is one thing. Imaine if these games were played in December and the winners of the two games would advance to the playoffs. The loser would be watching from home.

These games left a bad taste on the mouths of people everywhere. Goodell isn't saying publicly but I am sure even he knows something must be done before bigger games with bigger consequences are decided by botched calls and non-calls. The NFL is a muli-billion dollar enterprise that generates gargantuan revenues. Among the enormous sea of green, I'm sure Goodell and representatives of the officials can find some common ground.

John Tierney must face ALL facts

Massachusetts Congressman John Tierney has been under fire for months over allegations that his wife and in-laws were involved in an off-shore gambling ring. Tierney is facing challenges from Republican Richard Tisei and Libertarian Daniel Fishman.

A debate has been scheduled for October 26. Members of Tierney's campaign are willing to participate in the debate as long as Tierney's wife, Patrice, and her transgressions are kept out of the topics of the debate. Tisei disagreed with the request in a report, calling it, "a typical example of the arrogance that people are so upset about in Washington, D.C." CommonWealth Magazine, one of the organizers of the debate, agreed to the condition, lest Tierney back out. Some have found the demand to be puzzling.

The truth is: CommonWealth Magazine could have told Tierney to take a hike if he didn't like the idea of illegal activity being a topic of the debate. The debate could have taken place with Tisei and Fishman and without Tierney. Instead, the magazine told everyone it is perfectly okay for one person to dictate the terms for everyone else.

John Tierney has served eight terms representing the sixth district of Massachusetts. He has been re-elected by wide margins and his polularity among the electorate would make any politician green with envy. When a public official commits a wrong or is party to one, it is certainly within the scope of fair game and no one can tell people to leave it alone in a debate when credentials and credibility are being scrutinized.

John Tierney's record of serving his district is certainly a strong one. If his campaign wants to re-elect him, they can use that to their advantage. If they want to run away from an issue that could hinder his re-election, It will only give opponents more fodder and reasons to question John Tierney's ability.

If Only It Were That Simple

New York City's mayor-appointed health board approved a ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces on Thursday. The ban does not apply to supermarkets or convenience stores.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked for the ban in May and took his approval to Twitter calling the ban, "the single biggest step any gov't has taken to curb #obesity. It will help save lives."

Opponents of the move were quick to criticize the decision. Liz Berman, chairwoman for New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, responded to the ban saying, "We are smart enough to make our own choices about what to eat and drink."

According to local and state governments across the United States, faith in people deciding what they want is waning more with each passing day.

There is no doubt people are getting lazier as time goes on but let's not forget cable TV and video games have been around for over 30 years. The cries against obesity are only fairly recent. Going after fast food chains and soft drink companies is too easy. Why aren't people going after the kids who are in front of the television instead of outside playing.

There are plenty of other choices beside Coca-Cola or Pepsi. Now suddenly it's the fault of fast-food chains that the kids want Coke or Pepsi and might want to super-size their drinks?

Banning drinks over a certain size will do little to curb the obesity empidemic. It's easy to go to a convenience store for a larger-size drink before or after ordering a sandwich at McDonald's or Wendy's. Michael Bloomberg thinks he is aiding the war on obesity. He's just taking money from one business and putting it in the pocket of another.