Instant replay

[DirtyMartini]

So, how does everyone feel about instant replay?

[DirtyMartini]

Personally, I can't stand it. It breaks momentum, wastes time, makes watching games on TV even more annoying (yet another "this is our country, chevy commercial break), and, worst of all, they still get it &%$#ing wrong. This year seems particularly bad -- many games (already) where even the "we will never commit to anything" TV announcers have it figured out and assume that the overrule/uphold is a foregone conclusion, then the ref does the opposite -- just absolutely stupid. Get rid of it -- as far as I can tell, it doesn't really increase accuracy and it wasted time.

Don't even get me started on the college system. That's even worse.

[SlowwHand]

Instant replay in what sport? Baseball? NFL has proved its worth.

[DirtyMartini]

NFL

See, I'd argue that it isn't much more accurate than a coin flip regarding actual close calls -- they're pretty decent at confirming a corrrect call on the field, but terrible at reversing a call when it should be reversed.

On top of that it saps momentum -- some team is driving, defense is getting tired, catch on the sideline, instant replay to see if he was out rather than in, 10 minute instant repaly break, defense gets to rest, all the excitement is sapped right out of the game.

Also, it changes the way refs call the game -- they hold off on blowing the whistle on ?fumbles because they're counting on the review.

Moreover, some refs are obviously more reluctant than others to overturn calls made by their colleagues. There differential application of the rule stinks.

I look at it this way. It stinks when a team loses on a bad call. It stinks worse when we go through the whole replay ordeal (5 more Chevy commercials) and the team still loses on a bad call. Get rid of it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Great addition - love it.

I also like instant replay for home run calls in baseball, but they need to be quicker about it.

[Grandpa Troll]

I think it does detract a little, but with so much riding on a call, its a necessary evile.

I also agree some may not want to over turn a fellow refs call but thats what needs to be done.

Ed "Mr. Muscles" made a rare but huge mistake a couple weeks ago, but IIRC, that was not a reviewable call?

Of course, if most were reviewable then you would be a long time getting the game played out due to second guessing even more calls.

It is here now, so we just need to keep a short leash on it.

GT

[Donegeal]

They should do the color thing with the baseball.

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Donegeal
They should do the color thing with the baseball.

Jackie Robinson style??


Enos Slaughter?

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by DirtyMartini
NFL

See, I'd argue that it isn't much more accurate than a coin flip regarding actual close calls -- they're pretty decent at confirming a corrrect call on the field, but terrible at reversing a call when it should be reversed.

That's how it should be, though, IMO ... if it's the wrong call, it SHOULD be hard to overturn.

I think I'm fine with it for the NFL. They have commercial breaks all the time anyway, it's no worse than a commercial break...

I agree with Imran that the baseball ones should be faster, though. They should have someone reviewing it who isn't the umpire, and tell the umpire what the answer is over the radio or something. It's not that hard to figure out anyway if a home run is fair or foul...

[DirtyMartini]

Originally posted by Grandpa Troll
I think it does detract a little, but with so much riding on a call, its a necessary evile.

That's the thing for me -- it detracts from my enjoyment. The fact is, there are sooo many bad calls and bad no-calls in football that reviewing a few calls per game is silly. How many BS holding calls do you see? How many more identical plays go uncalled. How many missed blocks in the back? Can't review those. (by the way, I've come to think the penalty for holding is a little excessive. 10 yards? should be 5.)

I originally thought instant replay was a great idea, but over the years I've grown to like it less and less to the point where I now despise it. Refs are flawed, that can't be fixed, they're always going to miss stuff and make bad calls. Live with it and let the game go on. Putting this instant replay band-aid on that fixes maybe 10% of the questionable results is silly.

[-Jrabbit]

The momentum argument doesn't hold water, as the games have huge interruptions anyway. That's what makes attending them live such a bore. On TV, it doesn't matter to me. I just switch to another game, get a snack or go pee. As for the teams, they are paid well to execute under whatever conditions they face. Suck it up.

I agree that it has changed the way some refs call the game. And we will always have the human element -- the inadvertent whistle, the judgment call on pass interference, etc.

Bottom line -- Some horrible calls get fixed, and that is of the good. Last night, it saved the Bears a turnover (Orton "fumble" correctly ruled an incomplete pass) that would likely have cost them the game.

And you're dead wrong on the holding penalty -- which used to be 15 yards.

[DirtyMartini]

offensive holding used to be 15, really? I still think it's too much. total drive killer and totally subjective -- I'm not a Philly fan, but that holding call on their center was absurd compared to some of the stuff that goes on.

Also, the momentum argument absolutely holds -- sure there are way too many stoppages anyway (commercial, kick off, commercial), but they don't cut to commercial in the middle of an 80 yard drive. They do have IR in the middle of drives however. This is, of course, significantly worse in the college game, where they review every thing they want to.

[snoopy369]

They can and do cut to commercial in the middle of an 80 yard drive. They cut to commercial with the first clock stoppage following certain timepoints (8:00, 4:00, I think?)

[DirtyMartini]

OK, I'll admit that I don't watch nearly as closely as I used to because of all the commercials and the terrible TV announcers (Dierdorf must go), but I'm pretty sure you're thinking of basketball. NFL doesn't go to commercial in the middle of an offensive drive.

[snoopy369]

Hmm, you're right. I thought I remember having a TV timeout in the NFL also, but apparently I'm not watching Al Michaels closely enough...