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Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Jim Rice Authentic Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, What are your thoughts on the NHLs recommended rule changes from Monday? Do you think theres a way to make goaltender interference - or other on-ice rulings - more clear by going to video review? Does video review help the officials on the ice or take some of the decision making away from them? Which of the recommended rule changes do you think can really help the stripes in a game? Steve Wishie, Toronto Thank you for submitting these very important questions following the competition committee meeting that took place on Monday in New York. The General Managers will be convening sometime in the very near future to discuss these issues. Since it would appear there was little or no input from a knowledgeable officiating mind in attendance, I wish to address the General Managers directly with the following comments specifically related to implementing an expanded video review. I had the pleasure of developing a professional working relationship with each of you; in some cases that relationship began during your playing career and prior to your move into the role of general manager. While it is safe to say that we didnt or wont always agree, please know that I have great respect for the knowledge and care for the game that each of you demonstrates. Having been on that goal-line far too many times to count during my 30-plus year NHL officiating career I know, better than most, the demands, expectations and difficulties that the current crop of referees are experiencing. Goalkeeper interference is the most difficult decision that any referee has to make. The referees, like no time ever before, require your most thoughtful assistance to equip them with the necessary tools to achieve success and uphold the integrity of the game. The time has now come to step outside of any traditional comfort zone and implement video review technology that is available to the rest of us that watch the game on a television monitor, but who are not charged with making a split second decision on these potentially game changing plays. Based on Mathieu Schneiders quote below it would appear that the expectation of "certainty" must be met in order for video review to be expanded beyond the current allowances contained within the rules. "I think the underlying fundamental here is that if youre going to go to video review in a given area, there is the expectation of certainty," said Mathieu Schneider, the NHLPAs special assistant to the executive director. "And its just not there. Its very difficult. The type of things that were talking about, a possible coachs challenge, are things that we might be able to be certain on. But theres still a ton of grey area." I would respectfully submit that language contained throughout the rule book provides the referee(s) with the authority and latitude to exercise his individual judgment in the enforcement of the rules. Phrases such as "In the judgment of the Referee; There is an enormous amount of judgment involved in the application of this rule by the Referees; The Referee, "at his discretion" may assess; The Referees are provided very wide latitude in the penalties with which they may impose under this rule; The discretion provided (to the Referees) should be exercised realistically…" The referees do not apply a mathematical equation to problem solving. Instead, with your direction provided to them as to the expected standard of enforcement, the referees exercise their individual judgment to try and make the "correct call" from a position and vantage point that they occupy on the ice in that moment. This does not always achieve "certainty" and the referees perception of the play can quickly be changed if he is provided with a different angle or more precisely through video review. The current process and follow-up protocol of a conference conducted by the four on-ice officials (when utilized) does not achieve any "certainty" that the correct call is ultimately made. Gentlemen, one of the challenges that await you at your next meeting is to achieve some consensus among your group as to what actually constitutes a violation of rule 69—goalkeeper interference? Based on another quote following the competition committee meeting you have your work cut out for you. Even the Game 2 situation brought what Schneider called a "split room" on whether it should have counted or not. "Theres a lot of instances where you have two reasonable people looking at the same video and have two different interpretations, and goalie interference is certainly one of those," Schneider said. "I think the education process is whats going to be most important for the officials, for the players, and I think Colin alluded to, we want to maybe err on the side of the goalie more often. Well, thats the direction we have to give to the officials. "The education process is going to be key. And to have certain telltale signs." Your room cannot be "split" on this crucial issue of players interfering with the goaltender. The players and officials are in need of more concrete direction. Empowering the referee to take a second look at a play with a quick video review, perhaps through a coachs challenge, will help improve these game altering decisions. I also agree that "the education process is going to be "key". The officiating brotherhood can never stop learning, evolving or improving. Give them the tools they need to develop better positioning philosophies so that they consistently know where to go when a player is coming at them or where to go to find the best site line to the goal. A well officiated game is also incumbent upon the utilization of a referees sound judgment. He cannot be stripped of that yet again by a non-official making the call for him from an off-site location. The referees want to get the call right! The couple of minutes it will take for the referee to review the suspected presence of goalkeeper interference, along with some good coaching, will lead to a new age of officiating. Ted Williams Jersey . As the Toronto Argonauts prepare to face their hated enemies from down the QEW, the Hamilton Tiger Cats, in this Sundays Eastern Final, theyre faced with something they havent experienced all season - a healthy receiving corps. Yoenis Cespedes Red Sox Jersey . He earned a couple days off. Johnson had three hits, including his third homer in two days, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 10-7 on Sunday to keep pace with Washington at the top of the NL East.MIAMI -- Outfought for a late rebound by Dwyane Wade, a grinning LeBron James chided his teammate as they ran upcourt. With the game in hand, the Miami Heat could worry about individual stats. Wade and James had handsome numbers in Mondays 102-96 victory over the Detroit Pistons. James totalled 24 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, just missing the Heats first triple-double of the season. Wade scored 30 points, his best total since Dec. 18 in an injury-hampered season, and he added a season-high 10 rebounds and five assists. James, who has come close to a triple-double several times this season, was blanked in the rebound department down the stretch. When Wade snatched one away from him with 4 minutes left, he heard about it from his taller teammate. "D-Wade knew what he had going on, too," James said. "He was like, I need this double-double. He had a heck of a game. He was spectacular." Wade pleaded guilty to being briefly motivated by getting his first double-double of the season. "I was going for a double-double," he said with a laugh. "Sorry." Heat guard Ray Allen also outmanoeuvred James for a rebound in the final minutes, which left James muttering to the Heat bench. James finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double for the third time this season, and another time he came within two assists. "Hes working on the all-time record for near misses on triple-doubles," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Its not meant for it to happen this year," James said with a chuckle. "My own guys got me. But a win is what its about, and Im happy we played well for most of the game." Wade, who sat out four consecutive games last month to rest his troublesome knees, looked rejuvenated. He shot 13 for 19 and played 37 minutes, his fifth-highest total this season. "That rest did him well," teammate Chris Bosh said. "He has a lot of spring in his legs. When he plays well, were a tough team to beat." Bosh scored 17 points to help Miami win for the fifth time in six games. Allens bbuzzer-beating 3-pointer put the Heat up 84-80 after three periods, and they pulled away from there. Jim Rice Red Sox Jersey. Wades 3-pointer put them ahead by 13 points for the first time, 98-85. Brandon Jennings had 26 points and seven assists for the Pistons, who trailed almost the entire game and took it badly. They were called for four technical fouls. "We can get upset with them, but you have to learn how to deal with it," coach Maurice Cheeks said. "When youre on the road, you have to learn to forget about whats going on." Greg Monroe had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit, which lost despite forcing 20 turnovers and holding an edge of 51-44 in rebounds. "We just fell short," said Josh Smith, who shot only 5 for 20. "They are the world champs, so we have to play almost perfect." The Heat, who began the week three games behind Eastern Conference leader Indiana, started strong and scored 13 points before they missed a shot. From 41-all, James and Wade teamed up for back-to-back fast-break baskets. The second came when Wade fed Mario Chalmers, whose alley-oop over the hoop perfectly led an airborne James for a one-handed throw-down dunk. "The way it came out of Rios hand, I didnt think I was going to get it," James said. "But I tried, and the man above has given me some unbelievable abilities. I just try to take full advantage of them." James also tweaked his left shoulder and right hand, and was called for committing a foul with his face when he became entangled with Monroe. Will Bynums four-point play put the Pistons up 48-47, but that was their last lead. Miami went on a 14-2 run near the end of the half and led 63-57 at halftime. Notes: Miamis Michael Beasley tipped a rebound into the Pistons basket in the second quarter. ... Pistons F-C Josh Harrellson sat out with a sore knee. ... The Heat play six road games before their next home game Feb. 23. ... The Heat improved to 20-5 when leading after one quarter. ... The Pistons are 1-21 when trailing after three periods. cheap nfl jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
