This is the way. Love what he says here. Thought some of y’all might enjoy it.
Great Pitino quote
- Thread starter chroix
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This is the way. Love what he says here. Thought some of y’all might enjoy it.
I don’t disagree with him. Only difference is that coaches and players have to get behind the mic and address their mistakes. Refs should be no different.
I love the quote and he's right....but he always had a silver tongue and knew just what to say. Well done regardless.. and I agree with him
Some here, all they do is complain about the refs. When I performed musically years ago all people did was complain about this judge and that judge. But the director told us "it all boils down to execution".
Helluva fantastic quote. That, folks, is called standing up and facing the music.
When he was at UK he said “refs can’t cost you the game if you do your job”.
As a former official (many moons ago), I love what Rick said.
...Official do not cheat
...They do make mistakes
...So boo them and hate them (part of the game)
...But stop the Blame Game.
...Official do not cheat
...They do make mistakes
...So boo them and hate them (part of the game)
...But stop the Blame Game.
So 2017 didn’t happen.
I agree we all make mistakes players coaches and referees alike, but acting like some of those poor decisions are not calculated and done on purpose. It’s just not realistic.
I agree we all make mistakes players coaches and referees alike, but acting like some of those poor decisions are not calculated and done on purpose. It’s just not realistic.
Agreed. But it's not NEARLY as common as some here want to think it is.
That game came down to one bad call but it was because of a number of failures prior to that. Hit free throws, cutdown on turnovers, you name it. Any one piece executed correctly before the end could have swayed the outcome. By failing to execute you put the ref in the position to fail and cost you your goal. At least then you make it so egregious everyone has to take notice.
There were several key no calls as well
I was officiating a game one time and I always busted my tail.... one of the players (I did high school ball, but this just so happened to be a rec league game) got on me about a call.... I asked him, "Have you missed any shots?" He said, "Yeah." I said, "Then get off my back because I missed a call." lol Pretty sure he didn't say anything to me the rest of the game. ;-)
I can only imagine how much pressure there must be. I think most fans can overlook innocent missed calls and understand that refs are human. But when it becomes a one-sided pattern, like our final game of 2017 (and 2015, 2011, even 2005, all monumental games with a common denominator) it leaves some of us wondering what might have been if X hadn’t been on the whistle. I certainly get it that a call here or there will be missed for both teams in any given game.
What’s your take when it seems one-sided to a fanbase, when it seems like we cannot win the big games (backed up with evidence, even) with certain refs?
2017 and 2015 were egregious. The refs let Wisconsin get away with murder the last 5 mins and missed an easy shot clock violation on them. Yeah, Cal choked up 4 three straight possessions but officials clearly didn't want Uk going 40 and 0.
Exactly and it’s been proven some refs aren’t just making mistakes but on purpose controlling games.
Sorry, but Georgia game this year was clearly a fixed game. I don’t care what anyone says.
Personally I think this is the wrong mindset to have, and having it keeps our favorite sport from being all that it can be.
We should absolutely strive to have full time refs, pay such a competitive salary that guys don't need to be roofers on the side. Strict financial transparency for any ref, that is justified by the salary. Accountability and suspensions for poor performance. Year round employment with summer time continued training and evaluation. None of this independent contractor stuff. This is a billion dollar industry, there is no reason these things couldn't be done.
Our current environment has produced so many suspect game outcomes over the years and not just for UK. It's a bad system, made worse by the folks who just say "deal with it" and don't push for positive reform.
We should absolutely strive to have full time refs, pay such a competitive salary that guys don't need to be roofers on the side. Strict financial transparency for any ref, that is justified by the salary. Accountability and suspensions for poor performance. Year round employment with summer time continued training and evaluation. None of this independent contractor stuff. This is a billion dollar industry, there is no reason these things couldn't be done.
Our current environment has produced so many suspect game outcomes over the years and not just for UK. It's a bad system, made worse by the folks who just say "deal with it" and don't push for positive reform.
I fully agree. The entire system is built on the assumption that refs will be fair and honest. People (as a whole) are not fair and honest unless there is an external motivation. Sure, most people will do the right thing when they think they are being watched, but refs think they can get away with it if they choose to cheat, and they are 100% correct as things stand currently. They have zero accountability for anything they do -- ever. Given that fact, there is roughly zero chance the game is fair.
Just to add a little more.
Pitino says coaches make mistakes and players make mistakes too, so we need to excuse ref mistakes, right?
Well what coach isn't watching film w/ his players, pointing out those mistakes, and coaching them on how to get better. What coach doesn't have staff on that is reviewing film like that and coming up with strategies to reduce those types of mistakes?
The refs aren't being reviewed like that, at least not by any governing body that will reduce their 'playing time.' The NCAAT is supposed to be doing this an advancing only the best refs, but if you watch the games, it's typically a good ole boys club advancing, guys who have 'paid their dues', not guys that are actually performing the best. We've had some seriously rotten refs make the E8 and FF.
Pitino says coaches make mistakes and players make mistakes too, so we need to excuse ref mistakes, right?
Well what coach isn't watching film w/ his players, pointing out those mistakes, and coaching them on how to get better. What coach doesn't have staff on that is reviewing film like that and coming up with strategies to reduce those types of mistakes?
The refs aren't being reviewed like that, at least not by any governing body that will reduce their 'playing time.' The NCAAT is supposed to be doing this an advancing only the best refs, but if you watch the games, it's typically a good ole boys club advancing, guys who have 'paid their dues', not guys that are actually performing the best. We've had some seriously rotten refs make the E8 and FF.
Pitino is always gracious in defeat. I still remember him saying how happy he was for Lute Olson, right after we lost to Arizona in the Championship. That is a lesson you learn from competing in sports that the vast majority of this country would do well to remember.
I've always thought the refs should get the captains together before the game and tell them, "You're going to miss shots, I'm going to miss calls. Hopefully neither is what decides the game. I won't ride your ass for missed a shot, if you stay off my ass for missing a call. Relay this message to your team."
More than one bad call. Remember the offensive basket interference by Luke May that wasn’t called. Would have taken away a NC basket. Two fouls on Fox that killed us. I have been reffing for 49 years. Still do a church League because I can walk up and down the floor. You will never convince me that that guys aren’t on the take. The only other thing would be that they love the game so much and think they can ref but they really can’t. Being stupid might be a little harsh but you have to be able to think quickly and I think it’s important to have an inherent knowledge of the game. People like Jamie Luckie hate certain teams and have no business being refs. Join the mob or something. Anyway the officiating in college gets worse every year and it’s one of the reasons I stopped watching college basketball.
I disagree. If you cave in to challenges and quit you are guaranteed to never succeed. You can blame whatever external force you want. In the end you are the one that has given up.
Eh...specific to the Wisc game, the refs should have 100% called a flagrant foul on Trey Lyles late in the second half and completely swallowed their whistles. They even went to the monitor to review and left it as a no call. If it was the other way around, us UK fans would have been livid.
Also, the NCAA/CBS was dying for a UK/Duke final. Imagine the storylines...UK going for the 40-0 season, and they just so happen to have to do it against Duke and Coach K, which then in turn brings back all the memories of the 1992 and 1998 Elite 8 games. Plus you have Cal vs K, the two titans of college basketball. Everyone was dying for that matchup.
Consider then that Duke/Wisc did 28 million in viewership (which is the highest rated college basketball game in recent memory and outperformed the college football playoff thay year, which never happens), and now imagine what UK/Duke would have done with all the storylines I mentioned above. Viewership would have easily eclipsed 30 million, in my opinion.
Brother I respect your opinions.
But you are substantially wrong on this.
How many crooked officials "have been proven...on purpose" etc??
I worked with bad officials (sometimes awful).
But never...not even one...issue of integrity
Hard to know but it happened in the NBA and they shut it down because it went deeper than they wanted anyone to know. I’m sorry but we shouldn’t know like. 4-5 refs names because of how bad they are. You won’t convince me Olandis Poole isn’t crooked and he was one of the NBA refs suspected of it.
Gambling is huge so I know players in that get to some of these guys. $ drives everything and corruption is everywhere especially when their is no oversight. It will only get worse since it’s openly legal and promoted online now. I bet you would be shocked if a real investigation happened into these guys. They are all from the same area. It’s a close nit frat where you have to be one of the guys to even have a chance to get in most times.
Look at the stats, Kentucky wins 70-75% of their games, but we have some refs where we have like a 30-40% win %. I bet they all weren’t in games we were underdogs or just had a bad team either.
Refs at the level you probably were a referee at had no reason to cheat. Nobody is placing wagers on a random high school level game. It’s totally fine if you don’t agree, but I’ve seen too many things that aren’t just someone bad at their job over the years. I’ve listened to pros talking about refs they know were corrupt. Look up Bonzi Wells and Rasheed Wallace talking about Tim Donaghy and others. He wasn’t the only one. I think we all agree that where there is large money to be made that some level of cheating or corruption exists. At the very least people will try it. Sports are no different and with no oversight on refs I’m taking the cynical view when it has been proven at the pro level and even in college shaving points. If they get to players, they get to refs too.
I would say he is right. Except there has to be some level of accountability for refs. Otherwise, you increase the chances for blatant bias and taking bribes from gambling groups. You can't avoid those unfortunately, but you can try to limit them.
For example, if BBN didn't call Higgins out on his indisputable bias against UK teams, then he would still be allowed to be doing it.
Bad calls happen. They just can't happen with 90-100% of them going against one team. You likely aren't going to get a 50/50 split, but at least make it no worse than 30/70. And I'm not talking about the # of fouls, as that is very much a factor of style of play, but I'm talking about of "bad calls".
You assume I did not work college?
Long ago...
But the era of legalized gambling did not exist.
My point: there are thousands of officials.
But almost zero "proven" crooks.
Today with video abundant, the conference offices grade every game.
3 man crews...if one is cheating, the other 2 and coaches would know.
@uky8unc5 and any of the other referees, I’d sincerely like your take on Jamie Luckie saying he was the difference between Elon losing to Duke by 20 (it was actually 13) and not 40 points. He took it as a compliment because he likes to “give the little guy more latitude.” When I hear a comment like that, it doesn’t sit well with me. A comment like that strikes me as someone who considers it “his game” (his words) who knows he can do certain things that can ensure the difference in a score is “only 20 points and not 40 points.” I think it should be called fairly, and let the chips fall where they may.
What’s your take on a comment like that?
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Yep. I hate they have NO visible accountability in a HIGHLY visible job
No offense, but they never "proved" Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, and others took steroids either. While I do not think the majority are crooked, just incompetent, out of position, and/or old, there are guys out there making calls for one reason or the other that isn't on the up and up.
Agree on a large scale level….
But it’s been proven that some do in fact cheat and participate in gambling schemes
It’s also logical that if the organization that employs them has a directive (due to maximizing profits), that they will follow the directive in a case by case basis.
College refs are pretty damn close to full time. That's not a panacea....for example, I cringe whenever I watch an NBA game.
Did you work D1? They may know but would they turn them in? Doubtful.
Pat Adams is another prime example of one who literally hates UK. John Higgins should have never been allowed to ref a UK game. He must have hated Cal so bad he took it out on the team. The call he made on Darius Miller under the basket when the UConn guard fell out of bounds on purpose should have gotten him banned forever. And he had plenty of those types against us. Believe what you want but the crooked ones are out there.
Agree 100%! Hell, that Vegas insider said bluntly right on ESPN that “they” weren’t gonna allow UK to win that title in 2015. They said Vegas would’ve lost their collective asses! IMO, 2017 was just absolutely obvious! Several other fanbases stated that UK was being railroaded.
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