Replacement Refs in Defunctville...For Now

We're as obsolete as the replacement refs in the NBA. We are currently looking for writers to help keep this ship afloat, but we're not the Titanic...or maybe we are. I'll never let go.

If you're looking for something worthwhile about referees and/or umpires, here's some food for thought. Baseball chose not to vote on instant replay. I knew I shouldn't have listened to Jalen Rose.

NFL Referees in Training: Don't Back-Pedal on DeSean Jackson

Every now and then we at TRR will give you training tips on how to become a professional referee. You'd be amazed how many every day situations, or the simplest of tips, can be instrumental training opportunities for you to gain that extra edge to one day become a professional (or a replacement when they go on strike).

DeSean Jackson is fast; way too fast for referees to be side-pedaling or back-pedaling when he's running down field.

Let this be a lesson to all of you aspiring referees out there to never look like this on a play:

Don't confuse DeSean Jackson's "cause referees to fall over" speed with Gus Johnson's interpretation of Chris Johnson's speed, "gettin' away from the cops" fast.

[Gunaxin]

Game 5 World Series Umpire Locations

This could be for all the marbles, but the Yankees winning a World Series in the first season of their new stadium is kind of lame if it's not actually won in the new stadium, right?

Dana DeMuth will crouch behind a World Series dish for the fourth time in his 24 year career. He was the homeplate ump in the 80th MLB All-Star Game this year and was an umpire when Bonds hit no. 755. I'm sure he'll do everything in his power to add another accolade to his pretty looking resume.

HP Dana DeMuth
1B Joe West
2B Gerry Davis
3B Jeff Nelson
LF Brian Gorman
RF Mike Everitt

Ryan Howard Didn't Touch Home Plate and I Think Mike Everitt Knew That

Replays confirmed that Ryan Howard never touched homeplate when sliding past Jorge Posada in the bottom of the 4th inning. His hand reached past home and his right leg lifted and sailed over it, but nothing concrete ever actually grazed the dish. By rule, he should have been called out when he walked back to the dugout for straying outside the base line.

What's the worst part about this call?

I think Mike Everitt knew what the right call was there. Everitt did not make a call after Howard slid past home. He also looked very uneasy when he did slackly raise the "safe" arms as Posada picked up the loose ball and threw it down to second.

I'm clearly speculating, but normally an umpire makes his call immediately, and on a play like this, upon realization that the ball is or is not in the glove depending on the call. In this instance, he waits so long afterward to make the safe call, it makes me wonder if he was waiting to see if Posada would try to tag Howard out. I'm thinking if he does try to tag Howard, he makes the right call. When Posada made no attempt to tag Howard, and threw it to 2nd base, Everitt unemphatically raised his arms to indicate that Howard was "safe," because he probably didn't want to pull out the "out of the base line" crap and create an uproar of controversy, no matter how right it would have been. It probably would have led to a lot more scrutiny than it would by calling him safe, like he did.

It should be noted that not a single representative of the Yankees on the field argued the call.

Umpires Issue Warnings in 1st Inning A-Rod HBP

Mike Everitt, homeplate umpire for Game 4 of the World Series, issued warnings to both dugouts tonight when A-Rod was plunked. It was the third time in four games A-Rod has been beaned.

Savvy move by the 13-year vet to keep things from escalating in such an important game. If nothing else, it might help take the attention off of his shady strike zone.