Centralized Replay to Speed up Running Time of Games

Interesting move being pushed by Silver. If it'll really speed up games, I'm all for it. Moreover, it might take some of the steam out of claims that the refs favor certain players or home teams.

Sam

Centralized replay on horizon for NBA
Updated: February 14, 2014, 4:21 PM ET
By Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com

NBA Eyes Big Video Review Changes
League execs say as soon as next season key calls could be made by officials reviewing video off site.
NEXT VIDEO video

By next season, the NBA is planning to create and use a centralized replay center to help referees and speed up games.

"What we're in the process of doing is we're going to create a central location where we'll have people there who will be watching every game," NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn said Friday. "When the referees go over to the side, in many instances the [central replay center] will already know what happened and they'll be able to tell the referee, which will hopefully take less time."

The project is one of new commissioner Adam Silver's initiatives. The NBA would be mimicking a system the NHL started in 2011, when it created what is known as the "situation room" in Toronto where all goals from all games can be reviewed with calls communicated to the officials on the ice.

That experiment has been successful in shortening the time replays take in addition to removing some pressure from the referees on site.

The NFL is also studying the effects of creating a centralized replay center.

"It's still a work in progress for exactly how it's [going to work]," Thorn said. "On the line calls, like whether it's a 3-pointer or 2-pointer, or in many occasions they'll be able to tell the referee the ball was definitely [out of bounds], whatever team. That should help."

Over the last several years, the NBA has significantly expanded what is reviewable, especially at the ends of games. In addition to out of bounds calls and 3-pointers, officials can now review goaltending and even block/charge calls in the final two minutes and overtime.

In all, there are 14 things officials can review.

ESPN.com's Henry Abbott and Jade Hoye contributed to this report.

But what if the Coach spills a drink?

beat wrote:But what if the Coach spills a drink?

I believe that gimmick will be met with a hefty fine from now on

As far as the idea, I think it's a step in the right direction. Of course, the NBA also needs to review how they rule charges/blocking fouls, as half the time they are called incorrectly it seems.



KJ

It's ironic that, today, my best friend took me behind the scenes at Fenway Park to show me all the media facilities—from the second-largest press room in the American League (with only one less seat than in Yankee Stadium) to the technological rooms with scores of amplifiers, controls, and everything electronic. He also introduced me to the booth where he works as public address announcer. When we were going through one control room, a technician explained how the Red Sox (like every MLB franchise) are preparing technologically for the addition of instant reviews this coming season. A professional reviewer will sit up near my friend, will conduct appropriate reviews himself, and will directly inform the umpiring crew as to his decision. It sounds sort of similar to the NBA proposal in that it takes the review out of the umpires' hands, although the baseball review system will be localized rather than centralized.

My friend is also a community ambassador for the Red Sox. He travels around New England, visiting community groups, giving talks about the Red Sox, and exhibiting the World Series trophies from 2004, 2007 and 2013. For instance, a few days ago, he and a Red Sox VP (Dr. Charles Steinberg) drove from Boston to Hartford in the morning; my friend had seven appearances; and they got back to Boston at 9:15 in the evening.

My friend has written more than 50 poems about the Red Sox history. The verses are as varied as one about the little-known home run contest between Ted Williams and Babe Ruth, another about the terrible year of 2012, a recent one about David Ortiz, and a self-biographical one entitled, “I kissed Ted Williams.” He’s writing a book that will integrate his verses with text about the team’s history, including many little-known facts that have been discovered through his intensive research.

As we were about to leave the press box, a tour group of about 20 people was ushered in, and we listened to the tour guide do his thing. Among other interesting revelations is that the press box had always had three very long rows of seats in Dice K and his press retinue came to town. The Sox were forced to add a row of seats for the Japanese press. But the ceiling was so low over that row that one had to lean down to see the game under the ceiling. So the Sox were forced to add a tv monitor at every seat (maybe 35-40 seats in that row). All for a pitcher who never really made good for the Sox.

At the end of the tour guide’s spiel, my friend asked (as he often does whenever he sees a tour group in the building) whether the guide would like him to recite a poem. (By the way, my friend is billed by the Red Sox as their Poet Laureate.) He recited a poem he had written about Fenway Park, weaving in passages about players now and then (“ghosts of Fenway”) and reflecting the spirit of Fenway. It’s called “Long Live Fenway Park,” and it was a complete thrill to watch my friend sharing the love affair he has with Fenway as the tour group sat in rapt attention, never moving a muscle, and forgetting even to close their mouths. And then, it was over, and my friend just shuffled back to his alcove while 20 tourists carried home a memory they could never have anticipated.

This is his poem:

LONG LIVE FENWAY PARK

For a hundred years she’s stood here,
Heard cheering, seen our tears;
Through all the good times and the bad
Fenway perseveres.

She’s baseball’s great crown jewel;
A treasure – this is why.
Look out there on her field, you’ll see
The ghosts of games gone by.

There’s Babe Ruth standing on the mound,
Ted Williams at the plate.
And someone’s great grandfather
Just came in through the gate.

That’s Yaz patrolling in left field,
In center, Freddie Lynn;
Cronin’s playing shortstop
But Pesky’s coming in.

Luis Tiant whirls and spins
And then he lets it go.
There’s another leaping catch
By Dom DiMaggio.

Jim Rice lines one off the wall,
Malzone comes in to score.
Pedroia makes a diving stop,
Or is that Bobby Doerr?

Fisk hits one deep into the night.
Will it be foul or fair?
It caroms off the foul pole
And the cheers still fill the air.

Dewey Evans’ rifle arm
Just cut a runner down.
There’s Tony C, still young and strong,
The toast of his hometown.

Roberts steals another base
Pinch running for Millar.
There’s Radatz, Lonborg, Jimmie Foxx,
And Pedro and Nomar.

Look closely. You can see then all.
They come here everyday.
Fenway was and is their home.
It’s where her ghosts still play.

And in the dugout by first base,
There sits the current squad.
Someday they will take their place
With all the Fenway gods.

That’s why this place is magic,
Why she’s made such a mark.
She’s one hundred and still going strong.
And long live Fenway Park!


Dick Flavin

But wait, there’s more. He also conducts interviews with Red Sox immortals for the Fenway Park Archives. His most recent interview was with Carlton Fisk, who had some great stories. Just two of them:

Fisk, of course, had one of the greatest hits in Red Sox history. No Sox fan older than 55 will ever forget Carlton hitting one far into the night and waving it fair as the won in extra innings against the Reds in the World Series of 1975.

A couple of years later, Fisk was catching Louie Tiant, and an opposing batter crushed a pitch to dead center field. The only question was how many rows back it would land. And, out on the mound, there was Louie waving his arms and yelling, “Go Foul. Go foul.”

After a famous collision at home plate between the two, Fisk and Thurman Munson of the Yankees detested one another. When my friend asked whether Fisk had ever spoken to Munson. “Only once,” responded Fisk. “One time, the Yankees came to town; and they didn’t Munson to catch two days in a row, so the put him in left field. Well Munson was no left-fielder, and a couple of balls got by him. The next time he came up to bat, I said to him, ‘I really feel for you out there.’ To which Munson answered, ‘I don’t care about f’cking up as long as I know what I’m f’king doing out there. The problem is I have no idea what the f’k I’m doing out there.’”

Sam

Anything to quicken the pace of broadcast games.

Is it my imagination or have the typical TV games--just about all games now--gotten much longer in duration.

I seem to recall that as a kid most games lasted around two hours. Now they can easily go on for three.

A byproduct of all those extra timeouts and breaks for TV commercials I guess.

Sloop,

Timeouts, commercials, and late 4th quarter fouling when the game is extended (if it's close).



KJ

One thing that should go is those ridiculous coaches mini interviews by the designated network eye-candy.

The only thing interesting about them is how different coaches handle them. Popovich doesn't even try to hide his annoyance. His answers to those really penetrating questions often consists of "Yup," "Nope" and "We have to make our shots."

Doc, on the other hand, always has a smile on his face and acts like he's actually interested.

He'd make a good politician.

It's all become a game, Sloop. A big media funfest aimed at the lowest common denominators of basketball IQ. Whenever my television is on, I carry a bucket around and put it into action every time I hear a question that begins with, "How does it feel......?"

I'd love to hear some answers like:

"We lost so my intestines are roiling, and, if you'll look down, you see that I just took a dump on your Mary Janes."

"Herman lost the game for us; and, as soon as you get your nice little butt out of here, we're doing to play pin the tail on on Herman, using railroad spikes, sledge hammers, and four jars full of K-Y."

"Well, we just won the championship, and I'll be spending the night with Minnie Mouse at the Hotel Californicate."

"So I'm traded. I bet I've been traded a lot less than you have, honey."

Sam

Sam, sure makes you wish that Bobby Knight will come out of retirement and coach in the NBA.

Yeah, Sloop, busted chairs and all.

Sam

They did this in hockey a decade or more ago on disputed goals. No big deal..........still takes just as long as to view the video as if the refs are doing so.  Besides I do not like "League" people determining calls as they want certain out comes.

No Thanks!

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