Open Mic: Come On Ref, Blow the Whistle—Not the Game!

Wow, what a topic! In the light of this day, the official has the greatest say over a game. From who gets the ball to which way they crowd sways in the momentum.  So many people can say good things about one ref or umpire while so many other people can say the worst things about a ref or umpire. 

To me, clearly baseball umpires have the hardest job, from calling an out by a split second at first-base being able to see 250 feet down a baseline to see if the ball is fair or foul. Hockey refs probably have the easiest job as far as pressure, they don't really call anything but goals and a couple petty checking calls but they do have to get up and down that ice pretty fast, so they may be the most talented. 

There may be more going on during a football play, but there are so many refs on the field, it takes a lot of pressure off of one and spreads it out. But football refs probably have the most dangerous job, with baseball running a close second. And lastly would be basketball refs. NBA refs probably do the least of anything but blowing. 

More fouls in the NBA with a faster pace and more shots. It's easy to call what's going to happen up and down the court, but it may get tough in the last minutes. College refs have a more different position, not as skilled of players as there are in the NBA plus the games mean so much more in the collegiate atmosphere. 

So, today's best game official would be the college basketball official. To me the college basketball is the best of the collegiate sports. With their tournament brackets and the seeding, literally anybody can win. Everybody has a chance to dance in March Madness. And one blown call in college basketball could lower a players self-esteem causing him to slump in his performance and possibly lowering his NBA stock causing a change in his life. So I believe the NCAA men's basketball officials are the best at what they do.

On the other side, today I would call the MLB officials out on some of their more recent mistakes called. Even though it may be the toughest to call and the eye sight must be near perfect, they sure haven't been doing to well lately. I believe a reason for that is because they have 50- and 60-year-old umpires. I mean come on people, their sight can't really be that good! Here in the last week I have witnessed at least 3 home-runs either called foul or off the wall when they were home-runs, but I still understand that the small white ball flying through the air at high speeds to the outfield would be a difficult object to keep your eye on. 

So there you have it. Sometimes you love 'em, sometimes you hate 'em, and sometimes you love to hate 'em, but they will always be there so you might as well make friends with 'em!