To just keep saying "go to a clinic and ref yourself or STFU" is ridiculous and pointless. If I don't like the way a movie is made, that doesn't necessarily mean I should become a director and make my own films. If I disagree with the way a decision is made in court it doesn't mean I need to go and become a judge. There are good directors and bad, good judges and bad, and good referees and bad. There are also good referees who have bad nights.
I was at game 2 and it was a horribly officiated game that, whether or not it was the intent of the referees, strongly favoured Brampton.
Yes, Peterborough needs to show more discipline. That has been a problem for them for years and will continue to be while they have so many players who play with the passion and fervour that they do. And yes, the Evans brothers often go overboard when they are losing. Many players on many teams do. However, I will say a couple of things for the Lakers. For the most part, while some of their players may take some pretty nasty whacks at guys behind the play (as, again, many players on many teams do), very infrequently are they making blatant attempts to seriously injure other players. I'm fine with refs calling any of the cheap stuff they want to, or letting a lot of it go if it's handled evenly and the players can work it out themselves. But to me, the important thing is to come down hard on the vicious intent to injure plays. That doesn't happen enough.
Secondly, at least the Lakers will back it up when they get in someone's face about something. I'd rather see someone like Shawn Evans who is one of the loudest and most frequent complainers to refs, and who stirs **** up regularly, but who'll stand up for himself when someone responds, than someone who is just as chippy and mouthy but then hides behind refs or teammates when his actions precipitate a response.
Posted on Aug 26, 2011, 12:03 PM from IP address 216.221.94.162