What Professional Sport Has The Worst Officiating?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Poll question: What Professional Sport Has The Worst Officiating?

Of the major Big-4 Sports?

I say basketball, because I basically believe that David Stern can sit there in the luxury box like a puppeteer and decide a game based on one or two strategically-placed calls.

For instance, if a star player gets two quick fouls on him within the first 6 minutes of the game, then you pretty much know that the referees have it out for that team, and that they'll probably lose the game.

Also, I don't know if this exists or not, but if it doesn't, I'd like to create it....

Basically, a database that tracks the record of teams when they have certain referees calling their games. I think it would be interesting to see if there's any major differences in won/loss records from referee-to-referee.

So, what sport do you think has the most "official" bias?

[SCDem]

1. It seems like they are constantly changing the rules

to fit whatever current up and coming (whether he really can play basketball or not) player. Three point line. Whose elbow goes where? One of the main reason why I don't watch pro-basketball and only college ball oh yeah and the primma donnas that play it.

Of course saying all that some refs on the college level are just as bad... calls seem to always favor the favorite.

[Commendatori]

2. Make up your mind, good sir

Your first question asks which league has the worst officiating, the second asks which has the most bias in the officiating. For the bias argument, you nailed it.

The wording of the first question, however, indicates incompetence. In that case, the NFL wins hands down.

[catzies]

3. A really smart guy on a Lakers fan website did a chart on refs

and determined which ones were/were not biased towards/against the Lakers. Verrry interesting. I lost it in a hard drive crash a few years ago, sadly.

[Ganja Ninja]

4. It has to be Basketball.

They don't call traveling anymore.

[rinsd]

8. Hey Pat Ewing wouldn't have had a career if not for that!

ESPN had an absolutely hilarious parody song asking players not to travel a few years back...but I can't seem to find it right now.

[rinsd]

5. Two Words - Dick Bavetta

He makes Phil Luckett (of Vinnie's phantom TD and botched coin flip fame) look like a competent ref.

[trotsky]

6. The way I see it, you've got two kinds of bad officiating.

The first kind is bias towards/against one of the teams.

The second kind is sloppy officiating that affects both teams rather equally.

I'd vote differently for each kind of officiating.

[Cush]

7. Hockey

the refs are just too inconsistent

[phillybri]

9. NBA-do they even call travelling anymore???

:shrug:

[rangerfan]

15. Good question.

I can't remember the last time I've seen it called.

[phillybri]

10. NBA-do they even call travelling anymore???

:shrug:

[afraid_of_the_dark]

11. Basketball... with hockey as a close second.

Football is definitely getting better, especially in the pros with the "coaches challenge" option. However, with some officials, it seemed that if a coach challenged a call, it would always get overturned... we'll see how this season plays out.

[Endangered Specie]

12. Arent you forgetting the real football (soccer)?!?

[tridim]

13. Ice Skating by FAR

Pro and Olympic.

[No2W2004]

14. Basketball refs are a joke

Remember Michael Jordan had Eddie Rush (referee) to get women to send up to his room? No other sport would tolerate such behavior.

They have different rules for the superstar to insure they don't foul out quickly and upset the crowd.

They will only call traveling on rookies or players who haven't "earned their respect".

EDIT: As far as refs having it out for certain teams, I remember Hue Hollins really had a grudge against the Bulls because they kept complaining about his calls. Whenever you saw Hollins, you knew the Bulls would rack up the penalties.