Musings and Ramblings: A Little Technology Could Go a Long Way

For sports fans worldwide, the FIFA World Cup® has been a three-week-long odyssey as 32 teams have vied for the title of world’s best. With the roar of vuvuzelas providing the soundtrack, the tournament has borne witness to two major storylines.

The first storyline revolves around so many dramatic and athletic plays, as well as scale-tipping moments that have changed the fortune of nations looking to advance out of group play.

United States fans need only recall their team’s final group match with Algeria. With moments slipping away and the Yanks looking all but eliminated from the round of 16, a thrilling extra-minute goal from Landon Donovan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Unfortunately the second storyline and perhaps more public issue of this year’s Cup tournament has been the spotlight on those who call the matches, the officials. A number of errors in judgment have affected multiple matches.

The United States was subject to a pair of judgment errors in their group matches. In the 20th minute of its match with Algeria a goal was called back when the referee ruled Clint Dempsey was offsides. A flurry of shots by the United States and Herculez Gomez ended up in a point blank finish by Clint Dempsey who truly did not appear to be in an offside position with an Algerian defender looking even.

Just one match earlier, in its encounter with Slovenia, the U.S. erased a 2-0 Slovenian lead to tie the match in the second half. The United States scored what should have been a game-winning goal in the 85th minute. I am still unsure whether offsides was called, or a penalty was called, but Michael Bradley was fouled on the play as a Slovenian player had him in a bear hug. Despite this, the United States scored, but shockingly the goal did not count. The call gave the United States only a single point for the eventual tie instead of the possible three points for a win.

Questionable calls were not limited to just the Stars and Stripes. Just this past Sunday there were two controversial calls in a pair of matches that could have stemmed the tide in both affairs.

In the Germany-England matchup and a 2-1 Germany lead, England’s Frank Lampard fired a shot that slipped by the German goalkeeper and struck the crossbar of the goal. The carom off the crossbar bounced down and made contact with the ground a full two feet over the goal line, which should have counted for a goal. However, both the referee and the assistant referee ruled the shot was not a goal. Instead of England equalizing the match, the score remained 2-1. England manager Fabio Capello admitted after the match that if the goal had counted, strategy for the second half with a knotted score would have differed from the plan with the team trailing.

In a game just hours later between Mexico and Argentina, Argentina was awarded a goal when a ball was scored by Carlos Tevez. Replay after the tally clearly illustrated the Argentinian player was offside and the goal should have been disallowed. Instead the score stood and Argentina went on to win the match.

The numerous controversies have sparked roaring debate over whether FIFA, the international soccer governing body, should change its stance regarding the usage of video and technology in these types of high-profile international matches. FIFA’s attitude is to keep all video and technology out of the game of soccer in order to play the game as they feel it is meant to be played, complete with judgment calls for better or worse.

FIFA has resisted the introduction of such technological aids as goal-line cameras and instant replay, arguing that those devices would rob the sport of its human element and interrupt the game's continuity. And it won't be until the next World Cup, coming up in Brazil in 2014, that five officials will oversee a match rather than the three officials currently in place. In addition, in an attempt to quell any uprisings over bad calls, FIFA has called for all stadiums to stop showing controversial plays on large screens in stadiums during matches for the rest of the World Cup tournament (how’s that for being proactive?).

Now I never profess to be a genius when it comes to “the beautiful game”, but even I can see how asinine it is that a sport has an opportunity to improve the quality and remove a large measure of controversy out of its game, yet choose not to do so.

I disagree with the comment from FIFA’s 74-year-old president Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, who was quoted last April as saying it would "not make sense to stop play every two minutes to review a decision as this would go against the natural dynamism of the game.”

From my assessment of the officiating snafus, simple goal-line technology as used in tennis to rule whether shots are in or out can be adapted to the game of soccer.

Regarding the use of instant replay, multiple options could be reviewed or implemented to ensure a more accurately called match. Replay could be utilized in questionable calls only upon a head coach/manager’s challenge. FIFA could give each coach one challenge to use, and a maximum amount of time (say, 90 seconds) would be allotted for an official to either get help from an official in the press box with a monitor seeing the replay, or watch the replay himself on the field.

Much like the current uses of replay in America’s major sports, scoring plays and only a few other instances (primarily coach challenges in football) are eligible for review. The same should be the case in soccer. I’m not saying FIFA needs to replace referees with robots, but using replay and technology in a limited yet effective measure would surely be lauded by nations around the world, especially those who felt they have been victims of human errors in officiating in this tournament and tournaments past.

With change comes resistance, but it only makes sense for FIFA to relent its stance. Following last weekend’s England/Germany match, robbed English scorer Lampard said "I don't know whether goal-line technology will change things, but technology would have made it 2-all today and given us big belief and confidence that we could beat the Germans." By being willing to show flexibility in this matter, the governing body of soccer could silence detractors and limit the heat the organization receives, in addition to better ensure that undisputed victors would emerge from group and knockout stage play.

Here’s hoping the remainder of this year’s World Cup won’t be tainted by further controversy and that FIFA will straighten up and fly right for the game’s sake.

Golden Knights Stung by Hornets in Semi-Pro Football Action

With the first non-forfeit win in franchise history the previous week against the Burlington Bulldogs, the Carolina Golden Knights looked for two wins in a row against a familiar foe in the Catawba Hornets. The clubs met last season with the Hornets picking up a lopsided victory. This year’s matchup proved to be no different, as the seasoned and experienced Catawba club shut out the Golden Knights 56-0 at Historic Cranberry High School field Saturday night.

Neither team was able to score with their first possession of the contest. A long Hornets punt return set up a short field, which Catawba transformed into its first score when quarterback Lynch found a receiver in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but Catawba held the 6-0 at the 7:25 mark in the first period.

Carolina’s next possession was disastrous as a fumbled snap was picked up by a Catawba linebacker, who scurried 30 yards for a defensive touchdown. Another two-point try was no good, but the lead was doubled at 12-0 with 6:19 remaining in the opening stanza.

The Hornets defense was strong throughout the contest, as the Knights found little running room and struggled to offset the team speed of Catawba.

Another three-and-out from Carolina resulted in a punt and Hornets drive on the Knights side of the 50-yard line. The Knights defense showed the ability to stop the run on plays inside the tackles, but Catawba quickly utilized its quickness on the edges to get inside the Carolina 10-yard line as the first quarter expired.

Catawba scored on an off-tackle run on the first play of the second period, and converted on a two-point attempt to up its lead to 20-0.

On Carolina’s ensuing possession, the Knights moved the football with its greatest success, marching to near midfield. Former Avery football players Samson Jennings and Chase Arrowood operated out of the backfield for the Knights and saw plenty of action. Carolina’s drive stalled as a snap over quarterback Jennings’ head resulted in a large yardage loss, and Arrowood was stopped on a carry for loss, forcing another Golden Knights punt.

Catawba struck quickly as a halfback run almost resulted in a touchdown, but another former Avery gridder, linebacker Zach Johnson, ran the speedy back down before he could score. The Knights held Catawba on three plays from the ten-yard line to force a fourth and goal at the 11. The Hornets scored on a pass play to the left corner of the end zone with 6:15 left in the first half. Catawba’s conversion attempt was successful to push the Hornets to a commanding 28-0 advantage.

Carolina turned the ball over for a second time on a fumble inside its own 30-yard line to set up Catawba with another scoring opportunity. Two plays later Catawba scored on a 21-yard halfback run. The two-point conversion failed but the Hornets led 34-0, a score which remained unchanged until halftime.

In the second half Carolina’s offense continued to battle hard, but was unable to find an answer to the Catawba defense. Quarterback Jennings gave way to Deke Cooper, who moved from receiver to quarterback. With Jennings at wide receiver, the pair connected on a couple of occasions with wide receiver, once for a first down.

The Knights made one serious attempt to score, moving the football inside the Hornets 30, but the Catawba club was intent to keep the Golden Knights off the scoreboard and turned them away.

Catawba added 22 second-half points to put an exclamation mark on a hard fought contest by both clubs. The teams played through sweltering temperatures in the mid-80s at game time and gathered together at midfield at the game’s conclusion in an admirable display of sportsmanship.

The Golden Knights look to get back on the winning track when it returns to the gridiron next Saturday.

Avery Little League District World Series Teams Open Tournament Play

It was a tough pair of opening games for the 9 and 10 year olds as District 7 Little League Baseball and Softball tournament action got underway.

On a sweltering Saturday in Morganton, the Avery 9-10 softball squad battled both opponent Ashe County and oppressive heat, as temperatures skyrocketed to near the 100 degree mark. Due to the excessive heat, players were given every opportunity during the game to ask for a pause for water to keep hydrated on the hot diamond at Shuey Park.

The heat and a tough Ashe County squad got the best of Avery by game’s end, however, as Avery fell by a final score of 19-5 in four innings.

Ashe County got the offensive flurry going early on against Avery starting pitcher Leah Ricker. Ricker made good pitches, but Ashe found a way to put the aluminum to the ball to score eight runs in the opening frame. Zoe Daniels was called on in relief during the inning and was able to close out the inning.

Avery bounced back in the bottom of the stanza to cut the lead as Ricker drew a walk and scored one batter later when Zoe Daniels ripped an inside-the-park home run to the outfield fence in left field. By inning’s end Avery drew to within 8-2.

Daniels held Ashe scoreless in the top of the second, and in the bottom half Avery took advantage with another pair of runs. Multiple Avery players drew walks in the inning before Veronica Clark plated runs with a base hit. Avery drew three more walks following the hit to force in a run, but Avery was retired, leaving the bases loaded.

Ashe County extended its lead for good in the top of the third with another eight-run flurry. The Ashe club rapped out four hits in the frame to bring runs home and build a 16-4 lead.

Avery scored a single run in the bottom of the third as Cassie Harris walked and came around to score, but was unable to amass any further offense as Ashe plated three runs in the fourth inning and Avery was held scoreless in the bottom half to end the game due to the ten-run mercy rule.

Avery head coach Robert Garland was pleased with how his team battled both its opponent and the elements on a dangerously hot day for baseball.

“They kept beating us by innings. We played close until the end. These girls weren’t used to the heat and burned up, but they played their best and left everything on the field. The girls played really awesome, especially considering how hot they were,” Coach Garland said following the game. “I really thought that Little League should have done something in the mountains with two mountain teams playing, in my honest opinion.”

Despite the setback, the Avery coach was appreciative of the effort of the team and contends there is much fight left in the team for its next tournament game, a must-win contest held this Saturday.

“Some of them looked about ready to pass out, but these girls have a lot of fight in them and they’ll bounce back,” the coach said. The girls will return to action this Saturday with a game at a location TBD at 1 p.m. Updates on games and location can be found later this week on the Journal-Times Sports Blog at www.ajtsports.blogspot.com.

Meanwhile in 9 and 10 year old Little League Baseball tournament action, the Avery boys team squared off with a talented Wilkes County (National League) team on Monday evening at Sherrill Rominger Field inside the Hodge Turbyfill Baseball Complex in Newland. The Wilkes batters had on their hitting shoes from the first inning as the squad took an early lead and did not relinquish its strangle hold as Avery came up short in a 14-1 defeat in four innings.

Avery, the visiting team in the game, looked poised to draw first blood when leadoff hitter Jordan Lecka reached base and advanced to third base, but Wilkes pitcher Ethan Adams recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame Wilkes struck for four runs. A number of fielding errors hurt Avery as Wilkes picked up its runs off only one hit.

Avery again looked as if it was going to plate a couple of runs in the second inning when Josh Cook reached on a fielder’s choice and Lane Johnson drew a walk. Again, the Wilkes pitcher rose to the occasion as Adams recorded another strikeout to end the inning.

Batting through each player in the lineup for the second time in as many innings, the Wilkes lineup appeared to get the timing down of Avery starting pitcher Jordan Lecka. Wilkes picked up nine runs in the bottom of the second, forcing Avery to call on Josh McClellan in relief before inning’s conclusion. Wilkes had five base hits in the frame and was assisted with a couple of Avery gaffes which extended the Wilkes advantage to an insurmountable 13-0 lead.

Refusing to quit, Avery fought to prevent the shutout and was successful. McClellan singled in the top of the third inning, advanced to third after a stolen base and passed ball, then scored on a throwing error from the Wilkes catcher.

Unfortunately for the Avery club, it could no more to its run total. Wilkes added a run in the bottom of the third, then struck out the Avery side in order in the fourth inning to close out the win due to the ten-run mercy rule.

Avery’s next 9-10 baseball tournament contest will take place on Saturday afternoon, July 3^rd. Avery’s 11 and 12 year old teams start action this week. The 11-12 softball squad plays in Boone this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Watauga, while the 11-12 year old baseball team takes on Wilkes (American) on the road Saturday at 3:30 p.m.