ABA blunders way to correct call
by Chris Munson
Published on April 2, 2008 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Now that the video of the Manchester/San Diego American Basketball Association semi-final playoff game is finally available on the web, we are able to come to our own conclusions about what turned out to be yet another bizarre end to an ABA game.
To review, on Saturday night in Quebec City, Manchester and San Diego were tied at 104 following a three pointer with five seconds to go in regulation. San Diego quickly in bounded the ball and Cardell Butler missed a desperation shot, followed by a tip in by Greg Clark that was well after the final buzzer. Despite this, the officials counted the basket and San Diego apparently had itself a two-point victory and a trip to the finals against Vermont. Not so fast...
The series of events that then transpired pretty much define the ABA: make it up as they go along. After it was ruled Clark's basket was good, Manchester's Cedric McGinnis immediately ran off the court, appeared to shove one official to the ground and then made physical contact with another. More on that in just a bit. Then, as San Diego went to its locker room, thinking they had defeated the Millrats, a decision was made to review the replay. In a nutshell, the officials, along with CEO Joe Newman reviewed the video and determined that Clark's final shot did in fact come after the final buzzer. Granted, the decision they made was correct, but there is a problem the review. There is not a provision in the ABA rule book that calls for video replay. Therefore, the decision to review should not have occurred.
It is hard to argue the intent of the decision, but the plain fact of the matter is that there is not a provision for video replay in the ABA rule book. If the rule or provision doesn't exist, then why enact the rule in the first place? Most ABA arenas do not carry games live, or for that matter on tape delay. How can there be a replay if the vast majority of ABA venues do not have video capability? One has to wonder if there are two different sets of rules for ABA games, one for teams that tape the games and another for those who do not.
In all of the mayhem of the aftermath of the review and subsequent decision, Play-On Sports play by play announcer Joe Salerno interviewed Newman and discussed the series of events. Newman said of the decision, "We give the Director of Officials (Tom Chichester) the right to review, and had there been a monitor at courtside, which traditionally there is, but in this case there was not, they would have gone over and looked at the monitor at courtside and shown the ball that was tipped in happened after the buzzer rang and after time ran out. Our feeling is the game is 48 minutes long, and regardless if an official made a mistake, the game must continue."
Following the review of the tape, it was also determined that McGinnis would be ejected for his actions and San Diego was awarded two free throws to start overtime.
Again, the rule for a replay does not exist, so overtime should not have occurred. This was a case of the ABA just making things up as they go along. In professional sports, this should not occur.
When it comes to McGinnis, Newman said in his interview that there will be a discussion about his actions and that a suspension may result. This should be a given and considering his past conduct, the suspension should be significant in duration. If the allegations are proven, Newman should institute a minimum 20-game suspension for the initial shove and the subsequent push of the second official.
Here's a bolder suggestion for the league. Don't make things up on the fly, and don't say there "traditionally is a monitor at courtside" when there is not, and follow your own rulebook. This is common sense.
Chris Munson. Chris is a frequent contributor to Our Sports Central. Chris is the former Sports Director for ESPN Radio Vermont and has written for US Basket, Varsity Magazine, d3football.com, the Vermont Guardian and the Vermont Times. Chris has also been selected by the Vermont chapter of the ALS Association to represent the state at ALS National Advocacy Week in Washington DC. The event takes place May 11th-13th with the goal being to raise awareness of the disease to the public and to lobby our leaders to push for greater funding for ALS research. For more information on the ALS Association, go to www.alsa.org
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from April 2, 2008
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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
