The Whistle Heard ‘Round The World Cup

So now Jim Joyce calls soccer games, too?

Suspect officiating has been a part of the NBA Finals narrative. And now the topic surfaces in the 2010 FIFA World Cup after a game-winning goal was nullified leaving the USA-Slovenia match to end with a 2-2 draw Friday.

Referee Koman Coulibaly disallowed a Maurice Edu goal in the 85th minute after team USA fought back from a 2-0 early deficit. The goal would have given the United States a 3-2 advantage.

ESPN commentator Alexi LaLas called the referee’s call a disgrace and Edu’s teammate Landon Donovan said “I don’t know how they stole that last goal from us.”

In my previous entry I commented about what a good job I thought the NBA refs did in Game 7 of Lakers/Celtics. Now it’s time to go the other way.

What in the world?

I heard that the ref made some questionable calls early in the game — including a red card-worthy offense against a U.S. player that went unnoticed. But wow.

I think the funniest aspect of all this is that the official does not have to explain himself or give a reason for the foul. For real? How can officials not explain their calls — like this doesn’t open the door for game-fixing or anything like that. I’m not saying an official has to give a detailed explanation on the spot, but it would be nice if they could be held accountable for a call 99.9 percent of the world didn’t see happen.

Of course, if the U.S. hadn’t been in a 2-0 deficit to a team they should have beaten, all of this is moot.

Celtics All Wet

So the Lakers beat the Celtics in Game 7 last night.

Kobe Bryant sprinted after the ball, which Lamar Odom joyously flung downcourt to burn the remaining seconds in Game 7 of the NBA finals. With the celebration starting behind him, Bryant chased it down and then held it aloft to his teammates.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 16th championship was secure following a gritty 83-79 victory over the Boston Celtics. Bryant’s legs may have been dead, but he didn’t stop running until the buzzer.

The two-time finals MVP has a ring for every finger on one hand precisely because he never slows down, even with injuries, the Celtics’ defense and his own erratic shot conspiring against him. That’s why this ring will have a special place in his collection, and this banner in the Staples Center rafters will loom a little larger than the rest to Kobe.

If there were drinking games last night based on the number of times the announcers commented on Game 7’s “defensive intensity,” there are a bunch of people suffering from alcohol poisoning this morning.

I really didn’t care who won this game, so I tuned into the second half with an open mind regarding referee calls and other in-game variables that a Boston/LA fan might have a bias toward. My thoughts:

1) The Celtics put up a good fight, but it was only a matter of time before the Lakers took control of the second half. Los Angeles put the clamps down BIG TIME during this time and Boston couldn’t do anything about this.

2) The Lakers had a disproportionate number of free throws, but I didn’t see any biased officiating. (Keep in mind I only watched the second half.) In fact, I thought the second half was called fairly consistent. The refs were letting the two teams play physical, and as long as there’s consistency that’s about all you can ask for.

3) Kobe Bryant now has FIVE titles? That slipped my mind. I would still take Jordan over him any day, but that’s probably just my own bias creeping in. Damn kids and their superstar players of the day.