No more mucking around...

EVERY SPORT NEEDS VIDEO REFEREES.


I have officially had it with the governing bodies of sports. Mainly, FINA (swimming's governing body) and FIFA (soccer's governing body).

Enough is enough guys - you must bring in video refs. It has gone past the ridiculous point now.

The 2006 Soccer World Cup is just another example of the Little-Aussie-Battler getting unfairly slammed by bad referees not doing their job properly, and stupid governing bodies who wont use those lumps that sit a metre above their butts.

First, we have Otylia Jedrzejczak and Jess Schipper in the 200 butterfly at the 2005 World Championships. Schipper and Jedrzejczak are head to head, in front of world record pace, coming into the final few strokes. On the final stroke swum, Jess goes in, head down, arms out, hands touch the wall at the same time. Legit. Jedrzejczak comes in, head down, arms out... but what's this?? Right hand pulls down for a half stroke, she touches the wall with only her left hand, while her right hand is a whole arms-length behind it. (Which conveniently means she touches 0.04 seconds infront of Jess). Illegal. You have to touch with both hands. Ref "doesn't see it", Jedrzejczak gets the gold and the world record, Jess gets silver.

Then - a video from directly above is shown on the screen, showing how blatantly obvious it was that Jedrzejczak only touched with one hand. Only way you could misinterpret it is by not watching. Referee's call... "Sorry, we don't allow video evidence. Referee's call stands. Jedrzejczak gets the world record". Absolutely robbed. Check out this article for a run down.

Now... 2006 Soccer World Cup. Noted, Australia wasn't actually winning when the stupid call was made, but we were dominating the game. Grosso brings the ball into the box, Neil goes in for a tackle, slides, stops, and Grosso trips over him. Ref's decision... PENALTY!

Result? Italy gets a penalty kick from inside the box. Wins the game in the final minute.

I mean, it's not rocket science. Think about it:
1) Humans are fallible - they don't always get it right.
2) If a wrong decision is made by a referee, it could mean the difference between winning and loosing.
3) We actually have the technology to avoid, even completely eradicate, incorrect calls made by refs.

If you ask me - it's a no-brainer. That's right, governing bodies don't even need to use those lumps that sit a metre above their butts to understand this.

Sports like Rugby, Cricket, even some (if not all) Tennis tournaments have brought in video refs. And the result? Just calls.

I'm sick to death of it.

No more mucking around. It's time to pull your heads out of the sand.

Video refs are the only way forward.

Go on, you know you want rant about with me...

It should never have ended like this...

Enough said...

Tough vs. Tender

Hey all.

I've been thinking recently about the method of delivery used by people when they are challenging others. As i see it, there are basically two methods available...

1) Tough Love

2) Tender Love

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about - try to answer this question: When you were at school, did you respond better and achieve more when a teacher was firm, strong, direct, and sometimes even mean - or did you get more out of a teacher who was kind, sweet, forgiving, and a gentle encourager?

Put very simply - the stick or the carrot.

Personally I'm a tough love man. I started realising this when in year 9 I had a D&T teacher named Mr. Supple. Monster of a man (in sheer size that is - he was buff). When i messed up, didn't do my homework, or goofed off (which anyone who went to school with me would know happened all too often) he would slam me on it. But was consistent and fair in his discipline. I was a little fearful of him - but respected him, and did some of my best work with him as my teacher because he demanded it of me.

Another example would be being rebuked (whether indirectly via a sermon or directly via one on one). I respond much better to something like:

"Stop being such a dumb ass and get your act together. You know what you're doing is wrong. Stop pretending, making excuses for yourself and lying. Jesus died for you - how can treat him with such disrespect? Live for him and stop living for yourself."

... rather than:

"Oh look its ok. Don't get down about this. No ones perfect, and you're not alone. You just have to try harder next time. You're not that bad, you just made a mistake. And remember, God loves you."

What do you generally respond better to?

And which do you think is a better method for rebuking or teaching others?

Thoughts...?