THE GAG RULE

LETTERS

Rule Changes Urged

The NFHS has shown its true politically correct self. It made modifi cations to the softball rules by eliminating the restrictions on decorative hard beads in hair only months after two umpires enforced that rule at a Durham, N.C., high school game and the issue was portrayed by the player and her parents as a racist incident. The rule has long standing in the softball rulebook as in other sports and has no cultural bias. The NFHS should also eliminate the restrictions on jewelry, as jewelry is more likely to hurt the player wearing it than an opponent. By making this rule change the NFHS threw two umpires under the bus for enforcing a long-standing rule that I know other umpires and referees have enforced. I have had to have girls remove items from their hair and have had to bar girls from entering games for jewelry including string bracelets. The NFHS needs to either eliminate the restrictions on jewelry and decorative hair devices, or stand up as a high school sports governing body and support offi cials as they try to follow the rules that appear in the rulebooks.

W. Kent Wheeless Rocky Mount, N.C. Editor’s note: The NFHS hair bead rule was adopted in 2012.

SURVEY SAYS …

Is facial hair becoming more accepted in offi ciating? 59.3%

YES 40.7%

NO

SOURCE: REFEREE SURVEY OF 194 OFFICIALS

SNAP SHOT

She’s Fond of Referees, Too

Some catchers frame pitches to steal strikes. But the catcher for Tottenville (N.Y.) High School tried a different strategy to get an edge with the plate umpire in a game against New Dorp High. Umpire Vincent J. Maligno of Staten Island, N.Y., reported, “In my 53 years of umpiring I have never seen anything like it. I know catchers sometime try to get the best of the home-plate umpire, but this beats it in my opinion.” Surely by coincidence, Tottenville wound up winning the game.

THEY GET IT

“Getting younger people involved may help fi ll the pool of offi cials, which is being depleted by retirement. However, the travel and especially the ‘experts’ on the fi eld or in the stands who readily share their opinions may be the biggest obstacle to overcome. Thank you to all those who have taken on the role of a sports offi cial. Your contributions to the sport should never be forgotten.”

— Stephen Taylor, in a guest editorial in the Des Moines (Iowa) Register

THEY LIKE US “It’s very easy to focus on the two or three calls you think they missed — and it’s easier for you to see it based on the vantage point (sportswriters) have. Try going on the ice and being in the midst of everything that’s going on and making splitsecond calls. It’s extraordinarily difficult.”

have. Try going on the

SAY WHAT?

“You’re talking NBA refs in the NBA. … They aren’t going to allow (a short series). … These games have been so series). … These games have been so off, it’s just ridiculous. I can say it. What off, it’s just ridiculous. I can say it. What are they going to do, fi ne me?” are they going to do, fi ne me?”

— Retired NBA player Richard Dumas, commenting on the NBA Finals. (He can’t commenting on the NBA Finals. (He can’t be fi ned, but he can be mocked.)

SOURCE: ARIZONA REPUBLIC ARIZONA REPUBLIC

Tell Us What You Think

— NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, responding to a sportswriter’s question about why offi cials miss calls

SOURCE: TSN

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