N.J. Wrestling Referee’s Lawsuit Dismissed

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A New Jersey appeals court on Feb. 7 upheld the dismissal of a high school wrestling referee’s lawsuit that contended school officials were responsible for the referee being negatively thrust into the national spotlight for enforcing a rule.

Alan Maloney found himself vilified after ruling a 16-year-old Buena High School wrestler could not compete without a head covering for his dreadlocks in a Dec. 2018 match. Video of the wrestler getting an on-mat haircut so he could compete went viral.

Fallout from the controversy and an investigation by the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights led the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to suspend Maloney for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

Maloney’s suit contended the suspension ended up “… fueling the erroneous reports in the media that the plaintiff was racially motivated by his rules enforcement.” The wrestler is biracial. Maloney is white. Maloney’s suit said he received death threats.

The suit sought unspecified monetary damages from George Maxwell, Buena’s wrestling coach; David Albertson, the school’s athletic director; and the Buena Regional School District Board of Education. The suit argued school officials were obligated to ensure the wrestler was properly equipped.

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Alabama A&M player during a stoppage in play. The shoving incident came less than a minute after the player and cheerleader had bumped into each other on the endline. Video of the preceding incident showed the player was quickly inbounding the ball after a free throw. The cheerleader jumped into the air to celebrate the successful free throw, while close to the endline, and bumped into the player. Security was summoned and

“Their failure to adhere to that duty brought about foreseeable consequences and damages to (Maloney),” the suit contended.

But the appeals court upheld a lower court ruling in 2021 dismissing the suit. A two-judge panel said Maloney’s revised complaint had no new facts that showed the school officials “owed Maloney a duty of care.” The appeals court said Maloney “had the ultimate authority to prevent (the wrestler) from competing if he determined (the wrestler’s) head gear was non-compliant. And, correctly or incorrectly, he chose to exercise that power.” Additionally, school officials had no role in a reporter’s decision to share the video on social media, the appeals court ruled.

Maloney had ruled the wrestler “had braids or twists that pursuant to the published and known rules required a legal hair cover,” the lawsuit stated. A dispute emerged over whether the wrestler’s hair was in its “natural state.” If not, the rules at the time required a hair covering. The following year, the NFHS deleted rules regarding the “natural state” and length of a wrestler’s hair. Officials have also been directed to interpret rules about hair for athletes based on length, but not style such as braids, twists, knots or dreadlocks.

SOURCE: THE DAILY JOURNAL the cheerleader was escorted from the playing facility.

Adam Silver Talks Accountability

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed in an interview with ESPN what those in the officiating industry have long known: Officials are indeed held accountable for their performance. “We don’t publicize discipline for officials. We don’t think that will be appropriate,” Silver said. “But

NFL continued from p.12

• Mark Hittner, down judge, 26 years

• Jeff Lamberth, side judge, 21 years

• Perry Paganelli, back judge, 25 years

• Steven Patrick, back judge, 9 years

Jeff Bergman finished his NFL officiating career by working Super Bowl LVII. He worked 11 playoff games during his career. He’s joined in retirement by his brother, Jerry, who worked Super Bowl LII.

Their father, Jerry Bergman, was a longtime NFL official. The elder Bergman died in 2017.

Perry Paganelli worked two Super Bowls during his career. He has two brothers still officiating in the NFL: Carl Paganelli and Dino Paganelli.

Coleman IV is the son of Walt Coleman III, who was a longtime NFL referee.

Alan Eck, who has been an NFL official since 2016, will move from the umpire position to the referee position, the NFL announced. Eck has worked in the umpire position for the last six seasons.

At press time, no new hires had been announced.

SOURCES: ESPN, NFL.COM their assignments are affected by the quality of their calls, whether or not they progress into the playoffs and then round by round is impacted by the accuracy of their calls and their demeanor on the floor. So there is a system for overseeing and making those judgments about officials.”

MLB Umpires Add New Signal

In the wake of pitch-timer rules being added in MLB, umpires have a new signal to indicate a violation. Umpires will tap their wrist, as if touching a watch, to indicate a time violation occurred. Starting this season, pitchers will have 15 seconds between pitches with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base to start their motion. For a violation, a ball will be awarded to the batter. Batters have to be ready with eight seconds remaining. A violation by the batter results in a strike being added to the