OK, so I’ve wasted a fair amount of column inches whining about the weather here in Portland (BTW, it’s not just me; complaining about the weather is a cottage industry here). Over the past few days, it appears that Juneuary is finally over, and summer is finally making its (rather belated) presence felt. The sun’s been shining, and highs have approached 80, which, as far as I’m concerned is ideal. I’d be perfectly happy if this was as warm as it gets…especially after last summer’s 108 degree silliness.
It feels a bit odd to finally be celebrating summer at the end of June when the rest of country is well into taking summer for granted because it’s been around for awhile. Whatever the case, it’s nice to be able to go outside without an umbrella and a sweatshirt.
Beyond my petty obsession with the weather, there were a couple of things that caught my attention this past weekend. I don’t write about sports much, primarily because sports are generally provincial, ephemeral, and ultimately meaningless. Having said that, I’ve been glued to the World Cup, perhaps because it’s one of the few things that truly brings the world together. Still, for an event so inclusive and capable of evoking passion, the officiating is beyond horrific. You’d think that an event that’s watched in every country in the world would ensure that games are efficiently, fairly, and effectively officiated. Sure, you might think that…but this is FIFA were talking about, which is to soccer what banana republics are to democracy- inept, neck-deep in denial, and completely unwilling to do anything to improve their product.
Four instances come to mind without thinking too hard:
- Maurice Edu’s (non-)goal against Slovenia that turned what should have been a 3-2 US victory into a 2-2 draw. The referee, under no obligation to provide a reason for waiving off Edu’s goal, provided none, and so we will never know what Koman Coulibaly saw (or, more likely hallucinated) that caused him to waive it off. Even better, FIFA refused to provide anything resembling an explanation.
- As extra time was winding down in Ghana’s 2-1 victory over the US, Ghanaian players engaged in some truly shabby and unprofessional delaying tactics. At one point, a Ghanaian went down to the turf despite not being hit, muc less breathed upon, by an American player. The player refused to get up, despite being implored by the referee, and was finally CARTED OFF ON A GURNEY. No yellow card was issued for the obvious delaying tactics. FIFA talked about eliminating this sort of silliness prior to the World Cup, but since the tournament began, it’s been business as usual.
- Frank Lampard’s (non-)goal that would have given England a 2-2 draw at halftime. His shot hit the crossbar, landed 2-3 feet behind the goal line, and the referee’s assistant did…absolutely nothing. Germany’s goalkeeper collected the ball, booted it down the field and play continued as if nothing untoward happened. Germany ended up winning 4-1, but if the game had been tied 2-2, perhaps England wouldn’t have had to put so much emphasis on attacking and leaving themselves vulnerable to counterattacks…which is exactly what happened. Would the game…and the outcome…have been different? We’ll never know. Immediately after the game, FIFA reaffirmed it’s head-in-the-sand refusal to use technology (that’s been avaiable for years) to aid on goal-line calls.
- Argentina’s first goal against Mexico completely changed the character of the game…in spite of Gonzalo Higuain being offside by a good 2 1/2 yards. Though Argentina went on to completely decimate Mexico, the obvious injustice incensed the Mexican players, causing them to lose their composure. Would things have been different if Higuain had been ruled offside? We’ll never know.
For too long FIFA President Sepp Blatter has argued against using techonology to aid officiating as doing so would not being consistent with “the culture of soccer”. Apparently, incompetence and injustice are part and parcel of “the culture of soccer”. That Blatter can essentially argue that inept referees, blown calls, and rampant ineptitude are all part of “the culture of soccer” is patently offensive. The World Cup is by far the largest event in the world. Billions of people hang on the results of every game. The passion evoked around the world is off the charts. Yet we’re treated to officiating that would be embarrassing in a youth league game…and FIFA seems not at all embarrassed by the proceedings. Unbelievable.
Here in Portland, the front office of the Portland Trailblazers demonstrated this past Thursday that, no matter how successful you are, if you don’t kiss ass and massage the egos of your superiors, you’re eventually going to be toast. General Manager Kevin Pritchard, the primary architect of the teams current roster, and the leader of the collective effort to rescue the team from the “Jailblazers” era, was canned hours before the NBA draft. Team owner Paul Allen and President Larry Miller had left Pritchard twisting in the wind for months, first firing Pritchard’s right-hand man, and then openly conducted a search for Pritchard’s replacement while Pritchard was still GM. Classy, eh?
Miller repeatedly refused to be publicly supportive of Pritchard, and Allen was his predictably mysterious and imperious self. Everyone in town has known for months that Pritchard was a dead man walking, and yet the team’s management was perfectly happy to leave him twisting in the wind. Though Pritchard’s job as GM was to assemble a roster that could bring Portland a championship, Miller and Allen appeared more concerned with the fact that fans loved him. “In KP We Trust” signs could be found all over the Rose Garden during Blazer home games…and apparently Miller and Allen wanted some of that love and were hurt when none of it came their way.
Pritchard wasn’t a prima donna. He didn’t parade his success around town. He didn’t seek out the local press, and he didn’t turn into a media whore. Miller was concise in making his case against Pritchard, though: “It’s not all about Kevin.” That this comment only makes him look petty, jealous, and small seems lost on Miller, who will no doubt now be looking for a GM willing to suck up and kiss ass when necessary. Independent thinkers and those not willing to be “yes men” need not apply.
No, Kevin Pritchard wasn’t the only reason the Trailblazers are now able to hold their own in the Western Conference, but he was the man in charge of the team that evaluated, acquired, and managed the talent on the team’s roster. Pritchard excelled at managing and mollifying supremely talented and often petulant young players. It’s just too bad that he wasn’t able to do the same thing with the fragile egos of his bosses.
After seeing what Miller and Allen did to Pritchard, how can Portland fans expect anyone with anyone skill and self-respect to agree to work for such an paranoid, immature, and self-important management team? Miller and Allen don’t want a GM. What they want is a “yes man” willing to suck up, kiss ass, and defer credit for any success to them.
Good luck finding anyone willing to work under those condition, y’all….
