OT: A nod to us hockey fans

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

I labsolutlyl loathe Argentina and the Swiss coach Murat Yakin is awesome in my book, but any fan who watched that play and then Embrolo's writhing triple roll after "contact" cannot come to the conclusion that it was not a dive/simulation.. Unfortunate and game changing especially because the Swiss were charging but them the rules.

Not a soccer guy so just wanted your thoughts. Do you think the US goalie was getting ready to "flop" from contact and that's why he flubbed that kick? His comments after the match was that he expected contact, to be kicked in the leg from the Belgium player behind him. Just looked like he put his body into an awkward position for a kick and might have been anticipating going to the ground first from the contact that never came.

Quite possibly but he should never have put himself in that position in the first place. Ball should have been gone long before the press. The guy with the least athletic play was the fb Ream who did everything in his power not to touch or block the ensuing kick.

[blues2112]

The fluid offside line makes for a pace that can ratchet instantaneously when an attacker finds a lazy seam and gets a step.
I never played anything other than goalie in college Hoc- soc, so my game experience is negligible.

Diving and a legit penalty happens sometimes and both should be called.

Refereeing is hard.

Agree 100 percent, and that should be applied in NHL. If a player is clipped with ANY high stick, penalty on offending player must be called. However, if the high stick is "soft", any player who fakes injury — throwing stick up in hair, tossing head back, grasping shield — also should be penalized.

Coaches should have X number of challenges, and reviews should be very quick, ala balls and strikes in baseball.

[Chris2fer]

If they made the punishment less severe it'd likely be applied more often, analogous to the 2 minute in hockey like discussed. Not sure what penalty would punish enough to make it felt but light enough to be applied enough to have an effect. Maybe closer to a 10 minute misconduct?

[Cahokanut]

The fluid offside line makes for a pace that can ratchet instantaneously when an attacker finds a lazy seam and gets a step.
I never played anything other than goalie in college Hoc- soc, so my game experience is negligible.

Diving and a legit penalty happens sometimes and both should be called.

Refereeing is hard.

Agree 100 percent, and that should be applied in NHL. If a player is clipped with ANY high stick, penalty on offending player must be called. However, if the high stick is "soft", any player who fakes injury — throwing stick up in hair, tossing head back, grasping shield — also should be penalized.

Coaches should have X number of challenges, and reviews should be very quick, ala balls and strikes in baseball.

This is easier said.
In reality if one doesn't react. Nothing would be called. Clearly humans can be hit pretty hard in battle without reaction. Happens 100s of time in a boxing match. So other then the surprise of a high stick, not many should require a reaction.

[Blues Dave]

The fluid offside line makes for a pace that can ratchet instantaneously when an attacker finds a lazy seam and gets a step.
I never played anything other than goalie in college Hoc- soc, so my game experience is negligible.

Diving and a legit penalty happens sometimes and both should be called.

Refereeing is hard.

Hey Harry, you're spot on and I didn't mention that senario in my post. Thanks for pointing it out because it is important. If a legit something is done to a player that sends him tumbeling or whatever, call it for sure. If the player who gets hit with that legitimate infraction goes down fine. But if he keeps on rolling and tumbeling around like it's to get something from his girlfriend, I still say ya gotta call that nonsense too. You made a good point.

[blues2112]

This is easier said.
In reality if one doesn't react. Nothing would be called. Clearly humans can be hit pretty hard in battle without reaction. Happens 100s of time in a boxing match. So other then the surprise of a high stick, not many should require a reaction.

Fairly certain that's the point of boxing.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

If they made the punishment less severe it'd likely be applied more often, analogous to the 2 minute in hockey like discussed. Not sure what penalty would punish enough to make it felt but light enough to be applied enough to have an effect. Maybe closer to a 10 minute misconduct?

This is my opinion as well. Make it a 10-minute misconduct every time it’s called and it would quickly become a deterrent. And if the offending team gripes too much, then tack on a 2-minute bench minor and put them shorthanded.

[Harry York 37]

The fluid offside line makes for a pace that can ratchet instantaneously when an attacker finds a lazy seam and gets a step.
I never played anything other than goalie in college Hoc- soc, so my game experience is negligible.

Diving and a legit penalty happens sometimes and both should be called.

Refereeing is hard.

Hey Harry, you're spot on and I didn't mention that senario in my post. Thanks for pointing it out because it is important. If a legit something is done to a player that sends him tumbeling or whatever, call it for sure. If the player who gets hit with that legitimate infraction goes down fine. But if he keeps on rolling and tumbeling around like it's to get something from his girlfriend, I still say ya gotta call that nonsense too. You made a good point.

Thanks, Blues Dave, well said. It's the Rotten Tomatoes Over-Acting that turns all of our stomachs. A real Pro is looking to find his skates and get back into the action as soon as is possible.
In baseball- not the burliest of sports as a rule- the hitters in the old days (ahhh... the old days) would refuse to rub the spot where a pitcher had intentionally, or unintentionally, hit 'em. They refused to give the opponent any extra satisfaction.

Then they might lay down a perfect bunt down the first base line, eh?