I have never once defended officials....I give explanations. SOmetimes those explanations , you or others don't like, and to you its defending the officials. Weird when I agree with something, nothing is said....
No you never said all 2,000 officials should quit----but then again, you did----You said if you can be fooled by that, then you should quit....Well, I assure you, Higgins isn't the only official to ever be "fooled". There's not one guy wearing a whistle who hasn't made a mistake, or been fooled. Not one.
Deliberately screwing a team is almost impossible. The game/action happens to fast. You don't have time to process such a thought...Kid is bearing down, full speed, defender is trying to get back, theres a collision, and in a matter of a second or less, you have to decide...
1. Was the defender in a legal guarding position
2. Did he slide under
3. Did the offense lower his shoulder, extend his arm
4. Was is nust incidental basketball contact
5. Did the defender beat him to the spot..
6. Was he in or outside of the arc....
7. Was the offensive player out of control....was he making a basketball move/play
8. Was he in the act of shooting...
You have to decipher all the above in a matter of a second or two....You really think as an official you have time to go, "Yep, I'm gonna **** Cal on this one"?
He is a prick....he is arrogant. But that doesn't mean he's a cheater. Hell I can be a prick----arrogant, etc, etc...But I have never sacrificed my integrity b/c I may , or may not like a coach. Now, I cannot speak for JOhn, but I do know him....sort of. I'd be shocked if the dude ever slighted a team/coach. It just seems like that, b/c well, he's worked some very high profile games that included UK, and had some calls go against you...
$100 bucks says if that game was Duke/UNC, or UConn/BUtler, you wouldn't have jack shit to say.