How Bad Were The Refs in the MSU Game?

I'm a notorious referee basher. I know they have a difficult job, but I feel missing obvious calls is unacceptable. And they completely blew some incredibly obvious calls in the Michigan State-Iowa basketball game tonight.


They started things innocently and obviously enough with a ref calling a goaltending call on Raymar Morgan when he never touched the ball. ESPN never showed a replay, but I know this because I rewound the DVR and watched in slow motion 5 times. I can definitively say the ball was never touched, and I am sitting 600 miles away. For a ref to miss a call that happens 15 feet away and should be clear to him is bad, but not totally terrible.


The second amazing missed call happened on an Iowa made basket where their guard drove to the hoop and made an impressive shot over a few Spartan defenders. Or so it seemed. Upon closer inspection and after the replay, it was apparent the Iowa guard KARATE-CHOPPED Raymar Morgan in the face! He left-handed chopped Raymar in the face before laying the ball in. Amazing. Equally amazing was the official who stood not 10 feet away watching the play and just sitting on his whistle.


The third play was the most incredible blown call and it somehow didn't involve Raymar Morgan. MSU was running its offense on a normal possession inside 10 minutes of the 2nd half. The ball ended up in Goran Suton's hands at the elbow, and he pivoted a few times unable to find an open pass. He then put the ball on the court and dribbled starting to post his defender up when the official blew the whistle. Double dribble. But Suton hadn't dribbled yet! Bill Raftery was as shocked as I was, because it is an inexcusably bad missed call. You have to know if a dude dribbled yet while he's pivoting, its basketball 101.


Anyway, MSU dominated from the word go, and left Iowa City (great city, by the way) still undefeated in Big 10 road games. It's really an impressive feat for a team that went 3-6 on the road last year. Next up is Penn State at the Breslin Center, high noon on Super Bowl Sunday.

Red Wings Sign Zetterberg to 12 Year Deal

Well this is just more proof that Ken Holland is playing chess while the rest of the NHL is playing checkers. There are numerous benefits to the long 12 year $73M deal that Holland crafted for Zetterberg. The first important thing to note is that the final three years of the deal pay Zetterberg $3.35M, $1M, and $1M. So this is not a backloaded deal that will cripple the Wings down the road. Secondly, the length allows for a reduced yearly salary. Instead of a 5 year deal paying $8M a year, the Wings are paying on average $6M a year, and mostly between $6.5 and $7M throughout the contract. The annual $1-2M saved is no small thing, as it will allow them more financial flexibility with the rest of the roster. Third, Zetterberg is a franchise-type player, a complete two way talent who you can build a team around. This deal gives Holland peace of mind that he can acquire players to mesh with his core.

Holland now turns his attention to Hossa and Franzen. One is expected to be extended before the season ends, and the other is expected to hit it rich in free agency. Nobody thinks Holland can find a way to keep both. But never doubt this mad-wizard of a GM. Zetterberg just gave the Wings a hometown discount, freeing up cash to work in both. If either Franzen or Hossa decides its worth sacrificing $1M a year, then Holland might find a way to fit both under the NHL salary cap, which is a whole other story (does it go up or down?). It will undoubtedly be an intriguing summer for a Wings fan, but right now they can just enjoy the briliance of this deal.