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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Please tune in to ‘Unreal Referees’

I have a great idea for a new reality show. Call it Referee Bloopers.

Since no one is allowed (players, coaches, fans, athletics directors, the media) to question, inquire or even comment on the action, judgment, eyesight of a call or no call by an official or referee, we, the fans, players and coaches, actually deserve the right to question their sense of judgment or the lack of and their ability to do their job.

The referee association is not a deity and should be held accountable to someone. It is my suggestions it be the “court of public opinion” and what could be better than the visual preview of the actions or lack of?

Most of the games are on tape and can be reviewed. You could easily fill a 30-minute show from a weekend of sports. It could bring back sponge-throwing at the TV screen after we witness calls like the phantom block in the back in the negated Seahawks winning punt return or the leading-with-the-helmet penalty (never happened) in the WSU-Oregon State game. How about the no call on the nasty late tackle on WSU QB Jeff Tuel that put him out of the game and maybe for the season after he had thrown an incomplete pass? The replay shows an official in the background watching. What? Or the two unnecessary roughness calls against WSU (for tackling too hard?)

It could make a very interesting show and would certainly be better than “Real Housewives of L.A.”

Larry Snyder

Spokane Valley