tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post7478843774637000721..comments2024-03-05T19:21:13.252-05:00Comments on Eyes On The Prize: Begin Not To Blame For Game 4 LossRobert Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16631806704699552307noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-32633028096632200912008-05-08T16:47:00.000-04:002008-05-08T16:47:00.000-04:00A little behind the times, I know. But I just had ...A little behind the times, I know. But I just had to write in to say that I fervently agree with your assessment of the call on Begin. It was not a late hit. Begin is not nor should he be considered a goat here. I've read Topham's opinion piece on the matter and while I am occasionally able to understand his stance on different issues, on this one I cannot agree.<BR/>Would not making the call changed the eventual outcome of the series? Probably not (check that, definitely not). But I hate the call for not only being silly (I find i'm unable to come up with a better adjective)but also because it distracts from more serious discussion.Mr. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14825350692603939046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-4849548896366737632008-05-03T06:24:00.000-04:002008-05-03T06:24:00.000-04:00Topham, I'm not skirting the issue that there was ...Topham, I'm not skirting the issue that there was nothing to gain from the hit because I don't see it that way. Begin finishes his checks. Kapanen had the puck. In was at center ice. It looks like a late hit only because the Flyer stood there. Not enough time (1.7 secs at best) elapsed for it to be called a late hit. They called it interference. It was a brutally bad call and it handed Philly the game. It was picked out of a hat, this one.Robert Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631806704699552307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31438400.post-77941705079508985242008-05-02T06:34:00.000-04:002008-05-02T06:34:00.000-04:00First of all, good luck with those job interviews...First of all, good luck with those job interviews.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, I think your post on the Begin hit is mostly right, but you skirt the issue that Begin or the Canadiens had nothing at all to gain from that hit being made.<BR/><BR/>Begin will not be the first or the last player to make a hit at the expense of a more thoughtful play, but on this night he made a mistake in judgment. Probably revved on adrenalin from the somewhat questionable hit from seconds earlier, he should have takn something off that hit on Kapanen (or just skate around him).<BR/><BR/>While it may be unfortunate that the refs called a play that was being let go earlier in the game, the fact remains, and most people admit it, that it was callable. The only way to avoid a penalty is to play clean, something which Begin should have been doing while the Habs counted their blessings.<BR/><BR/>If you want to be up in arms about calls, why not mention the Koivu obstruction penalty where if you believe the refs, Koivu obstructed a player as HE was trying to get by that player. There was also a goal on that PP.<BR/><BR/>I do totally agree that the difference in officiating between the 82-game part and this last part of the season is worthy of ridicule. I wrote a post on the subject (Is Briere Right?). I think it puts the players in very awkward situations where they must cheat to keep up, but (as with Begin) put themselves at risk of sanction. <BR/><BR/>If all calls were made – this wouldnot happen. If no calls were made – this wouldnot happen either. There is no middle ground though. I go for all calls... but I fear for yet another year the time to set the precedent has passed the officials by.Tophamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14157334079663330151noreply@blogger.com