Left field

Replays don’t always give the answer

Sunday’s controversial video review decision in the Steelers-Dolphins game should be a reminder to those who support replays that cameras can’t see everything.

The incident and an explanation can be watched in this video here (or you can read about the controversy here )

In a nutshell, albeit quite a large nutshell, the Dolphins were up 22-20 with 2:30 left when Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ran two yards for a touchdown, which Miami head coach Tony Sparano challenged, arguing the ball had been fumbled.

After a review, the referee agreed that Roethlisberger had fumbled the ball before crossing the line. But since officials were unable to determine who recovered the ball, the Steelers were awarded possession and kicker Jeff Reed converted a field goal on the next play to go ahead by a point.

The Dolphins said they had come up with the ball and should have been given possession but the officials said there was no evidence of that on film.

At the time, watching the incident from the press box and surrounded by irate Miami fans, it was hard not to feel that an injustice had been done to the Dolphins. Why hadn’t the officials unstacked the scrum and determined who had possession after the fumble before going to the video replay?

Well the answer simply is that after making an on-field call of touchdown, there was no cause for any ruling on the field regarding recovery of a fumble. Once the decision had been overturned on video review, it was the television images that had to show conclusively if there had been a recovery.

Technology and the modern sports fan

“What are you doing?” This simple question is the basic premise of Twitter, the growing social media website that has transformed how many fans get their daily dose of sports news.

In addition to the newsfeeds provided by established brands (@ReutersSport is a good one!) there are feeds directly from the major sports offices (@MLB,@NFL, @NBA). Then there are the athletes themselves, providing everything from perspective on current events to personalized fan interaction.

It seems that athletes have been embracing all sorts of new communication technologies over the last few years.

During the Beijing Olympics, swimmer Dara Torres and NBA star Carmelo Anthony used Skype to talk with family back home.  Former MLB pitcher Curt Schilling and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban have helped bring sports blogging into the mainstream. And in the next evolutionary wave, many stars have embraced Twitter as a way to bring themselves closer to friends, family and fans.

We are given a front row seat to league announcements and rumor mill fodder. Athletes and celebrities alike have been given another venue for their exhibitionist personalities and many are embracing it, even while teams and organizations search for a way to curb and regulate its use.

Charlie Villanueva caused a stir last season by Twittering during NBA games.

Chad Ocho Cinco’s comments about potential updates during upcoming NFL games were soon followed by an NFL announcement addressing the subject. Per the NFL’s Brian McCarthy (via Twitter), “NFL players may use Twitter. Teams have rules re: not tweeting during meetings. We prohibit use of PDAs/phones on sidelines on gameday.”

G-strings, the bare-faced solution to swimming’s problems

With the row over space-age bodysuits threatening to engulf swimming, it was only a matter of time before a top athlete lent his voice to calls for a radical, no-nonsense solution.

Japan’s Ryosuke Irie reckons racing in skimpy G-strings might be the best way — indeed the only way — to ensure a level playing field before the bodysuit wars tie swimming up in so much red tape the public lose interest.

“We would be better off,” said the 19-year-old, whose recent 200 metres backstroke world record is still awaiting ratification from swimming’s governing body FINA.

“We need a set of rules people will agree to and stick to.”

Concerns over hi-tech bodysuits have muddied the waters since before last year’s Olympics when world records began tumbling after Speedo unveiled their drag-reducing LZR suit.

American Michael Phelps wore one when he won a record eight gold medals in Beijing.