JUNE 05, 2008

It's hard to know who to blame more for the Timbers recent slump... The team itself for their off kilter play lately or the abysmal refs they've had to deal with.

Because last time I checked, strangling an opponent is, in fact, against the rules in soccer. Granted, I'm sure a lot of Americans would be surprised to hear that, but it's actually just the fans who are allowed to beat and maim each other.

But in the incident pictured above, the Minnesota player who blatantly has one of the Timbers in a chokehold wasn't even issued a foul when he should have been immediately red carded and thrown out of the game. But the ref also didn't card another Minnesota player who screamed at and angrily chest bumped the ref, which also should've been an automatic card and ejection, but the ref did nada.

So while the Timbers have been playing off kilter lately and have looked unsure of themselves, you can't help but wonder how much of that stems from the awful officiating. Because when the refs are inconsistent and all over the map with their calls and allow games to get out of control it really makes it hard for the players because they have no idea what an inept ref is going to do in any given situation and they end up playing a hesitant game as a result.

Of course, it always sounds like an excuse when fans blame the refs for their team not doing well, but the awful refs aren't just happening to the Timbers and other teams are complaining about the problem as well because it's affecting the outcome of games. And hopefully the USL can get the officiating issue under control soon, otherwise irate fans are going to start using the refs as pinatas.

And I have no idea if candy and goodies will actually come flying out if you beat a ref hard enough but, if the Timbers are cost one more win by a bad ref, I'd be more than willing to find out.

listening: moby . reading: ---

walk: 30 minutes . weight lost: 12.5 pounds

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