Sports and Stuff: S&D Online

“Detroit Takes Game 2 Amid Controversy“

“Disputed Shot helps Pistons to 2-0 Lead“

“Magic Fall Victim to NBA’s Poor Timing“

“Pistons, 19^th Century Technology Defeat Magic“

What are all these titles? They are four of the titles of articles I came across when looking for recaps of the Pistons/Magic game last night. If you live under a rock and have not heard of what happened Piston’s guard Chauncey Billups shot a 3-pointer with the clock stopped at the end of the third quarter. The refs, unable by rule to consult video replay, choose to count the shot and leave .5 seconds left on the clock.

Okay, now that the explanation is out of the way you are probably asking why I am writing about this when it is rather clear I do not like those headlines. Well, I am simply saying that the shot, while newsworthy, should not be the focus of this series! I have several points regarding my disgust. First, this is not “home cooking.” The clock operator last night is from Minnesota so the game being in Detroit had nothing to do with the malfunction. Second, the refs made the right call. There is no way that they could have taken points off the board. They could not have replayed the 5 seconds after the entire play took place. Yes, the rules should change, but the refs did what they needed to do. Third, why is a three pointer such a huge factor in this game? Heck, Orlando made seven in the third quarter alone! The headline should say “Magic lose despite Crazy-Delicious Shooting from Three!” The pistons won that game, and they should not have to deal with so-called experts saying they didn’t deserve it. The Magic did not deserve to win when they lost their composure late in the 4^th.

In short, these huge stories are about a three-pointer. Would things have turned out differently? The game could have been changed, but who is to say that the refs made every single correct foul call. A charge being called a block is basically the same story, two points the team did not deserve. Let us celebrate a great performance by a championship contender and quit making excuses for the Magic, who have been outplayed in two straight games.