2012-13 TFFL: Day 93, Technical Fouls 600 - 608

2012-13 TFFL: Day 93 (9 Games, 9 Technicals).

600: 13 Monty McCutchen, 27 Dick Bavetta, 72 J.T. Orr. Hawks' Johnson; 2nd, 7:55.
The Chicago Bulls ultimately won the contest, defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 93-76.

601: 36 David Jones, 45 Brian Forte, 70 Brent Barnaky. Thunder's Liggins; 1st, 0:49.3.
The Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-110.

602: 38 Michael Smith, 18 Matt Boland, 75 Eric Dalen. Rockets' Harden; 3rd, 6:40.
The Houston Rockets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats, 109-95.

603: 25 Tony Brothers, 42 Eric Lewis, 66 Haywoode Workman. Timberwolves' Stiemsma; 4th, 11:30.
604: 25 Tony Brothers, 42 Eric Lewis, 66 Haywoode Workman. Timberwolves' Barea; 4th, 11:08 (d-605).
605: 25 Tony Brothers, 42 Eric Lewis, 66 Haywoode Workman. Hornets' Davis; 4th, 11:08 (double-604).
The Minnesota Timberwolves ultimately won the contest, defeating the New Orleans Hornets, 115-86.

606: 71 Rodney Mott, 6 Tony Brown, 60 James Williams. Wizards' Wittman; 3rd, 11:12.
The San Antonio Spurs ultimately won the contest, defeating the Washington Wizards, 96-86.

607: 22 Bill Spooner, 34 Kevin Cutler, 12 Violet Palmer. Jazz's Carroll; 4th, 10:18.
The Portland Trail Blazers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Utah Jazz, 105-99.

608: 14 Ed Malloy, 30 John Goble, 52 Scott Twardoski. Suns' Tucker; 1st, 2:35.
The Golden State Warriors ultimately won the contest, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 113-93.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (135 pts) Boredcravens, Bino.

3. (121 pts) Drjjulius.

4. (115 pts) flap0703.

5. (112 pts) Eagle_12.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 92, Technical Fouls 586 - 599

2012-13 TFFL: Day 92 (12 Games, 14 Technicals).

586: 49 Tom Washington, 28 Zach Zarba, 50 Olandis Poole. Heat's Bosh; 2nd, 8:47.

587: 49 Tom Washington, 28 Zach Zarba, 50 Olandis Poole. Heat's Battier; 2nd, 3:34 (double-588).

588: 49 Tom Washington, 28 Zach Zarba, 50 Olandis Poole. Pacers' West; 2nd, 3:34 (double-587).

589: 49 Tom Washington, 28 Zach Zarba, 50 Olandis Poole. Heat's Haslem; 3rd, 6:30.

590: 49 Tom Washington, 28 Zach Zarba, 50 Olandis Poole. Heat's Spoelstra; 3rd, 5:14.

The Indiana Pacers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Miamia Heat, 102-89.

591: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Nets' Blatche; 2nd, 7:32.

592: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Nets' Wallace; 3rd, 8:18.

593: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Bulls' Hamilton; 3rd, 6:29 (consec-594).

594: 15 Bennett Salvatore, 42 Eric Lewis, 79 Kevin Scott. Bulls' Thibodeau; 3rd, 6:29 (consec-593).

The Brooklyn Nets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Chicago Bulls, 93-89.

595: 43 Dan Crawford, 35 Kane Fitzgerald, 54 Nick Buchert. 76ers' Turner; 3rd, 11:14.

596: 43 Dan Crawford, 35 Kane Fitzgerald, 54 Nick Buchert. Kings' Cousins; 3rd, 2:12.

The Philadelphia 76ers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Sacramento Kings, 89-80.

597: 10 Ron Garretson, 18 Matt Boland, 72 J.T. Orr. Wizards' Crawford; 2nd, 1:47.

The Memphis Grizzlies ultimately won the contest, defeating the Washington Wizards, 85-76.

598: 17 Joe Crawford, 7 Kevin Fehr, 56 Mark Ayotte. Nuggets' Koufos; 4th, 7:21.

The Denver Nuggets ultimately won the contest, defeating the New Orleans Hornets, 113-98.

599: 48 Scott Foster, 59 Gary Zielinski, 58 Josh Tiven. Suns' Dragic; 4th, 1:14.

The Dallas Mavericks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 109-99.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (135 pts) Boredcravens, Bino.

3. (119 pts) Drjjulius.

4. (115 pts) flap0703.

5. (112 pts) Eagle_12.

2012-13 TFFL: Day 91, Technical Fouls 582 - 585

2012-13 TFFL: Day 91 (2 Games, 4 Technicals).

582: 24 Mike Callahan, 71 Rodney Mott, 75 Eric Dalen. Thunder's Durant; 3rd, 7:54.
583: 24 Mike Callahan, 71 Rodney Mott, 75 Eric Dalen. Thunder's Liggins; 4th, 1:12.
The Oklahoma City Thunder ultimately won the contest, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, 106-89.

584: 55 Bill Kennedy, 34 Kevin Cutler, 65 Sean Wright. Mavericks' Carter; 4th, 10:26.
585: 55 Bill Kennedy, 34 Kevin Cutler, 65 Sean Wright. Mavericks' Wright; 4th, 3:18.
The Golden State Warriors ultimately won the contest, defeating the Dallas Mavericks, 100-97.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (130 pts) Boredcravens.

2. (128 pts) Bino.

3. (117 pts) Drjjulius.

4. (110 pts) flap0703.

5. (108 pts) Eagle_12.

Ejections: Stafford/Zarba/Blair & Crawford/Poole/Twardoski

Referees Derrick Stafford (crew chief), Zach Zarba (R) and Curtis Blair (R2/umpire) ejected Bucks guard Brandon Jennings for a technical foul during the 4th quarter of the Bulls-Bucks game. With 2:54 remaining in the 4th period, Jennings was called for an offensive foul after extending his off-arm into an opposing player while in possession of the ball. After the call, Jennings threw the basketball at official Stafford and aggressively approached the crew chief, drawing a single technical foul and ejection. At the time of the ejection, the Bulls were leading, 94-84. The Bulls ultimately won the contest, 104-88.

This is Derrick Stafford (9)'s second ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.

This is Zach Zarba (28)'s eighth involvement with an ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.

This is Curtis Blair (74)'s third involvement with an ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season and 2nd of Jennings.

Wrap: Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 1/30/13

Video: After committing the foul, Jennings throws ball at Stafford and is summarily dismissed (2:05)

Referees Dan Crawford (crew chief), Olandis Poole (R) and Scott Twardoski (R2/umpire) ejected Clippers forward Matt Barnes for a flagrant foul penalty two during the 2nd quarter of the Clippers-Timberwolves game. With 8:26 remaining in the 2nd period, Barnes was whistled for a flagrant foul type two after he appeared to throw an elbow into the head/neck area of Timberwolves center Greg Stiemsma, actions ruled excessive and unnecessary and meriting of an automatic ejection. At the time of the ejection, the Timberwolves were leading, 32-25. The Clippers ultimately won the contest, 96-90.

This is Dan Crawford (43)'s fourth ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.

This is Olandis Poole (50)'s fifth involvement with an ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.

This is Scott Twardoski (52)'s first involvement with an ejection of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Wrap: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 1/30/13

Video: Barnes ejected for throwing elbow at Stiemsma; tied for league lead in both T's and ejections (0:48)

2012-13 TFFL: Day 90 (12 Games, 6 Technicals, 1 Ejection).

576: 10 Ron Garretson, 56 Mark Ayotte, 6 Tony Brown. Knicks' Felton; 4th, 3:13.

The New York Knicks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Orlando Magic, 113-97.

577: 9 Derrick Stafford, 28 Zach Zarba, 74 Curtis Blair. Bucks' Jennings; 4th, 2:54.

Bucks G Brandon Jennings ejected (other).

The Chicago Bulls ultimately won the contest, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 104-88.

578: 43 Dan Crawford, 50 Olandis Poole, 52 Scott Twardoski. Clippers' Butler; 2nd, 7:25 (conesc-579).

579: 43 Dan Crawford, 50 Olandis Poole, 52 Scott Twardoski. Clippers' Turiaf; 2nd, 7:25 (consec-578).

The Los Angles Clippers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 96-90.

580: 13 Monty McCutchen, 71 Rodney Mott, 58 Josh Tiven. Rockets' McHale; 2nd, 4:58.

The Denver Nuggets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Houston Rockets, 118-110.

581: 55 Bill Kennedy, 59 Gary Zielinski, 60 James Williams. Hornets' Vasquez; 2nd, 3:24.

The Utah Jazz ultimately won the contest, defeating the New Orleans Hornets, 104-99.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (130 pts) Boredcravens.

2. (128 pts) Bino.

3. (117 pts) Drjjulius.

4. (110 pts) flap0703.

5. (106 pts) Eagle_12.

UEFL 2013: Registration & Appeals Board Nomination

Registration now open. The Umpire Ejection Fantasy League is pleased to announce the 2013 UEFL season.

Quick Links: 2013 UEFL Registration Form / 2013 Appeals Board Nomination Form
After registering, your name will be added to the 2013 UEFL Member Roster (note Last Updated date). All preliminary registrants appear on the Roster. If you do not see your username, please register again.

Per Rule 1:
a.     A post announcing the opening of registrations shall appear on the UEFL website no later than two months prior to the start of the regular season. This post shall instruct members on the proper methods of signing up to participate in the UEFL for the upcoming season and will contain all appropriate pre-draft deadlines.
b.     Once the registration period is closed, a draft order shall be pre-assigned (see Rule 1-1-c). Five umpires shall be drafted by each UEFL member in the form of one (1) crew chief per Rule 1-2, two (2) primary umpires per Rule 1-3 and two (2) secondary umpires per Rule 1-4.
c.     The draft will be conducted in two phases: Phase one encompasses the crew/primary round while phase two encompasses the secondary draft. Members have the option of drafting all umpires during the first phase.

For more information about the UEFL draft and selection process, see the 2013 UEFL Rules Book. Note that the draft will occur in March 2013, no umpires will be selected until the draft begins in March.

Any visitor, guest or user may become a league member. There is no cost to register for this league. If you would like to register for the 2013 UEFL season, please respond to this post with your requested username. If you participated during the 2012 season, please use the same username or otherwise mention what your username was last season. Do not select umpires during the registration process.

Important: It is recommended that UEFL members be placed on an e-mail list so that we may expeditiously communicate important site-related news, such as UEFL Live Draft order and Prop Boards. If you wish to be included, please indicate this during registration.

Registration, draft and roster deadlines (Note: All deadlines extend to 11:59 PM Pacific on date indicated)
March 4, 2013 (Monday): Preliminary and standard registration processes closed, draft opens.
March 15, 2013 (Friday): Last day to submit unrestricted Primary umpires.
March 21, 2013 (Thursday): Last day to RSVP for the Live Secondary Draft. Date and time TBD.
March 22, 2013 (Friday): Last day to submit unrestricted Secondary umpires (Live Draftees exempt).
March 23 or 24, 2013 (Sat or Sun): Live Secondary Draft. Date and time TBD.
March 29, 2013 (Friday): Last day to submit unrestricted Crew Chief selections.
March 30, 2013 (Saturday): Last day for roster changes (retirements, pre-season injuries, etc.).
Any late submissions will be "restricted," meaning umpire selection will be limited to a list as determined by the Commissioner and based on timely league drafting activity.

Pursuant to the 2012 Rules Summit, CCS/UEFL has implemented a rudimentary set of posting guidelines which shall apply to all comments, profiles and other user content. For more information, refer to Rule 8.

Appeals Board: Rule 6-4-a mandates the establishment and maintenance of an Appeals Board to rule on disputed issues, such as Quality of Correctness. Any visitor, guest or user may become an Appeals Board member and may or may not also be a concurrent league member. The Appeals Board operates on a voluntary basis only and is a one-year term (no term limits). To apply, please access this form. If you are interested in nominating yourself for the 2-4 at-large Appeals Board vacancies, please consider the following requirements:

• Ability to separate subjectivity from objective analysis;
• Extensive rules knowledge or ability to attain exceptional proficiency;
• Acceptance of prior and willingness to form UEFL precedent and rule interpretations;
• Ability to objectively and thoroughly analyze plays to determine, among others, Quality of Correctness;
• Availability to respond to the "Office of the UEFL Commissioner" in a timely fashion;
• Board members must abstain from ruling on plays involving drafted umpires (if applicable).

2013 Appeals Board page on the UEFL Portal

Permanent Appeals Board members are: Gil (Commissioner, Chair), Jeremy (Deputy Commissioner).

Appeals Board members re-elected via the 2012 Rules Summit are: tmac, RichMSN, yawetag.

Vacancies: Seat 6, Seat 7. At the Chair's discretion, Seat 8 and/or Seat 9 may also be filled or left vacant.

Appeals Board nomination and election procedures, deadlines
January 30, 2013 (Wednesday): Appeals Board nominations opened.
March 22, 2013 (Friday): Appeals Board nominations closed and voting begins.
March 29, 2012 (Friday): Appeals Board voting ends.
March 31, 2013 (Sunday): Opening Night, Rangers vs. Astros, MLB season begins.

If you have any questions, please post here. As you can see, registration will remain open for over four weeks while Appeals Board nominations will remain open for over six weeks. We hope you enjoy this registration process for the 2013 season. Read on for a "How To" example...

2012-13 TFFL: Day 88, Technical Fouls 574 - 575

2012-13 TFFL: Day 88 (7 Games, 2 Technicals).

574: 23 Jason Phillips, 42 Eric Lewis, 44 Eli Roe. Wizards' Wall; 2nd, 0:49.9.

The Sacramento Kings ultimately won the contest, defeating the Washington Wizards, 96-94.

575: 19 James Capers, 26 Pat Fraher, 35 Kane Fitzgerald. Pacers' West; 2nd, 1:46.

^The Denver Nuggets ultimately won the contest, defeating the Indiana Pacers, 102-101.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (128 pts) Boredcravens.

2. (124 pts) Bino.

3. (114 pts) Drjjulius.

4. (108 pts) flap0703.

5. (103 pts) Eagle_12.

Official: Popular Fake to 3rd Pickoff Move Now Illegal

Balk! The fake-to-third pickoff ploy is now officially illegal in professional big league baseball.

After lengthy discussion in 2012 and formalized during the annual umpire meetings in Scottsdale, Major League Baseball has banned the infamous fake-to-third pickoff move, creating a 14th way for pitchers to balk.

Fake-to-third will be illegal in 2013.

The fake-to-first maneuver was previously and will continue to be illegal pursuant to MLB Rule 8.05(b), which states, "it is a balk when—the pitcher, while touching his plate, feints a throw to first base and fails to complete the throw." The newly imposed rule implements similar language with the phrase "first base" replaced with the term "third base."

Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Joe Torre explained the reasoning behind MLB's decision to pass the rule change: "A large majority of the managers, I mean a really good amount, wanted to eliminate [the fake-to-third move]... The feeling was, you're deceiving the runner or the hitter."

The ML players association previously had rejected the rules change, but the union is bound to its terms under the present collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Said former pitcher Jeff Nelson (not the umpire), "You'd always hear it from the crowd, yelling, 'Balk! Balk! Balk!' I guess the league's now playing into it."

Under the terms of the 2013 OBR, pitchers will still be permitted to fake a throw to second base from the rubber, while a pitcher's priveleges and restrictions as infielders once he has disengaged the pitcher's plate will remain identical to 2012 provisions.

2013 'Fake Pickoff Throw' Legality
1B (Fake to first): Illegal [same as 2012]
2B (Fake to second): Legal [same as 2012]
3B (Fake to third): Illegal [new]
HP: (Fake to home): Illegal [same as 2012]
Disengage: (Fake to any base after legally stepping off the rubber): Legal [same as 2012]

News: Rule Change Eliminates a Fake Pickoff

2012-13 TFFL: Day 87, Technical Fouls 568 - 573

2012-13 TFFL: Day 87 (7 Games, 6 Technicals).

568: 43 Dan Crawford, 29 Mark Lindsay, 59 Gary Zielinski. Heat's Lewis; 2nd, 2:46 (double-569).
569: 43 Dan Crawford, 29 Mark Lindsay, 59 Gary Zielinski; Celtics' Sullinger; 2nd, 2:46 (double-568).
^The Boston Celtics ultimately won the contest, defeating the Miami Heat in 2OT, 100-98.

570: 13 Monty McCutchen, 16 David Guthrie, 60 James Williams. Lakers' Bryant; 3rd, 8:05.
571: 13 Monty McCutchen, 16 David Guthrie, 60 James Williams. Thunder's Westbrook; 4th, 5:22.
The Los Angeles Lakers ultimately won the contest, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 105-96.

572: 41 Ken Mauer, 30 John Goble, 44 Eli Roe. Magic's Davis; 3rd, 8:33.
The Detroit Pistons ultimately won the contest, defeating the Orlando Magic, 104-102.

573: 22 Bill Spooner, 70 Brent Barnaky, 65 Sean Wright. Knicks' Anthony; 4th, 1:51.
The New York Knicks ultimately won the contest, defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 106-104.

2012-13 TFFL Standings Update

1. (128 pts) Boredcravens.

2. (124 pts) Bino.

3. (114 pts) Drjjulius.

4. (108 pts) flap0703.

5. (102 pts) Eagle_12.

Basketball: Playing the Inbounds Backboard

Confusion reigned supreme on NBA-TV Saturday evening during the waning seconds of Utah's 114-110 overtime win against the Indiana Pacers after Jazz forward Paul Millsap's inbounds pass deflected off the backboard before falling onto the playing court:

Did it hit the backboard? This is unreal.

Following a three-point field goal by Indiana guard George Hill to trim Utah's late lead to 112-110, a violation on the ensuing throw-in by Millsap would have given Indiana the ball for a potential game-tying or game-winning opportunity. Instead, the ball was kept alive and after touching several players, settled into the arms of Millsap, who held onto the ball as Indiana's Paul George committed a foul to send Millsap to the free-throw line, allowing Utah to ice the game.

Yet as the broadcast—and NBA.com's own video description ("Controversial Ending")—allude to, should a violation have been called? Did the referees miss a crucial call?

No, officials Marc Davis, J.T. Orr & Leon Wood got the call right; the ball struck the bottom of the backboard.

NBA Rule 4-I-c: "Five sides of the backboard (front, two sides, bottom and top) are considered in play when contacted by the basketball. The back of the backboard and the area directly behind it are out-of-bounds." Rule 8-II-a agrees: "the ball is out-of-bounds when it touches...the supports or back of the backboard." Rule 8-III-f, which states, a throw-in that "touches anything above the playing surface is a violation. The ball must be thrown directly inbounds," pertains to items such as the center-court scoreboard or speaker system, as the five in-bound sides of the backboard are, by rule, inbounds; therefore, Millsap's throw-in complies with the statement, "the ball must be thrown directly inbounds." It was.

NCAA college Rule 7-1-2 specifies a ball shall be out-of-bounds if it touches "the supports or back of the backboard" while 9-5-1-g specifies that a thrower-in shall not throw the ball so that it "strikes the back of the backboard or its supports." NFHS high school 7-1-2-a-3, while 4-4-5 emphatically declares, "a ball which touches the front faces or edges of the backboard is treated the same as touching the floor inbounds." Both codes further specify a violation if the throw-in pass becomes lodged between the backboard and ring or comes to rest on the flange without first touching an inbounds player (e.g., 7-2-8).

Had Millsap's throw touched the back of the backboard or its supports or had the ball deflected off the bottom of the board and fallen or bounced out-of-bounds without being touched, he would have violated NBA Rule 10-III-7 (a thrower-in shall not "cause the ball to go out-of-bounds without being touched by a player in the game"). Had Millsap been the first to touch the ball after it deflected off the backboard in-bounds, he would have been in violation of 10-III-3 ("touch it on the court before it has touched another player").

Wrap: Indiana Pacers vs. Utah Jazz (1/26/13)
Video: Millsap's inbounds pass bounces off the bottom of the backboard before touching a player