This is the first time I think I completely disagree with you. And I don't understand how trying to get it right would be considered a negative.

Agreed. Sports are an embodiment of physical ability, and I think that should extend to the officials. Players make errors. Refs make errors. The human element of the game is what makes it interesting, and instant replay just initiates an expectation of control that takes away from the undefinable nature of humans in competition, whether that competition is physical or mental.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to make sure a play was called accurately. It is true that Galaragga and Joyce handled their situation beautifully, but Galaragga was still robbed of something pretty great… and it could have been avoided with a simple “double-check.”

i think getting it right ALL the time isnt the point of sports. and its about time we disagreed on something

I dunno. I mean, if athletes are supposed to strive for excellence in their particular field and they can use whatever technological means to get there (Hellooooo Tiger's Driver), should we not expect the same from the officials?

dude…it got sooooo ridunkulous last nite…but in those high caliber playoffs…it's a good idea, but in the regular season…just play ball…

I agree totally, once you open pandora's box…, because you will ALWAYS have to go one step further to reach for the mirage of perfection. Replay fell short of correcting the fact that rondo grabbed odoms hand, so it overturned what was actually the correct outcome of that call. so now we have to have replay to make sure proper fouls are called.
Great thoughts, love the post.

I think I understand Mike's frustration. It influences our society's general concept of fair play and is sanctioned by the gods of professional sports. If the “judging” is defined in finite terms then where do we draw the line when it comes to the day to day business of life? There's always going to be some competitive control freak clamoring for an instant replay of your last decision ad-nauseum. You know what I'm talking about!

I think this has less to do with an obsession for perfection and more to do with striving for fairness in the competition. Considering the level of competition, in terms of it's impact, value, and following, it seems only fitting for officials to do the best they can to provide as little reproach on their decision-making as possible. So that the spirit of competition can be in its purest form. To unpack that, there's a lot of money, fans, and endorsement riding on each of these teams (and players) success… the last thing refs want is to be blamed for them not achieving that.

Seems a little ironic that there is such a passionate amount of conviction against this particular topic with you, which also seems in contrast to your message- “overthrowing judgment and liberating love.” Which leads me to two questions: are there things that are acceptable to judge? And, are there things acceptable to hate?

The Holy Spirit hovered over the face of the deep. He re-shaped the formless giving it form. This is the Holy Spirits function as the power of God. The multiple 2nd chances we recieve is the Holy Spirit reshaping us in to the holiness of God. As Jesus told us, “be perfect even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.”

It would seem you might be are at odds with the very thing your represent. POTSC

sports could learn something from Galaragga, but I bet Galaragga kinda wishes baseball had learned from the NBA last week. He'd be 1 of 21 pitchers in the record books for a perfect game instead of the poster boy for showing grace under fire.

(the latter is nice, but i'm sure he'd prefer the former)

sean…thats certainly one religious view but not one that aligns with my beliefs on grace, redemption, and the work of God…i seek to pursue love, not perfection…

absolutely there are things that are acceptable to hate…i hate injustice. i hate exploitation of children. i hate poverty and racism. i hate when the weak, the abused, the fallen, and the hopeless are taken advantage of by institutions/systems…these things are evil and should be called out…i dont know if that answers your question? but i hope that makes sense. and none of this would stand in contrast to our message or our convictions.

good question and i hope that clarifies some things.

peace..mike.

Instant replay is in place to prevent the paying customer from feeling cheated by the blown call of a 50 year old man in black and white stripes. That said, it still isn't perfect. Case in point, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the referees looked at a close call involving Gasol and Garnett and who touched the ball last before it went out of bounds. The reverse angle clearly showed Garnett touching the ball last, yet the referees stuck with the original call that it was out on Gasol.

This poses another question. If a person is convinced that the way they saw something is true and even though there is visual evidence to the contrary, does that person still see what they believed was true as absolute truth, even though it is not? What do we believe more, our eyes or our ego? Do we use the “there was not enough visual evidence to reverse the call” excuse in our own lives? If the person using instant replay can't unbiasedly view the evidence, then there is no point of having instant replay.

That said, I still feel instant replay is vital to pro sports today. If we have the technology, why not use it? Even referees deserve a second chance.

Amused by the amount of controversy this generated. Wonder if our ability to connect with Mike's point of view is partly informed by our own personalities? I sometimes lock into a perfectionistic way of looking at things, so I can imagine how having an instant replay camera in anything could create a personal hell for me (and others in my life). I'd feel the camera looming over me and have to fight the temptation to check it obsessively. But some people might not see cameras as a reflection of an unhealthy drive because their approach to life is a lot freer and looser and they'd only check the tape every great once in a while because they're too busy enjoying life to obsess over it. My husband is naturally more like that than I am. I'd like to learn from people like him.

Kinda find it funny the amount of blowback you're getting on this one.

People do love their instant replay

Thank you for your response. I think you've answered my hate question, but I'm still a little unsure as to what your answer is pertaining to judgment. Unless you meant to have answered the question by saying that evil things should be called out- implying the enforcement of a moral standard.

So would it be fair for us all who are reading and contributing to these blogs to assume that you are implying (with judgment and hatred) there is some sort of injustice, exploitation, or evil that is taking place by the use of instant replay? Or perhaps that we should hate those who strive for perfection? Or that the strive for perfection is indeed an evil thing? Surely you're not saying that you hate me…

I strive for perfection everyday… His name is Jesus. I hide away, camp out in his word, seek Him and He is ALWAYS right. If I did not do this I would ALWAYS be lost. I would have nothing to guide me. I would be left to myself and what was right in my own eyes. Sadly enough, there are so many people in this world to whom that is their condition. As a man of God, I am unapologetic for this obsession, because I have been commanded to be that way (Mt 5:48). Just because I can't be, by my own effort, doesn't mean that I don't enjoy trying to be… He is the author and the perfecter of our faith… He is working out everything to the good of those who are called to His purposes… the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him always… the perfection of our enjoyment of Him MUST BE obsessive because we are commanded to love HIM with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

I believe you believe in this too… and that's why I believe your statements are in contradiction. However, I agree with Sarah, in that, there is probably more of an underlying current of personality that brings us to the convictions we hold. I do not believe that you hate me, hate people who strive for perfection, or even that there is anything “justly” to hate about instant replay. I do believe, however, that you are sick and tired of Christians who miss it… time and time again. That we make the same mistake Samuel made when the Lord asked him to pick a king for Israel… God didn't care about what was on the outside… He wanted what was on the inside. I think that's where the two themes (love and judgment) come from. And in that, I support you.

or we can use the simple technology at our disposal and get it right when we can. there's no value in being intentionally wrong, is there?

apparently people do love their instant replays…clearly i have a lot of convincing to do

i definitely dont hate people…and i certainly dont hate you…that would go against ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING i believe in…what im focusing my energy on is the idea/concept of perfection in sports…

Thanks for the clarification. =D

We need more instant replay! Stop getting it wrong! : )

I think Dale hit the nail on the head.

Do you think, honestly, for a SECOND that Jim Joyce wishes he could have a second chance right now?

Look at it from his point of view… I bet he wishes for nothing more than to have been able to use instant replay to get the call right.

Mike, I got your back! I cannot stand instant replay and I was watching that game and thinking, “This is what people want in the great sport of baseball?” NEVER.

I am so tired of the “Getting it right” brigades because where is the line drawn? Where does it end? Do we start using instant replay on balls and strikes? If “getting it right” was so important, then why is not applied all the time? When asked the GIR brigade argues, “Well that's ridiculous. You can't do it for every play!” But wait. I thought it was all about “getting it right”, right? Sorry but you cannot have it both ways. You can't say, “It's about getting it right” and then say that only applies some of the time. You're all in or you're not.

The human element in sports and that includes the umps and referees is what makes it so intriguing to watch. If you take that human element out, all in the name of “getting it right” it becomes bland and boring.

I like this. Imagine ordering an iPad from Apple and you receive an iPod in the mail. You contact customer support and say they shipped the wrong item and they respond with “your obsession with perfection and us getting every order right every time is pure sickness! That's why we won't check to see if your order is right. Be like that baseball player and say, “that's ok, I'll just live with paying $800 for an iPod.”

Thankful that Apple isn't run by Bud Selig. He wouldn't want to open a pandora's box by challenging his warehouse workers.

P.S. – Adding “professional” in front of any sport makes it a business. I say run it like one.

Lol I'm glad I stayed out of this. Too passionate a debate!

What is religous about the Matt. 5:48? “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” My faith comes from love not religon. A relationship of love, a counsel of forgivness, a life of grace.

To enter the Kingdom of Heaven to see God we are made perfect – (“we now see through a darkened glass, then we shall see perfectly, I will know even as I am known.”) by the Holy Spirit.

Not by our own making but by the grace of God through the work of the cross in the power of the Holy Spirit. – That's the SECOND CHANCE. To hate the repeat is to hate what you stand for.

To try and marginalize me as “religous” is a bit of a sophmoric attempt to win an argument you started you cannot win on any merit.

Nope, Mike, time to grow. I live by grace through faith. I live my name. It is Sean.

i totally agree with the “professional” piece of your argument…which in many ways ruins the sport IMHO…thats why so many peeps like college sports vs. the big leagues…but the Apple example would be more akin to Jim Joyce not just calling the runner safe but saying he hit a homerun when he didnt…i just think sports is more organic than ordering an Apple product…but i still love ya michael and glad youre my friend