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Cowboy Bill Watts talks football… maligned NFL referee Ed Hochuli… and the role of wrestling announcers and referees.
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 10:08am — webmaster
Posted in:
I truly enjoy my association on the Tulsa Sports Animal Radio with Pat Jones... former head coach at OSU (coached both Thurmon Thomas and Barry Sanders as well as many other top flite college football stars who later starred in the NFL)... and coached at the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders... But he brings a 'special insight' via his analysis... and also some 'great humor'... often... he 'slips things in'... that 'if you do not know him'... his 'understatement' slides by and you 'miss it'... but I truly enjoy him... and learn so much from his comments... and certainly we both have a certain 'connection' with our humor too... And when Ed Hochuli -- the NFL referee (the one with the 'form fitting shirts' and who you 'can tell is a weight-lifting body builder')... a 'long-time' highly 'visible' referee... who recently 'blew' two calls against San Diego... 'admitting' his inadvertent whistle really was a 'blown call'... and possibly cost San Diego the game! and Pat humorously said... many in the league... 'consider him to be somewhat of a pea****'... and that 'he wants to be sure everyone knows he has a great body'... and can bench press 300 plus pounds... and often seems to 'insert himself' into the game more than necessary... and when I was 'in wrestling'... two things I really made sure of... first the 'TV commentator' did NOT try to 'upstage' the wrestlers.... and begin thinking 'he was the star of the show'... because it is NOT him that 'draws the crowd'... or that the people come to see... but the 'wrestlers'... they are the stars that put a fanny every 14 inches in a seating arrangement by buying a ticket... (and the same for the referees)... And I think the 'referees' the ones truly doing a great job... toil in a way that is NOT trying to make themselves the 'center of attention'... And thus... they also can become noticed and gain some fame by being part of (albeit a key part) of a very successful and highly viewed sport or entertainment venue... which sports really are... especially if they are to be successful in a professional sense... And too... each plays a vital role... and contributes greatly to the total... and I had the privilege of working with some of the very best... Jim Ross who learned from watching Gordon Solie... two of the best wrestling play-by-play guys ever... also Marty O'Neill in Minneapolis... plus Boyd Pearce was a very special guy... who loved the business with all his heart... (and I also had to 'work with ... sometimes even 'suffer with' those who thought 'they were the star of the show'... and in 'reality' were bad to horrible)... and referees too... some of the best... Jerry Usher and Ronnie West just to name two that I was around for so long... and Stu Swartz in Florida... and in that same position is where I initially met JJ Dillon... and there were so many really good referees... who worked extremely hard... and took even great risks to be a part of the sport...(and I cannot mention anywhere near all of them in this space)... and in football too... for referees there is a high risk for injury as fast as that game moves... (and by-the-way... Jim Ross was a high caliber HS football referee in his early years... and was 'transitioning into the college ranks' with the Big Eight as his goal) But again... the point I am making... is these individuals love the game... and participate in it because of that love... and some... because of the popularity of their sport... get a lot of acclaim... even a measure of fame... and that then can become a 'distraction' when they start believing 'they are the star'... And I believe Pat Jones thinks like that too... and thus... the comments about Ed Hochuli... and now... if you 'look at Hochuli's web site... it may give more credence to this... www.NFL85.com and notice some of the highlighted stuff available... especially a 'video tour with Ed of his "crib"...
- include updates of Ed's weekly schedule
- include photos
- outline the "Herculean" workout regimen
- take a video tour with Ed of his "crib"
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WWE and the NFL players have one thing in common getting steroids online and getting huge. This is like the XFL that failed.
As a current professional and collegiate soccer referee (Big Ten and Horizon League) I feel that sometimes the fans are either ignorant of the rules, or come to games just to yell their head off about something, which is usually directed towards the opponent and/or the game officials. As a paying customer, spectators are entitled to do as they wish, within reason.
However, I do expect a higher level of ethics from the broadcast booth. In soccer, I cringe when former players, turned analysts, Marcelo Balboa and Eric Wynalda, rip apart the officiating crews.
This is no different to the NFL, where I hear broadcasters take pot shots at referees split second judgment calls, and over analyze slow motion instant replays. Give these guys the credit they deserve for making these decisions in realtime, for what have become genetically altered athletes, performing at a fast and competitive level.
Referees are human beings like the rest of us, and are capable of making mistakes. Rest assured that at the top level of sports, whether the NFL or Major League Soccer, the best men available to blow the whistle are chosen through a strenous set of criteria. I applaud Ed's integrity to admit when he is at fault.
Understand that these people are not just referees, but also athletes that learn and train year round. Officials benefit from the training that is available to the group and emphasize the league's top priorities each game. They strive to be the best they can be, for a game they love, just as their famous counterparts that share the field with them on gameday.
Bill Watt great wrestler and promoter. Use to visit AWA when I was a kid, and Im 59 now.
J.R., because of you Friday Night Smackdown is the official flagship brand of WWE. Now is there any way that Evan Bourne can defeat Santino Marella for the WWE Intercontinental Championship before the end of this year 2008 so that Marella will never ever break the Honky Tonk Man's 64-week IC title reign from 1987-88?
J.R.
Just wondering what your thought's are on two things.
First- With Larry Munson retiring from UGA broadcasting I wanted to know what your thoughts are? I wondered if you ever came across Larry when you were in Atlanta Broadcasting.
Second- I hope I am not jinxing my team but what happens if USC, OK and UGA win out there remaining games? Who are the two teams you think will play for the NC?
I will hang up and listen.
I'm a WWE fan and love the comments/quibbles between the announcers-lots of comedy in those lines. Also, I do notice the refs-especially the ones who get in harms way to do their job. My favorite is Charles Robinson, who actually wrestled a couple of times. Thanks for this avenue to connect with others who share a love of WWE.
Why do you repost Bill Watts' blogs? Oh well. It's your site.