If you are a Houston sports fan... what do you fear more: A) A game 7 umpire crew with Angel Hernandez, Joe West, and Ron Kulpa, or B) A game 7 referee crew with Ken Mauer, Tony Brothers, and Scott Foster?
The other 5 are bad at their job and obnoxious, but the bad calls could go either way. Scott Foster actually has an issue with James Harden. The NBA should address it, but we all know they won't. The Rockets will be playing with a handicap in any game Foster officiates.
B. A sucks the most crusty, molded dead animal feces there is, but B is a 100% guaranteed loss. Foster alone guarantees that. A affords the chance to see West, Angel and Dong Gulpa get into a who-can-one-up-and-out-diva-umpshow the other guys. And some of those shenanigans probably end up going our way.
Plus, with A, at least a mathematical possibility that none of those assmunchers are behind the plate.
B by far. Basketball refs have vastly more power to influence a game than baseball umps. That's before you add in all the additional sketchiness that comes with NBA reffing.
The lawyer' perspective. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/can-umpires-really-do-anything-they-want/ Based on these instructions, there are things that Ron Kulpa can’t do. For one thing, he can’t be discourteous; he must be courteous “always.” He is supposed to keep a game moving. He is supposed to maintain his temper and self-control. And he is supposed to elevate being right above his own dignity.... So Ron Kulpa can do whatever he wants; that’s true. And players and managers can’t do anything about it. But Major League Baseball can, and, often, does [my note: privately]. But omnipotence, it seems, doesn’t actually come with the territory.
Yeah. Blame everyone else but the Astros' players for their LACK OF HITTING! The pitching has been different. Hinch should be mad at his lineup for this start.
Not sure why this is being bumped, but I will say that Country Joe West is a complete and total ********er. Everyone knows it. They can't fire him.
Joe West Home Run Call Red Sox vs Astros singlehandedly made the Red Sox the Champions. So much corruption in American Sports. I would rather watch other Sports outside the Country where there is no rigging. Let the best team or player win.
