If Tom Brokaw opens tonight’s Nightly News on NBC with the announcement that authorities have evidence that JFK’s assassination was in fact a conspiracy, how will we react to it? Some of us will no doubt immediately dismiss it, while others will jump on it as proof that what they have been saying for years is correct, and all the ills of the country can be traced back to this deceit that has been perpetuated for 40 years. Hopefully, most of us will look at the “evidence”, discuss it, analyze it and realize that perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle. Now then, we have a “letter” from Mr. Bob Evans, a high-ranking, highly-experienced member of USSF with credentials that would be hard to match - almost as respectable as Tom Brokaw. Now, I don’t know Mr Evans, but I read his letter with interest as his credentials seem quite impressive and I assume he knows what he is talking about. It raises a few questions. These fall into three different areas as I see it. First, why is he taking this path? Apparently he sent this to the USSF Referee Committee, which is OK, but it is fairly safe to assume that he also sent it to people that he knew would forward to a website like this. He is obviously intelligent, so at the least he must have known this would happen. So, WHY ? In his position, why does he not just go through the proper channels, and use his power and influence to get this dealt with in the way that it should have been? If it is not dealt with, then pursue a different path, but give the committee a chance to act. So, why leak it in this way, at this time? Second, the content. It seems to me that while there is probably a grain of truth in what he says, there is probably absolute truth in none of it. It is very easy after the fact to look at incidents thru a season and assign some sort of explanation why things were done the way they were. It is far too easy to take isolated statements that were made and base after-the-fact theories on them. This also leads to providing the “conspiracy-theory” buffs among us with all the ammunition they need to explain every call they have ever seen and disagreed with – just as we have seen on these boards over the past few weeks. Third, the result of all this. I assume Mr Evans knows most of the MLS referees personally. If that is the case, he must have very little respect or regard for them all, as he has clearly undermined their authority. You need only look at the various posts that have been made concerning this issue all over these boards to see that the referees credibility and more importantly their integrity has not only been called into doubt – it has been blasted. Even attempts by some to congratulate the center on his appointment to MLS Cup were greeted by derision and suggestions that he had to sell his soul to get that honor. Likewise “referee of the year” – again to be nominated means that the honesty of the gentlemen in question is now in doubt. By implication, anyone with a whistle in MLS is now regarded as someone who has compromised his beliefs for the “glory” of doing MLS games. I don’t know if that was Mr Evans intent, but it clearly has been the result. What is the intent of MY post? To take an impartial view and suggest as I said that the truth is somewhere in the middle. I do not belief – maybe I just don’t want to belief – that referees in MLS or ANY league would compromise their beliefs and their trust in the Laws to satisfy any outside authority. I do not belief USSF would allow this to happen. And I do not belief that this would have gone on without someone else highlighting it before – heaven knows there must be enough disgruntled referees around who have been overlooked by MLS that would have made noises before now if there had been anything in this. I just think we need to have less of a “knee-jerk” reaction to this letter. The really disappointing thing about all of this is not the reaction of some posters to this board who were guaranteed to seize on this and have their way with it. The really disappointing thing is that even those regular contributors to these boards who have been thoughtful and insightful in the past also seem to have swallowed it without due consideration. For my part, I have doubts believing someone who takes the “low road” to deliver a message when he had ample opportunity to do so from much higher ground.
I, for one, don't doubt for a minute that the league has given directives (formal or informal) regarding the interpretation of the LOTG to suit it's own purposes. Is there direct evidence of this? No, but to put it legal terms, there's a sufficient amount of circumstantial evidence to suggest that otherwise top-notch officials have had to "adjust" their game when doing MLS matches. Mr. Evans' letter simply gives voice to concerns that many officials have had. As for his method of releasing this information, I get the impression from the letter that this is not the first time he's voiced these concerns, and that he's frustrated with the lack of action within the USSF to address the issues. I don't believe his intent (or effect) was to call into question the integrity of the referees so much as to provide an independent point of view in support of these referees, who may not be able or willing to say these things given the political nature of MLS assignments.
First, referees have been caught throwing games in the past and will continue to be caught doing so in the future. Look at the recent furor surrounding the ref (I think it was in Peru) who told the substitute goalkeeper to dive left on a PK. Second, I don't think MLS is "fixed" or that refs regularly throw games to give the league the result the league wants. A few games have made me wonder if this is the case, especially given MLS's opaque single-entity nature, but if this HAS happened, it hasn't happened often and we'll never be able to prove it unless someone admits it in his memoirs. When the league wants to influence results, it tends to stack a teams roster before the season or make questionable "trades", it does not use the refs. Third, does anyone have the text of this letter that they can post here? I'd like to read it.
Re: Re: Response to "Observation on MLS Refs" The letter is located at: http://soccer-ref.quietfire.com/BobEvansPaper.html It is discussed in detail in another thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18429
Bob Evans has expressed his opinions of the MLS interference and instructions to referees. I heartily suggest that MLS turn over the assignment and training of referees to USSF, and that the two entities work together to improve the level of officiating. As Bob pointed out, it does an injustice to our future stars such as Beasley and Donovan to allow their opponents to violently foul them. It does an injustice to all referees to allow the players to abuse referees. The lax approach to dissent and fouls only makes it harder for local youth and rec soccer refs to control our games.
What is there to turn over ? That is the way it is now. USSF is 100% responsible for trainig of the refs, and the assignor for all Professional games - including MLS - is a USSF person, not MLS. As for "Overreactions" reply, he brings up a number of good points. Perhaps some peopel have been too quick to just grab Bob's letter as being the expalnation for everything wrong in MLS refereeing.
Well, at least Evans did not hesitate to assign his name to the letter and to his replies. I think it is cowardly, shameful, and maybe a little arrogant somebody would register a new name and create a new thread just to state your opinion on the matter. What type of response do you even want? I don't think, other than perhaps RushOnze, that we'll all drop to our knees and sing praises as to how accurate your post was. On the other hand, I don't think the majority of us are outright accusatory at the referees for the current plight of MLS. When you've been working all your life to get to the top of the referee hierarchy in the USA only to find that MLS wants you to alter the application of the laws slightly, what do you do? If you don't listen to MLS then you won't get any more games. If you do listen, then it jeopardizes your credidbility and potential to become international. On one hand if you stop getting professional games how can you be a candidate for international? On the other, if you do the professional games but the way MLS wants them you most likely won't be accepted as international anyway. It's a Catch-22 that all the MLS referees were thrown into with no real good solution. What blame can we really place upon them specifically? They either follow the directives of MLS, or they no longer referee at that level period. In case you haven't been paying attention, Mr. Evans' letter cirulated within the hierarchy of USSF for a good 2 weeks before being made public. Eventually, this type of thing gets leaked out to the public whether you want it to or not. So rather than try to keep everything all secret and elitest why not just go ahead and say "sure, publish it?" It's already been made perfectly clear that Bob has no issue accepting full responsibility for what he said, and is prepared to back up his statements with proof. I highly doubt this was his "plan" but at the same time there's no reason to try and prevent it from being public. The fact is the letter and allegations are targeted at the governing body of MLS, not the referees. They are somewhat at fault for allowing themselves to be misguided to an extent, but the repercussions of rebelling against the demands of MLS were greater than they are worth. Why should they be forced to kill their career as a referee simply because of a potentially temporary misguidance of MLS? If I were in their position I would most likely just go ahead and follow the orders of MLS too in hopes that eventually somebody like Mr. Evans could help put a stop to it. That way I can still retain my level as a referee, ride out the storm, and then one day in the future be in the good graces of both MLS and FIFA instead of having to lose them. And guess what? Mr. Evans is doing just that.
DT, Over, et al; I wonder if we are not each trying to read much more into this than Evans ever intented. Though it clearly was the work of much thought, and I believe passion, it was clearly NOT written to be torn apart, produced as evidence of high crimes by MLS, or cross examined by the "lawyers", or taken as some sort of manifesto, by those who ascribe to one position or another. To me, it came across as a sharing of the writer's perspective and a warning that USSF may want to pay a litttle closer attention to where the national program is going. In fact, we all should do this. Now, not being a national or working at that level, a lot of what Evans wrote was beyond me, but a few of the point were directly relevant to some of the issues faced at the amateur, youth and interscholastic levels where I do have considerable involvement. So, it is a wake up call, a word to the wise, a paper tiger to the unwise, an observation, a discussion, thoughts, ideas, recommendations. Take it for what it is. ... or not ... your choice.
actually tend to agree with what Statesman and Whipple have said here. But, Statesman, I have been paying attention - although it may have taken two weeks to hit these boards, the letter was doing the rounds of referees within 2 days of it being sent to USSF! Anyway, I also think Bob was well-intentioned, and I certainly dont think he meant any harm to the Refs, many of whom are his friends. I also dont think there is any harm when this is discussed by most of the guys on this board who discuss/argue/joke around/ whatever throughout the year, many times disagreeing but always with a common objective - to share opinions, experiences etc. For my part, I had decided to just ignore it and see how it played out, hoping it would die a natural death by now! I guess the danger, though, is with those people who will see it as a "paper tiger", as Whipple said, and think this is the definitive word on refereeing at the Pro level. I dont think that's the case, and would hope and think that the majority of people would be able to accept Bob's views at face value, and take them as just that.
Moderator's Note Firstly, let me state that I am not happy that a member of our forum whom, I have a great deal of respect for his/her opinion did something that was inappropriate, unprofessional and a violation of the terms of service for this website. I wish people had the courage of their convictions and spoke their mind instead of creating a sock puppet. This is the first instance of this action on this forum. I don't like acts of deception, particularly on an issue that is of great concern to all of us who love soccer and refereeing. I hope not to see a repeat of this action. Let us speak our minds openly and honestly without deception. We can agree to disagree or argue politely and intelligently as we have always done on this forum. That's what makes this a unique forum to Big Soccer.
Nowhere in this post are the concerns that Bob brought up addressed. In fact, this is a character assassination. This post only lends credibility to the concerns that were brought up by Bob Evans.
He DID use the proper channels, and others with access leaked it. I don't think the author gave a crap who saw it. I have no doubt this happened in somewhat the way the author described. I watched it happening when odd calls and non-calls became the norm not the exception. I wrote protests to MLS and USSF asking for redress on blatent referee "mistakes." It's no wonder redress never came, those "mistakes" were not mistakes at all, they were policy. We even saw exceptions to the "policy" that proved the rule, because the exception was both controversial and had the happenstance to occur in a game that was demonstrably immune from MLS meddling. MLS didn't fix matches. USSF isn't totally accountable, but this episode does mean they have ears. All I want (and what a lot of fans want) is for MLS to back out and leave the refs to their own devices, good bad or indifferent, because frankly the MLS meddling made things worse not better.
Ah I wasn't aware of the exact time when the letter became public. My assumption was that with the amount of people who participate here from various levels within the hierarchy something like this would hit the boards not too long after being made public. If what you say is accurate (which I'm sure it is) then I guess we were a bit slower to get involved this time Either way I still believe that the letter was bound to become public at one point anyway and so there was no real urgency to keep it private. Ultimately I don't see how that has any major impact on the purpose of the letter itself, though.
Personally, I don't think the referees here on the forum overreacted. There have been problems with the refereeing and Bob Evans pointed out the source of SOME of those problems. We called for those problems to be fixed. I find it rather cowardly that someone would create a new screen name just to start a thread being critical of others in the forum. If you want to stand by your comments, post your identity.
I ascribe blind MLS-can-do-no-wrong attitudes to a deliberate league-sponsored disinformation/smear campaign. "Dirty tricks", as it were, because the truth cannot be refuted. And again it is proven that the only reason for keeping secrets is to protect the ass of those keeping the secrets. There's no wonder MLS has so many secrets ...
To me, he's defending referees. Look at the comments people make at bigsoccer about refs...in general, they like ARs, and they wonder WTF is going on in CRs' heads. (I'm putting this in the context of how fans all over the world b**** about their refs. I'm being comparative.) I've got to believe that most refs are aware, at least second hand, of what is written on bigsoccer. Most of them, anyway. Soccer fanatics are a small group in the US. There's ample evidence that what goes on here filters outside these boards. I can cite chapter and verse if I need to, but I hope you'll concede that point. What Evans did was explain why (for example) Franchino wasn't sent off for a 2nd yellow on the breakaway in MLS Cup. Without this letter, we'd all be blasting the CR. Final or no, you absolutely HAVE to send him off in that situation. If you don't you're not acting as an impartial arbiter of the player's actions, you're deciding the game. But since everyone who hangs out on the referee thread (and most at MLS and MLS N&A) were aware of the letter, Kenny was spared alot of criticism. How did he undermine their authority? I understand your points, but really, in the big picture, the letter undermined MLS' authority. Not the refs. We all knew something was screwy, and now we know what it is. The undermining of the MLS Cup assignment and referee of the year award, to me, is outweighed by the fact that now we understand why some of the things we see happen. To focus narrowly on the MLS Cup assignment, under which scenario does Kenny have less authority: 1. We don't know about the letter, and we spend all winter wondering why Franchino wasn't sent off, and questioning Kenny's manhood. 2. We do know about the letter, and we regret that Kenny was put in such a tough spot.