Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ptsfa!pbphb!pbhyg!gbgey
From: gbgey@pbhyg.UUCP (Grant B. Geyer)
Newsgroups: alt.flame
Subject: Re: Worst Call since '72 Olympics
Summary: 72 Olympics call revisited
Message-ID: <1095@pbhyg.UUCP>
Date: 6 Jan 88 17:03:44 GMT
References: <39621812.d5c4@apollo.uucp> <512@ra.rice.edu>
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA
Lines: 27

> >>     But the worst since the 1972 Olympics finals?!?!  No way.

Since we seem to be comparing the '72 "call" to any number of calls we didn't
appreciate (mostly against our favorite teams--coincidence? :-), maybe it'd be  fun to revisit the '72 situation.  Why?  'Cuz it is one of those rare happeningsin sport that may actually LOSE some sensationalism with the passage of time,
meaning of course that lots of things get "more legendary" as memory augments
them.

In Munich, the "call" was, according to many published sources, about 7 calls,
no-calls, changed calls, and off-court administrative rulings (one ruling was
even by an individual who was later shown to have no jurisdiction in the tour-
nament!

Unfortunately, I can't locate source material, but if somebody can retell this
sequence of events, the net'd "enjoy" it (in an outrageous manner).  Off the topof my head, the Soviet team committed in the last six seconds (see the video
replays) 2 rules violations that were not called.  They fouled at least two and
apparently three US players, none of which were called.  One was before the
out of bounds play and two were on the winning layup.  The Soviet coach called
a timeout that he did not have left.  The clock was reset twice, both times
against the rules.  The final decision was made by a basketball administrator
who had no tournament jurisdiction.  Again, the step-by-step story is more
incredible that my sketchy summary.

Of course, the story might have been different if there had been even a minute
left on the "real" clock.  Then the calls would have probably been made.  The
obvious feeling was, "What can happen?  Let them have the ball.  What can they
do in two seconds?!"