Page 4 October 4 , 2012 Up and Adam Joe’s Sports NFL Takes Fault, Throws in Flag Leuzinger Rallies to Reclaim Mayor’s Cup By Adam Serrao that, tempers flared and injuries mounted. By Joe Snyder when Puloka fumbled a snap and picked up An organization as big and as powerful The distraction on the field took away from After a year absence, Leuzinger High’s the ball some 25 yards in back of the line as the NFL has grown to think that it can the game and made the environment that football team reclaimed the Mayor’s Cup with of scrimmage midway in the third quarter. A pretty much get away with anything. The the players were working in utterly unsafe. a come-from-behind 34-20 win over cross- pair of tackles for losses saw Leuzinger back most attended domestic sports league in the That’s why players like Chris Kluwe are town rival Hawthorne in a non-league game at its own four yard line. A few plays later, world, the NFL attracts an average attendance happy that the regular officials are back on last Friday at Hawthorne. The Olympians, though, a critical pass interference call on the of 67,000 people per game, not to mention the field. “It was a noble experiment, but I who ended their 19-game losing streak with Cougars gave the Olympians a first down at think an ultimately failed experiment,” Kluwe the victory, rallied for three unanswered the 25. Several plays later, including some so elegantly stated. “It’ll be good to not to touchdowns to come back from a 20-13 third big ones, Poluko scored the tying TD. “That The penny-pinching NFL only have to worry about that when we’re on the quarter deficit. pass interference was critical,” Hawthorne regrets the situation it created field. It’s good that it won’t be a distraction After the two squads traded touchdowns head coach James Swain said. “We could because it didn’t work. anymore.” Kluwe’s sentiment wasn’t expressed throughout most of the game, Leuzinger tied have closed it out.” alone. Players from all across the NFL spoke the score at 20 with 3:52 left in the third For both teams, it’s on to league where they out welcoming the regular officials back. The period on an eight-yard TD run by running will open against highly regarded opponents. the massive amounts of fans who also watch list included Calvin Johnson of the Lions, back-linebacker Lua Kalolo. That was the Leuzinger will begin the Bay League at each game from home or a at restaurant or Matt Hasselbeck of the Titans and Josh second of his four touchdowns--three rushing home against defending champion Palos bar every weekend. The commissioner of the Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns. and one on a pass reception by quarterback Verdes Friday at 7 p.m. After an 0-3 start National Football League, Roger Goodell, The players weren’t the only ones in Sami Paloka. with losses to three highly regarded squads knows of his league’s worldwide acclaim and danger, however. The replacement officials Leuzinger (1-4) took the lead for good in Narbonne (ranked first in the CIF-Los therefore makes decisions that he believes themselves stated that they felt “demonized” with 8:51 remaining in the game on Kalolo’s Angeles City Section, second in California will benefit his sport in the long run. One by all. Jeff Sadorus, a replacement official 18-yard scoring run. He added another TD and 20th in the United States), CIF-Central of those decisions that he and the league for the three weeks that the regular officials run of four yards to close out the Olympians’ Section power Fresno Central and Lake made recently was to lock out the referees were out, expressed the fact that refereeing scoring with 5:51 to go. The Olympians’ final Forest El Toro, the Sea Kings won back-to- from working in lieu of paying them more an NFL game wasn’t exactly what he touchdown was set up by an interception back games over another outstanding squad money as well as supplying them with a expected. “Honestly, sometimes during this by Travionne Pope that he returned to the in Moorpark from the prestigious Marmonte pension and retirement benefits. Sounded like whole thing, it felt like the national pastime Hawthorne 16 yard line. Pope then ran 12 League in overtime and last Friday rolled a good idea to Goodell at the time. There in this country had changed from football to yards to the Cougar four, and from there over Compton Dominguez 44-0--both of was no way he was going to all of a sudden bashing replacement officials,” Sadorus stated. Kalolo took it in four his fourth TD of the those at home. give up more money from his billion-dollar It clearly wasn’t his fault either. The NFL game. From there, Hawthorne was unable The Cougars visit an always very good league to appease a group of referees. Well, enlisted him to do a job that he wasn’t 100 to even reach into Leuzinger territory as Culver City team at the same time. The the referees that Goodell assumed to be so percent ready or qualified to do and he did the Olympians won their first game of the Centaurs, who are 3-2 after falling on the insignificant quickly drew worldwide attention what any of us would have done--take the season in their non-league finale. road to a highly regarded La Puente Bishop once their backups made a mockery of the money and step on the field with real-life NFL “During the week, we worked to put things Amat squad 31-7 last Friday, are last season’s NFL. The hiring of replacement officials players. Sadorus felt the same way. “Working together,” Leuzinger head coach Ronald CIF-Southern Section Western Division quickly brought a black eye upon the league these games was something I’d wanted to Jenkins said. “That interception by Pope finalists where they lost at Arroyo Grande. and it wasn’t long before Goodell and the do forever,” he said, “and there were some gave us a chance to take control. Kalolo is INGLEWOOD DOWNS TORRANCE rest of his cohorts were forced to take fault incredible moments. But there were also parts a warrior. I had him since the tenth grade.” After a sluggish first half, Inglewood High’s and throw in the flag once and for all. of this that I don’t think anyone could have Hawthorne (1-4), which won the Cup football team used an outstanding game by Now that the regular officiating crew is back expected.” Sure, the regular officials make last season to end the Olympians’ string of option quarterback Damien Hamilton to in action, Goodell and company have begun mistakes too, just like the mistakes made by winning it nine consecutive times, got on top host Torrance High 34-23 last Friday. the process of trying to sweep the whole nasty the replacement officials. The difference was, the scoreboard first on a five-yard scoring Hamilton rushed for 210 yards and one experience under the rug. Now instead of however, that everyone was waiting for the pass from Fuller to wide receiver Deandre touchdown on 15 carries. telling the referees that they cannot have the mistakes to be made with the replacements. Thomas for a 7-0 lead with just over two The Tartars were leading 10-6 at halftime money and benefits that they once asked for, Once they made those mistakes, they were minutes into the contest. Leuzinger tied the before the Sentinels, who are 3-2, scored 28 Goodell is instead telling football fans across brought to center stage--and with that, the game at seven on a 15-yard touchdown pass second half points. It started with a 77-yard the world that he is sorry and that we “deserve replacements were scrutinized. from Puloka to wide receiver Dekari Paschal off tackle run from Hamilton that set up a better” than games worked by the previous Obviously, the NFL is a business and the with 11:07 remaining in the second quarter. one-yard scoring run from Trevon Benton replacement officials. Well, fans, players and owners as well as the commissioner need to The Cougars came back to grab a 14-7 that gave the Sents a 14-10 lead. coaches around the league already knew that, fight for what they believe is right, as do lead with 6:56 left in the second period when The Tartars (2-3) led 17-14, but the Sents but it’s about time the NFL realized it too. the referees. The only thing that the NFL Fuller completed a 12-yard TD pass to Eddie took the lead for good on a two-yard run In an open letter released by the league last failed to do was weigh out the consequences. Thomas. The Olympians came right back on from Eddie Reyes. Hamilton’s 76-yard TD Friday, Goodell said, “I regret we were not Even though the officials that referee the their next drive and cut Hawthorne’s lead run gave Inglewood a 34-17 lead. Reyes able to secure an agreement sooner in the games are only part-time employees, they to 14-13 on a three-yard touchdown pass carried the ball 14 times for 108 yards and process and avoid the unfortunate distractions are entitled to go after and negotiate benefits from Puloka to Kalolo with 2:43 remaining two touchdowns. of the game.” Expressed regret, but sincere? for themselves, especially when they are before halftime. The point after touchdown Inglewood, which lost its first two games Probably not. The penny-pinching NFL only part of a multi-billion-dollar business--just attempt from sophomore kicker Jose Padilla before winning three straight, hopes to begin regrets the situation it created because it didn’t as we would be entitled to do with any of was missed--the only one of his five attempts the Ocean League with its fourth consecutive work. The letter that Goodell released last the businesses with which we are involved. on which he failed to convert. Hawthorne win as it visits Beverly Hills Friday at 7 p.m. Friday was made public only a day after the Conversely, the NFL should have realized brought the lead back up to seven at 20-13 The once proud Normans are struggling at 1-4 regular officials returned to the field and the before many incorrect, game-changing on a three-yard run from Fuller. after losing at home against South Pasadena fans, coaches and players alike were made calls were enacted that the referees who Perhaps the turning point of the game was last Friday. • witness to the seemingly perfect way in which train themselves to learn the game inside the game was run in stark opposition to the and out were a bigger part of the league mockery that was continuously displayed by than originally estimated. No matter now. the replacements. The regular referees are back and already What the NFL did was not only put people’s impacting the game in a positive manner and jobs on the line and lessen the quality of the hopefully the NFL has learned its lesson. game being played on the field, but also put Now all that’s left to do is hope that none people’s lives at stake to a certain degree. of the ridiculous calls like the one made two The replacements officials had absolutely weeks ago on Monday night in Seattle will no control over the players, the coaches impact the end of the season for a team like or the game being played and because of the Green Bay Packers. • Hawthorne receiver Eddie Thomas scores a touchdown on a 12-yard reception from quarterback Paul Fuller during last Friday’s Mayor’s Cup football rivalry against Leuzinger. The Olympians topped the Cougars 34-20. Hawthorne visits Culver City in its Ocean League opener Friday at 7 p.m.
Lawndale 10.04.12
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