Sports honour well-earned
Posted Jul 8, 2010 By Ryland Coyne
Email
Print
Tweet ThisEMC Sports - It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Congratulations go out to Dan Dufort, much-loved and respected basketball coach at SFDCI and recipient of this year's Sportsperson of the Year Award, presented by the Smiths Falls Kinsmen Club. The father of three has played an integral role in the development of the sport in Smiths Falls over the past decade, returning it to its former position of prominence within the school and community.
There was a time 20 or 30 years ago when SFDCI (then Redmen) were perennial champions. While the sport's teams remained strong through the 90s, the championships were few and far between. By developing the community basketball program, known as the 'Storm', he and several other dedicated individuals have built a solid feeder program that keeps RedHawks basketball ahead of the curve.
Above all, it's Dan's friendly nature and willingness to share credit with other coaches and players that sets him apart, making him a more than worthy award winner.
*****
BEARS HOST ALUMNI TOURNAMENT
The Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears host their annual Alumni and Family Golf Tournament this Saturday, July 10 at the Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club. The four-person mixed scramble will have an 11:45 a.m. shotgun start.
For more information or to register, contact Peter Cox at 613-283-9950 or Bill Bowker at 613-223-9480.
*****
I'm all for tradition, but after watching several of the matches at this year's World Cup of soccer, supposedly the premier sporting event on the planet, there are at least a couple that FIFA (the sport's governing body) could alter.
One might be its resistance to the use of instant replay to overturn obvious bad calls. In two elimination games in the round of 16, on-field officials made horrendous calls that clearly affected the final outcome of the games.
The first one came against England on June 27. Having just scored a goal to close the deficit against Germany to 2-1, the English side came right down the field on another scoring chance. Frank Lampard's shot from just outside the box deflected off the inside of the crossbar and bounced to the ground a good two feet past the goal line. Because the referee and the linesmen were in poor position, they refused the goal. The German goalie, God bless him, scooped up the ball like it was no big deal and booted the ball out of harm's way.
A tie game at that point, just before halftime, would have been a major turn-around. Instead, England was forced to play a more pressing game in the second half and it cost them with the Germans able to take advantage with a couple of quick breaks that resulted in goals.
In the other game, Argentina was given a gift when the linesman missed what everyone is calling an obvious offside, awarding Carlos Tevez the go-ahead goal in the 26th minute of their game with Mexico and sending them on their way to a 3-1 win.
Both flubs are just two of many embarrassing moments for the World Cup officials who have struggled to make the right calls throughout the tournament. Instant replay, used by so many professional sports today, would have helped resolve these latest gaffes.
The other tradition I could do without in pro soccer is the feigned on-field injury. You would think that in this age of High Definition TV and super slow-motion replays that players would be embarrassed into curbing their diving habit. But it still goes on at a ridiculous rate...players dropping to the field like they've been shot when in actual fact they've only been grazed by their opponent or not touched at all. They lie on the field, motionless (other than to sneak a peek at the referee to see if they'll get a foul call). Then once play has stopped and the player has left the pitch, they spring to their feet and bounce back into the play.
The referees have been getting better at catching the offenders and ignoring their theatrics, but the players still try it over and over which does nothing to legitimize the sport in North America. When hockey players return to the ice after requiring 30 stitches to close a gash on their face, or football players barely miss a beat despite suffering a punishing tackle, soccer play-acting won't cut it.
These are great athletes playing a beautiful sport. But the shenanigans continue to keep the professional version on the back burner here at home.
blog comments powered by Disqus
