Flopping has taken an ugly turn. Once upon a time, you actually had to get hit by someone to try to sell a foul. Now, though, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have taken it to a whole new level. They're flopping without even being touched. And the worst part is, they're GETTING THE CALLS!!
It's ridiculous. It's embarrassing to the game and to the officials who keep falling for it. So I came up with a solution on Crossover Chronicles (along with all he video evidence of the touchless flopping):
1: Punish the players
The players are purposely deceiving the officials and violating the spirit of the game. Excessive acts meant to deceive the officials should come with punishment. Therefore, a fine and a retroactive technical foul should be assessed to the offending player. If you hit the player in wallet and start tacking on technical fouls that could (if the player reaches seven in the postseason) lead to a suspension, players will think long and hard about acting like they've been punched when no one was within two feet of them.
2: Punish the refs
Let's face it. These are the most blatant examples of refs calling what they think, not what they see. And their job is to call what they see. Referees who blow the whistle and give that call need to be disciplined because they are anticipating plays rather than officiating the game. Any sort of fine or removal from the playoff officiating rotation (which can really hurt the bank account) will ensure officials go back to doing what they should be doing: observing the game action and looking for infractions of the NBA rule book. Bottom line: if you don't see the foul happen, you don't blow the whistle.
Those two can be instituted immediately. I also explain how a fourth official would help (follow the link to read that part), but that would have to wait until next year.
It's really sad that Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, two of the best players in the world, resort to such cheap tricks. It's one thing to flop and sell a foul… it's another to pretend someone touched you and flail when no one's even near you. It's an embarrassment that needs to end now.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
