Volleyball replay and Networking

Well, I didn't really like today's assignment.

I don't often say that, but it was true.  Not a fun day at the office.

The Toreros hosted the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference volleyball match.  I was assigned to be the replay official for the match (today as well).

Got to the arena around an hour early.  Went and made sure that the equipment was working correctly.  At the time it did....I'll explain later.

First set, everything is going ok... then late in the set (22-13 San Diego), Portland thought the call of in was wrong.  The assistant coach went crazy thinking that it was out.  He damn near ran on to the court and said "You'll see in just a second that you were wrong!"  I really wanted to find an angle that proved the referee correct.  On the angle that I saw and showed to the down referee, it looked to me like the ball was out.  The down referee looked and said nothing to me (I have to fill in some paperwork on the screen when there is a review).  I wait to see what he signals and he signals that the ball was out (Gee, thanks for letting me know what was going on).

Second set, we had two reviews, one for each team.

For San Diego, they thought the ball was in.  The problem was that upon looking at the video, only one of the two angles that we were supposed to have at our disposal was working.  The one angle was skipping over the two to three frames that we needed for confirmation, so the call "stood" because it was inconclusive.

Portland had another review late in the set (I'm noticing a trend....).  It was another in/out call.  On the opposite side of the benches (and the table).  Looking at the video again it looked in to me.   However, the original call was out and that is what the referee confirmed.

In the fourth set (as it turned out the final set) San Diego on the bare eye looked like they just missed a pancake (slipping your hand under the ball and having it bonce off the hand).  That call was confirmed that it did hit the floor and not the hand.

The final set scores were: San Diego 3-1 (25-15, 28-30 (nothing like over points), 25-14, 25-14).

On Tuesday, I was invited by my friend Callan to join him as we went up to Burbank to meet up with Sean Pebbles.  If you don't know the name, you might know the position that he holds.  Public Address Announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sean is in SoCal doing something with Warner Bros.  He said that he could tell us, but then he'd have to kill us.  We kinda like living, so we just let it lie.  Really cool guy.  After we had dinner at BJ's Restaurant in Burbank.  After dinner, we went back to his hotel and talked for a bit.  He offered us drinks but I just took a water as I was driving (do your own thing, but if you drink and drive.... don't expect me to be at your funeral).  Hope to hook up with Sean again when his plans are to come back out to San Diego in August.

Basketball and videos

 Well, talk about a day!

First on the docket was running the Instant Replay for the USD Toreros Women's Basketball game against Pepperdine at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.  Game time was two in the afternoon.  I got to the arena at 11:30.

Most people are reading this and wondering, why so early?  Well there is two reasons for being there two and a half hours early.  One, I haven't done this position in about a year.  Two, I did a little example video on how everything works.  That will be compiled with the other mini videos that I'm making for all the positions at the table and will compile them all into one video and then post it.

The game went very smoothly.  When USD wins by 25 points that helps.  Also, when the referees only come over one time for a clarification and no real reviews, it is a good game!

I also found out that I'll be working the scoreboard on Monday for Women's Volleyball (I promise to keep all comments to myself!).  The comment in parenthesis is an inside joke that a couple of people know about.  Also, the good ladies in the SID office must really trust me with stats, as they have asked me to come learn/do the stats for Women's soccer this coming Friday.  Of course in 2021, I won't be counting goals until there actually is a game.  In this time, a game on the schedule is just a suggestion.

After the game, I walked around the main portion of USD and asked folks the opening question on San Diego Street Talk.  Which is "what would be the worst movie sequel ever made, and why?"  I interviewed 12 folks.  The final video is coming in around the six and a half minute mark.

Alright, I'm going to head to bed now so that I can get up and enjoy Super Bowl LV.  My pick? The over (more than 56.5 combined points)!

Toreros getting disrespected

How in the heck?!?!?!?! Why is it that these ESPN "experts" with this bracketology having the San Diego Toreros as a 15 seed? Lets get this straight, they defeat Saint Mary's (currently ranked as a 9 seed in the West Region) in double OT. Then the following night they defeat a projected 7 seed Gonzaga. So how is it that after you defeat two teams that are a 7 & 9 seeds you get a 15 seed? HOW IN THE HELL???

They defeat Kentucky in Rupp Arena, have a top-35 SOS, finished 8-2 over their final 10 games, are an even 8-8 record on Road/Neutral courts. Grant you they are 92nd in RPI, and are 97th overall in SOS. But unlike alot of teams they are 4-6 games agaisnt the top 50 in the RPI.

Comparing the Toreros against the Gaels and Bulldogs

N-C N-C
Team SOS RPI SOS RPI
USD .5277 97 32 159
SMC .5091 38 31 16
GU .5301 30 12 27

Yes, I will grant you there is a big difference in the N-C RPI between SMC & GU but I don't believe that it should give the Toreros that big of a drop.

Your thoughts?

Wow, what a couple of days

Greetings and welcome to bog 1.004, this bog will be on press conferences, games, and traffic.

First press conferences, I have been to a boat load in the last couple of days. First we had the post-game conference at the SDSU men's game against Navy, then the post-game at the SDSU women's game (interesting note coming on that), and then today with the Poinsettia Bowl conference this morning, and the weekly Aztecs conference at Cox Arena (I kind of feel like I have been living there the last few days).

The note on the SDSU women's game is this. The Naval academy women's basketball team got into San Diego on Sunday. For dinner on Sunday they went to a Mexican restaurant in Mission Valley (I will not say which one on here as it would get me into trouble). The entire team, including the coaches, got food poisoning. So with that in mind, the entire team ran into the locker room after the game. For those who don't know the traditions with any service academy they always stay after the game to hear the alma mater played by the band. I had the EXTREME honor of being asked by the Capt. of the basketball team to stand in for the team during the alma mater. At the conclusion of the alma mater, I yelled as loud as I could the final two words of the song, "BEAT ARMY"! I personally went through the entire band, and thanked them for their service to the country, and they all thanked me for doing so.

The games that I have been to in the last few days includes both sides of the Aztecs vs. Navy battle (both games went to SDSU, BTW).

Traffic, say, has anyone in San Diego ever thought about oh, I don't know, BEING COURTIOUS????????? I would have to say no from what I can see here lately. If the driver in front of you needs to get in, let them, who knows, maybe the next time that you need to get in you will be able to do so.

Until I type again, this is Chris signing off of bog 1.004