19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

SUPER REFEREE
Sir:
Your suggestion (SCORECARD, Jan. 2) calling for the use of a "super referee" to monitor NFL games via TV's instant replays and reverse any obvious officiating errors proved timely during the AFC championship game. Oakland may have lost the game because of a Ron Lytle "nonfumble" (Wholly Moses for Denver, Jan. 9). A super referee would have made it a different ball game.
GREG ELLIS
Clearwater, Fla.

Sir:
If a plan such as you suggest were adopted, I think it would be necessary to have still another official to watch over the super referee in order to correct any mistakes he might make.
DAVEN CLAERBOUT
Oostburg, Wis.

Sir:
SI's proposal to have a super referee monitor football games by way of television is interesting but fraught with difficulties. There are many violations of rules in football, basketball and hockey that are not seen by officials but that are noted (duly and loudly) by spectators. If an official is on the off-side and does not see a fumble but merely sees a quarterback tackled and going down, how can you fault him? And if no other official on the field sees the play and consequently offers no amendment, don't you go by the standard rule that the officials are doing their best, even if at times they err?
THE REV. EARLE A. NEWMAN, S.S.J.
Birmingham, Ala.

AFC VS. NFC (CONT.)
Sir:
Now wait just a minute! I have read Wellington Mara's letter (Dec. 12) on the subject of AFC superiority over the NFC in head-to-head competition and want to add some corrective analysis.

Wellington attempts to explain away the AFC's winning record by quoting figures on the post-1969 records of the three switchover teams—the Colts, Browns and Steelers. He credits these three teams with being the decisive factor in the AFC's reaching a superior level. Taken as a group, the won-lost figures he quotes (which include all games against all opponents) indicate that Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland have been successful overall. However, for two reasons, the figures are really not pertinent. The facts are that in the seven seasons since the merger was finalized that Wellington talks about, two of these teams—Baltimore (53-44-1) and Cleveland (49-47-2) have been just about average. Only Pittsburgh (64-33-1) has a strong winning record. A closer look at AFC-NFC head-to-head competition shows that the three teams' combined eight-year record against NFC teams is definitely average—34 wins and 33 losses (50.7% which, ironically, is exactly the percentage by which the AFC now leads the NFC after eight years—147 wins to 143 losses).

Pittsburgh, a team that arrived in the AFC tied for the worst won-lost record in pro football (1-13 in 1969), has a 14-8 record vs. the NFC in these eight years. Baltimore is 11-11 and Cleveland is 9-14.

It is well established that Pittsburgh now is a power in pro football, but by no stretch of the imagination can it be said that the three teams are the reason the AFC has moved ahead of the NFC. Pittsburgh has won two Super Bowls, but certainly not based on credentials the Steelers brought with them from the NFL. As Wellington says, Chuck Noll was a " Paul Brown disciple," but he also was an "AFL disciple," having been an assistant coach for at least five years in the AFL. Baltimore was rebuilt under Joe Thomas' guidance and he has both AFL and NFL backgrounds.

The AFC's current superiority will not last forever—these things run in cycles; however, it is healthy for pro football that opinions are voiced about who is best. In this case, I felt it important that a closer look be taken at the facts.
LAMAR HUNT
President
American Football Conference
Dallas

BASKETBALL VIOLENCE
Sir:
Curry Kirkpatrick did a fine job of chronicling the thoughts of many NBA players regarding violence (Shattered and Shaken, Jan. 2). Kirkpatrick is heading in the right direction when he suggests the implementation of the three-point shot. This would relieve the congestion in the free-throw lane. It would also add more excitement to the offense, allowing Dr. J and other gifted athletes in the NBA to put on an even greater show.

However, the second suggestion of a three-man officiating team should not be implemented. After watching that system in action in the Big Ten for the last five years, it is evident to me that three officials cannot adequately communicate with each other and coordinate their calls and positioning well enough. There is also an alarming tendency on the part of officials to rely too much on the other guy to make a call. This results in many out-of-position calls and, consequently, an inconsistently officiated game.
STEVE PRECHTEL
Columbus, Ohio