Food For Thought

saintfan · 01-29-2019, 08:13 AM

Gary Cavaletto - the name that will live forever in Saints infamy.

He used to play minor league baseball. If fact, before he washed out he managed 3 years in the minor leagues.

Playing for...

The Atlanta Braves minor league system.

If ever there was a man motivated NOT to throw that flag for either of a multitude of infractions the whole world saw, it'd be this thug.

saintsfan1976 · 01-29-2019, 08:52 AM

You’re reaching.

saintfan · 01-29-2019, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976

You’re reaching.

Nope. I am simply providing more context to the question yet to be answered, which is "how on earth did a professional referee miss such an obvious call?"

So far, the only reasonable explanation is incompetence which, considering the guy has been doing it all his life isn't likely.

So what then? At this point, the fact that this guy has ties to Atlanta is as likely the reason as his being incompetent, in fact even MORE likely since all reasonable people know incompetence isn't the reason.

You have a better theory? I'm listening.

burningmetal · 01-29-2019, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by saintfan

Nope. I am simply providing more context to the question yet to be answered, which is "how on earth did a professional referee miss such an obvious call?"

So far, the only reasonable explanation is incompetence which, considering the guy has been doing it all his life isn't likely.

So what then? At this point, the fact that this guy has ties to Atlanta is as likely the reason as his being incompetent, in fact even MORE likely since all reasonable people know incompetence isn't the reason.

You have a better theory? I'm listening.

I respect your opinions, man, but I just can't get on board with this particular theory. I already stated the reason why, in the other thread where you mentioned this.

He had a three year stint in the Braves minor league system, and it was back in the 70's. He doesn't live there now, and he wasn't born there. He's from the same area where he currently resides. And it isn't Atlanta that the Saints were facing. It's just the city where the Super Bowl is played.

That's not nearly enough, in my opinion, for someone to go to such a drastic length to throw the game. I think it's far more likely that he either had money riding on the outcome from a bet, or the league wanted L.A. in the Super Bowl, because they put an awful lot of eggs in the L.A. market basket.

AsylumGuido · 01-29-2019, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I respect your opinions, man, but I just can't get on board with this particular theory. I already stated the reason why, in the other thread where you mentioned this.

He had a three year stint in the Braves minor league system, and it was back in the 70's. He doesn't live there now, and he wasn't born there. He's from the same area where he currently resides. And it isn't Atlanta that the Saints were facing. It's just the city where the Super Bowl is played.

That's not nearly enough, in my opinion, for someone to go to such a drastic length to throw the game. I think it's far more likely that he either had money riding on the outcome from a bet, or the league wanted L.A. in the Super Bowl, because they put an awful lot of eggs in the L.A. market basket.

I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful.

It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school.

I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game.

Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not?

Beastmode · 01-29-2019, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful.

It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school.

I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game.

Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not?

These guys would forever be vilified in their communities. It is obtuse to think otherwise. They already were for the 2 RG season games. A SB denial would have been 100 fold.

They got what they wanted. They will not be vilified in their local community. Was it worth it? To me, no. Who wants their name connected to the worst NFL non call of all time and their integrity wiped out. Once a ref has no more integrity they are worthless unless it's the WWE or something which is where they all need to go.

NFL is partly to blame for putting them in a pressure cooker. They just need to come clean and admit changes need to be made. I can live with that eventually. We are all human. Correct it and move on but just stop with the denial of that is not what happened. We know what happened.

burningmetal · 01-29-2019, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful.

It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school.

I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game.

Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not?

Well, I can't discount that as a possibility, but the call was so obvious that I don't know why they would have been vilified. A close, but justified call, I can see some irrational fans blaming the loss on the refs, anyway. But this call HAD to be made.

I agree that the league shouldn't have put them in that situation, but not just for the reason you mentioned. It's more that there shouldn't have been any possible bias with the officiating crew. Instead, they had not one, but FOUR L.A. guys officiating. This was clearly the wrong crew to send.

My argument to any possible fears the refs might have had is that if they felt there was pressure not to affect the outcome AGAINST the Rams, then that's something they would most certainly have thought of going INTO the game, and they should have requested to switch assignments with the AFC crew that day. But they choose to go forward with it. So if they can't officiate with integrity, I don't pity their plight.

saintsfan1976 · 01-29-2019, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by saintfan

Nope. I am simply providing more context to the question yet to be answered, which is "how on earth did a professional referee miss such an obvious call?"

So far, the only reasonable explanation is incompetence which, considering the guy has been doing it all his life isn't likely.

So what then? At this point, the fact that this guy has ties to Atlanta is as likely the reason as his being incompetent, in fact even MORE likely since all reasonable people know incompetence isn't the reason.

You have a better theory? I'm listening.

Trying to connect 1970's baseball with a play no one could have predicted he'd be in a position to impact....It's a reach.

vpheughan · 01-29-2019, 10:17 AM

And when he can't sleep, he counts sheep! Another term for sheep is lamb and lamb rhymes with Ram!!!! What more do you need???

Beastmode · 01-29-2019, 11:38 AM

He'll get a book deal and some reality show. We glorify POS people in society today for some reason.

01-29-2019, 08:13 AM	#1
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Food For Thought Gary Cavaletto - the name that will live forever in Saints infamy. He used to play minor league baseball. If fact, before he washed out he managed 3 years in the minor leagues. Playing for... The Atlanta Braves minor league system. If ever there was a man motivated NOT to throw that flag for either of a multitude of infractions the whole world saw, it'd be this thug.

01-29-2019, 08:52 AM	#2
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,972 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Food For Thought You’re reaching. 73Saint likes this.

01-29-2019, 12:04 PM	#3
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Food For Thought Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 You’re reaching. Nope. I am simply providing more context to the question yet to be answered, which is "how on earth did a professional referee miss such an obvious call?" So far, the only reasonable explanation is incompetence which, considering the guy has been doing it all his life isn't likely. So what then? At this point, the fact that this guy has ties to Atlanta is as likely the reason as his being incompetent, in fact even MORE likely since all reasonable people know incompetence isn't the reason. You have a better theory? I'm listening.

01-29-2019, 12:17 PM	#4
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Food For Thought Originally Posted by saintfan Nope. I am simply providing more context to the question yet to be answered, which is "how on earth did a professional referee miss such an obvious call?" So far, the only reasonable explanation is incompetence which, considering the guy has been doing it all his life isn't likely. So what then? At this point, the fact that this guy has ties to Atlanta is as likely the reason as his being incompetent, in fact even MORE likely since all reasonable people know incompetence isn't the reason. You have a better theory? I'm listening. I respect your opinions, man, but I just can't get on board with this particular theory. I already stated the reason why, in the other thread where you mentioned this. He had a three year stint in the Braves minor league system, and it was back in the 70's. He doesn't live there now, and he wasn't born there. He's from the same area where he currently resides. And it isn't Atlanta that the Saints were facing. It's just the city where the Super Bowl is played. That's not nearly enough, in my opinion, for someone to go to such a drastic length to throw the game. I think it's far more likely that he either had money riding on the outcome from a bet, or the league wanted L.A. in the Super Bowl, because they put an awful lot of eggs in the L.A. market basket.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

01-29-2019, 01:06 PM	#5
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,472	Re: Food For Thought Originally Posted by burningmetal I respect your opinions, man, but I just can't get on board with this particular theory. I already stated the reason why, in the other thread where you mentioned this. He had a three year stint in the Braves minor league system, and it was back in the 70's. He doesn't live there now, and he wasn't born there. He's from the same area where he currently resides. And it isn't Atlanta that the Saints were facing. It's just the city where the Super Bowl is played. That's not nearly enough, in my opinion, for someone to go to such a drastic length to throw the game. I think it's far more likely that he either had money riding on the outcome from a bet, or the league wanted L.A. in the Super Bowl, because they put an awful lot of eggs in the L.A. market basket. I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful. It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school. I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game. Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not? saintsfan1976, WW_Who_Dat, Srgt. Hulka and 3 others like this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

01-29-2019, 01:25 PM	#6
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Re: Food For Thought Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful. It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school. I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game. Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not? These guys would forever be vilified in their communities. It is obtuse to think otherwise. They already were for the 2 RG season games. A SB denial would have been 100 fold. They got what they wanted. They will not be vilified in their local community. Was it worth it? To me, no. Who wants their name connected to the worst NFL non call of all time and their integrity wiped out. Once a ref has no more integrity they are worthless unless it's the WWE or something which is where they all need to go. NFL is partly to blame for putting them in a pressure cooker. They just need to come clean and admit changes need to be made. I can live with that eventually. We are all human. Correct it and move on but just stop with the denial of that is not what happened. We know what happened.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

01-29-2019, 02:18 PM	#7
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Food For Thought Originally Posted by AsylumGuido I look at it a different way. All four of these refs with ties to the greater L.A. area knew what a win by the Rams would mean to their community ... and I'm not talking about the same type of importance to fans as what Saints' success means to us as fans. I'm talking about marketing exposure. They have to all want this new resident of their area to be successful. It isn't that they were avoiding a call that would have almost assuredly gave the Saints a win, it is that they didn't want to be known as that L.A. area resident that caused the Rams to lose. The community in which they live would never forgive them for making that call, whether it was valid or not. Their wives would be hassled at the gym. The children would be ridiculed at school. I believe it was fear that kept that flag in their waistlines. It was a position in which they should have never been placed by the league. The league screwed the pooch on the naming of these officials to the game. Now the question remains ... was this intentional or not? Well, I can't discount that as a possibility, but the call was so obvious that I don't know why they would have been vilified. A close, but justified call, I can see some irrational fans blaming the loss on the refs, anyway. But this call HAD to be made. I agree that the league shouldn't have put them in that situation, but not just for the reason you mentioned. It's more that there shouldn't have been any possible bias with the officiating crew. Instead, they had not one, but FOUR L.A. guys officiating. This was clearly the wrong crew to send. My argument to any possible fears the refs might have had is that if they felt there was pressure not to affect the outcome AGAINST the Rams, then that's something they would most certainly have thought of going INTO the game, and they should have requested to switch assignments with the AFC crew that day. But they choose to go forward with it. So if they can't officiate with integrity, I don't pity their plight.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

01-29-2019, 01:01 PM	#8
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,972 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Food For Thought Originally Posted by saintfan Nope. I am simply providing more context to the question yet to be answered, which is "how on earth did a professional referee miss such an obvious call?" So far, the only reasonable explanation is incompetence which, considering the guy has been doing it all his life isn't likely. So what then? At this point, the fact that this guy has ties to Atlanta is as likely the reason as his being incompetent, in fact even MORE likely since all reasonable people know incompetence isn't the reason. You have a better theory? I'm listening. Trying to connect 1970's baseball with a play no one could have predicted he'd be in a position to impact....It's a reach. Beastmode likes this.

01-29-2019, 10:17 AM	#9
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,543	Re: Food For Thought And when he can't sleep, he counts sheep! Another term for sheep is lamb and lamb rhymes with Ram!!!! What more do you need???
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,543

01-29-2019, 11:38 AM	#10
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Re: Food For Thought He'll get a book deal and some reality show. We glorify POS people in society today for some reason. Rugby Saint II and Thirty3 like this.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126