state finals

[badassbooster]

Thrilling and well played game in the men's semifinal match between #3 Long Beach and #1 West Valley, with LB prevailing 12-11. Unfortunate spectacle at the end of the game, though, as WV coaches, unhappy with being called for an offensive foul, began throwing objects in the pool, cursing at referees, and enraged supporters in the stands began hurling F-bombs at the referees. The coaching staff then began blowing an airhorn each time the ref tried to resume play, and the game was stopped with 20 seconds left on the clock...a profound and embarrassing example of poor sportsmanship and lack of class.

[Water-Polo-Fan]

Thrilling and well played game in the men's semifinal match between #3 Long Beach and #1 West Valley, with LB prevailing 12-11. Unfortunate spectacle at the end of the game, though, as WV coaches, unhappy with being called for an offensive foul, began throwing objects in the pool, cursing at referees, and enraged supporters in the stands began hurling F-bombs at the referees. The coaching staff then began blowing an airhorn each time the ref tried to resume play, and the game was stopped with 20 seconds left on the clock...a profound and embarrassing example of poor sportsmanship and lack of class.

I'm not buying it.

Anyone with more than ONE post and established credibility on this board that can tell us all what really happened. This is completely the opposite behavior, win or lose, that I know of the WV coach and I'm not aware of any coaching "staff" that he has. I apologize in advance to the original poster (couldn't get myself to type his moniker) if you are correct but I choose the "trust but verify" method first.

[polofan1254354]

I was at this game and the West Valley coach and players did show very poor sportsmanship at the end of the game. The West Valley coach wouldn't let the game continue with 21 seconds left on the game clock. LBCC tried to throw the ball in to start play and the West Valley coach sounded the air horn to call an illegal timeout trying to force a 5 meter shot. The LBCC coach could either have his player take the 5 meter shot or take the ball. He chose to take the ball. The West Valley coach again blew the air horn causing another stop in play, so the referee called "game over". Then, someone on the West Valley sidelines threw one of the marker cones into the pool and several of the players started cussing at the referees. Coaches who act like this need to consider the negative effect they have on the sport.

[Water-Polo-Fan]

I was at this game and the West Valley coach and players did show very poor sportsmanship at the end of the game. The West Valley coach wouldn't let the game continue with 21 seconds left on the game clock. LBCC tried to throw the ball in to start play and the West Valley coach sounded the air horn to call an illegal timeout trying to force a 5 meter shot. The LBCC coach could either have his player take the 5 meter shot or take the ball. He chose to take the ball. The West Valley coach again blew the air horn causing another stop in play, so the referee called "game over". Then, someone on the West Valley sidelines threw one of the marker cones into the pool and several of the players started cussing at the referees. Coaches who act like this need to consider the negative effect they have on the sport.

Now the way in which you've described it sounds a bit more plausible considering it's not above the norm to call an illegal timeout in the hopes the other coach would mistakenly allow the penalty throw to take place and the team losing an attempt to block the shot and tie the game. The previous poster had things just a bit out of order and context.

I'll leave it up to others as to whether or not "game over" should have been called prior to any yellow or red card being issued. Hmmmmm......Must have been one heck of an air horn to not allow the game to continue. Wow!

The cursing at referees and throwing of objects into the pool is not in the nature of the WV coach, but more of the "laid back" style relationship he has with his players that his coaching "allows" to take place. That's a shame. Sounds like the correct team won.

[ameeeba]

horrible reffing, i dont blame WV. and it wasn't head coach bruce who was being obnoxious, it was the assistants.

[badassbooster]

horrible reffing, i dont blame WV. and it wasn't head coach bruce who was being obnoxious, it was the assistants.

Indeed; like the LB player, a starter and key player, having scored the go-ahead goal in the final seconds of a come-from-behind underdog victory in the semi-final game with WV...thrusts his fist jubilantly in the air, (as players on both teams had been doing for the entire game)...fans going nuts...inexplicably called for "taunting"...gets rolled, can't play in the final against GW.

Hmmmmm.....must have been one heck of a fist pump! Wow!

But I will leave it to others, who were not there but have self-proclaimed credibility due to their many posts, to comment on what they wished or imagined to have happened.

[Water-Polo-Fan]

But I will leave it to others, who were not there but have self-proclaimed credibility due to their many posts, to comment on what they wished or imagined to have happened.

Oh, let's not be so sensitive now, shall we? If you are the type to trust whatever you happen to read then do so at your own peril. My experience on this and other boards over the years has taught me to be extremely cautious of first-time posts like yours from those that CLAIM to also have been there as they tend to be not exactly 100% accurate. That being said, AND HAVING NOT BEEN THERE MYSELF, it would appear there were many things that took place during that game that should have been handled better by ALL involved. On that I'm sure we both agree.

I look forward to reading many, many more of your "future" posts.

[Moderator]

[h20pol0213]

I was at the game and as a socal spectator there was a strong bias in the refing. Once again this shows how important the role of refing plays in the game of water polo. The refs in this particular game slowed momentum down for the teams and made bad calls that frustrated the players.

[norcalparent]

horrible reffing, i dont blame WV. and it wasn't head coach bruce who was being obnoxious, it was the assistants.

Indeed; like the LB player, a starter and key player, having scored the go-ahead goal in the final seconds of a come-from-behind underdog victory in the semi-final game with WV...thrusts his fist jubilantly in the air, (as players on both teams had been doing for the entire game)...fans going nuts...inexplicably called for "taunting"...gets rolled, can't play in the final against GW.

Hmmmmm.....must have been one heck of a fist pump! Wow!

But I will leave it to others, who were not there but have self-proclaimed credibility due to their many posts, to comment on what they wished or imagined to have happened.

There are 8 pages in the womens national team section... under heading canada files protest...
perception and reality do not always go hand in hand, read especially the player's reply, the last post. Seems a little overboard for refs to roll a player for an excited goal, unless it was more, or perceived as more... Everyone has videos these days.. post the ejection video...