Laying the blame

J's World, by Jeremiah Bartz

Everybody blames the long snapper. Because of his poor snap and the New York Giants' inevitable loss during the National Football League playoffs, Trey Junkin is now the most famous, or rather infamous, long snapper in the nation.

While Junkin did botch the snap, he was not the only player on that field that screwed up. Everybody is just quick to shift the blame toward the long snapper. And like any true and loyal long snapper, Junkin absorbed the blame and took responsibility for his mistake.

Everyone who would like to play a little game of stone the long snapper, should pause before tossing that rock and recall all of the other substantial mistakes made in that game.

First the holder should learn to react intelligently in difficult situations. Unlike the long snapper, the holder's only job is to hold. Hence the name, holder. The long snapper, not only has to bring the ball back to the holder, but he has prevent those large, beast-like defensive lineman, from turning the holder into a hand puppet.

As soon as Giants' holder Matt Allen received the less than perfect snap, he proceeded to dance around the field and burn the remaining seconds off the clock. Just throw the ball towards an eligible receiver Allen!

Fans should also blame the Giants defense, who once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by allowing 39 points to the 49ers.

But it is the officiating crew that should receive most of the blame.

The officials failed to call an obvious penalty at the end of the game. If they were to make the right call it could have changed the outcome. When Allen lofted the ball downfield, the intended Giant receiver was ripped to the ground by a San Francisco defender.

The intended receiver was a lineman, but a lineman who checked into the game as an eligible receiver. The referee failed to call the interference penalty and the game was over.

This is the second time in as many years that a team's season has abruptly ended because of a referee's faux pos.

Last season the infamous "tuck" call gave the New England Patriots the edge over the Oakland Raiders.

Giants fans can now feel the collective pain of the Raider nation.

The lesson here children, is don't be quick to pass the blame. Don't shift the blame on the proverbial long snapper.

Losing is just as much of a team effort as winning.

Bill Buckner has one of the most infamous blunders in history. He did watch the ball on the Mookie Wilson hit roll between his legs. But do not forget about Calvin Shiraldi who allowed the runner to get on base that scored on the Buckner error.

Also don't forget that it was only game six of the 1986 World Series. The Red Sox had an entire game seven to blow. That was a team effort.

Jeremiah Bartz is the sports editor for the Frontiersman.