School chokes big time

According to an article on ESPN.com, North Dakota has suspended men's basketball play-by-play radio announcer Paul Ralston for two games after he used the phrase "choke job" following an overtime loss to Northern Arizona. The article states, "The Grand Forks Herald reports that Ralston used the words during his interview with coach Brian Jones after the team's 74-72 home loss Saturday. North Dakota led in the final minute of regulation, but Northern Arizona rallied to force overtime and win. North Dakota missed five free throws over the final four minutes of regulation. Athletic director Brian Faison says Ralston will not call the game at Northern Colorado on Wednesday or Saturday's game at Nebraska-Omaha. Associate athletic director Kyle Doperalski will handle the play-by-play duties for those games. Ralston will return to his play-by-play role on Feb. 28 against Portland State." Never mind the irony in a school fighting to preserve the nickname, "Fighting Sioux" being offended by the phrase, "choke job." Forget all that. But, what the hell else do you call it when a team misses five free throws late and loses in overtime? Look up "choke job" in the sports dictionary and there's a picture of a player clanking a free throw down the stretch. I know we're in an overly sensitive society. I watched an old episode of Sanford & Son recently and, no doubt about it, that show would not be on the air today. Words and phrases that were no big deal in the seventies and eighties are now taboo. But, are we really at the point where an announcer can't call it as he sees it? How long before I'm reprimanded for pointing out a high school kid missed a field goal or simply stating that little Johnny struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth? I'm not going to use the phrase, "choke job" when I write about high school kids. But college athletes on scholarships are a different matter. And, frankly, gagging in big moments are apart of sports. Sometimes you choke and sometimes you rise to the occasion. It's silly to tell a writer or an announcer that he can point out one but not the other.