UNM game: Where Were the Refs?

By now 95 % of the world has seen the video of University of New Mexico roughneck soccer player, Elizabeth Lambert run around the field like an out-of-control truck, taking down opponents with feet, legs and fists in full view of the referees in a conference tournament semifinal against BYU on November 5 in Provo, UT.

Just in case you missed it, here is one video clip of Ms. Lambert punching one opponent in the back (after getting an elbow from her) and taking down another by the ponytail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAtxuCpsMU&feature=popular

But there’s more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPWDQw3J4Y

Once the mayhem hit the Internet – and this morning the networks as well on the Today Show - the principals did what anyone would expect: they clammed up and ducked behind flacks and press releases.

"I am deeply and wholeheartedly regretful for my actions," said Lambert. "My actions were uncalled for. I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary from the coaching staff and UNM administration. This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player that I am. I am sorry to my coaches and teammates for any and all damages I have brought upon them. I am especially sorry to BYU and the BYU women's soccer players that were personally affected by my actions. I have the utmost respect for the BYU women's soccer program and its players."

"Liz is a quality student-athlete, but in this instance her actions clearly crossed the line of fair play and good sportsmanship," said Coach Kit Vela, who still left her in the game for the full 90. Vela then took the courageous and tough action of suspending Lambert for the year – after the season had ended with the Lobos’ 1-0 loss to BYU.

Then we learned that Coach Vela, who is paid to lead young student athletes, would also hide behind the paper of a press release. Mark Smith reported in the Journal that UNM sports information director Greg Remington said Vela was unavailable for further interviews. When asked why Vela didn't address Lambert's actions after the game - which was telecast on the Mtn. on Thursday - Remington said "I don't believe she was aware (of the incidents) … It was only when the video was brought to her attention (that she became aware of it)."

Hmm … I thought coaches were supposed to be watching the game they were coaching. If Vela had been doing so, she would have seen at least one of the five hard fouls committed by Lambert. Any one of them could have brought a red card.

The top Lobo, the athletic director, joined the rush to hide from the media.

"Liz's conduct on the field against BYU was completely inappropriate," said UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs. "There is no way to defend her actions."

Of course not. But that was all we heard from Mr. Krebs. The Albuquerque Journal reported on Nov. 7 that he refused to comment. Of course he did. A reporter can ask questions. A press release can’t be questioned. Besides, apparently Krebs was busy mishandling a scandal involving the school’s head football coach.

After watching the ESPN story (link above) and seeing the flagrant fouls, my thought was, “Where on earth were the referees?” Lambert was finally shown a yellow card late in the game. How one of the three officials could not have seen these fouls, most of which were in the midst of play (as opposed to off the ball).

The best coverage of the incident I read was from Randy Hollis of the Deseret News in Salt Lake city, excerpts of which are quoted below:

So who's the meanest, dirtiest, nastiest, cheap-shot-waitin'-to-happen athlete you ever saw? Former NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman, who once kicked a sideline cameraman, had a well-deserved reputation for committing all sorts of on-the-court (and occasionally off-the-court) crimes. His one-time Detroit Pistons partner in crime, Bill Laimbeer, was a renowned thug at times, too.
There have been some truly bad characters in the NFL, guys like Bill Romanowski, Conrad Dobler and Jack "The Assassin" Tatum, whose vicious hit paralyzed Patriots' receiver Darryl Stingley — a hit which Tatum never apologized for — and turned Stingley into a quadriplegic. Pro hockey has its share of tough-guy-wannabe goons like Marty McSorley and Todd Bertuzzi, who were each suspended for assaulting opposing players.
But this week, my vote goes to ... yes, you guessed it ... Elizabeth Lambert.
Who? You know, Lizzy "Tizzy" Lambert, that mean little University of New Mexico soccer player who put on such a distasteful display during the Lobos' loss to BYU in the Mountain West women's championship tournament a few days ago.
Lambert's overly aggressive antics have been all over the airwaves and watched by thousands on YouTube the last couple of days, and for good reason.
During the course of the game, Lambert yanked BYU's Kassidy Shumway down from behind by the hair, violently elbowed another BYU player in the back — in all fairness, that one was in retaliation for the Cougar player's own elbow contact moments earlier — and proceeded to kick, slap, shove, push, trip, tackle, punch and generally wreak havoc and commit all kinds of mayhem on her opponents throughout the game.
This is not to say that BYU's players were completely blameless in all this. After all, soccer is an intense sport in which there's plenty of physical contact, so players' emotions often come to the surface. But they have to know where to draw that line.
Lambert, though, crossed the line — by, oh, about a hundred miles or more — and did so repeatedly.
Amazingly, despite all her dirty deeds, all Lambert got for her efforts was a yellow card, which begs the question: What in the world were the officials watching during this fierce match? How did she get away with all this unnecessary roughness?