[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

I just caught up with this. At first, the impression is the referee ought to be fired but if you look carefully at the close-up video, there is this extra shove for whatever reason . . .

Attachment 667313

. . . and at that point, the deed is done, no matter how contrite Thomas was immediately after (he tried to grasp the ref's hand) and how shocked he was at being ejected.

Referees and umpires are sacrosanct as to their personal surroundings for a reason.

I disagree. When common sense isn't allowed to enter into the equation, we've all lost as a society. You are concluding while fighting for the ball w/Melo, he decided shoving the ref would resolve the situation. Instead of shoving Melo. That's as believable as Clemens claiming he thought Piazza's shattered bat was the ball.

IT was off balance and was looking to brace himself and instinctively reached out or something to do so and the ref happened to be there. There was no violence or ill intent towards anyone. That ref was just a donkey's behind.