The key point in the rules. I wonder how he saw that as intentional.

“When a defined body part is used to strike an opponent
but the contact is not severe or excessive, a judgment shall be made by the
official as to whether the contact is intentional.”

Art. 7. When during the course of play, an individual strikes an opponent
with the hand, elbow, arm, foot, knee or leg in a non-confrontational manner
but the act is excessive or severe, it shall be ruled as a flagrant foul and not
a fighting action. When a defined body part is used to strike an opponent
but the contact is not severe or excessive, a judgment shall be made by the
official as to whether the contact is intentional.

The actions of Mr. Harris were clearly not intended to injure, and an ejection was not warranted. The crew will be prohibited from officiating any games during the 2009 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my comment. The error that I am reporting is the mistake that is Big Ten officiating. They would do well to review the definition of ‘flagrant.’ While I expect most officials to be well-versed in nuances of the English language, particularly as some of the nuances relate to the officiating of basketball, it is clear that your officiating crews are not.

Please allow me the chance to write that I feel very badly for Kramer, who clearly was hit very hard. But I also feel I must advocate for Manny Harris, who clearly was not malicious in his intent.

I have never been one to complain about officiating; yea, this is the first time I have written on my team’s behalf. But the magnitude of this missed call cannot be ignored: verily, that call put what was otherwise a close game out of the reach of the visiting team. I have never seen an honest competitor removed from the game in such dastardly fashion.

Please do all in your power to correct the error. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Greg Simms

My feeling is that the network is complicit by not showing it because a reasoned replay would clearly indicate that the ejection was wrong. Conspiracy.