Best Of New Orleans Blog » Blog Archive » Reggie Bush: “Punt Retard”, Ed Hochuli and crew: Blind but courteous

Oct

Reggie Bush: “Punt Retard”, Ed Hochuli and crew: Blind but courteous

Posted by: Alejandro de los Rios in Blog Watch, Saints, Sports

Reggie Bush return

Photo by Jonathan Bachman

Oh boy, the hits just keep on coming from last night. It seems all of the sports world has been thrown into a tizzy after Reggie Bush’s record-setting performance last night against the Vikings. Deadspin had a great video of ESPN’s Robert Flores so excited pulled a Sarah Palin on air (video after the jump):

But there was other news beyond the fact that Reggie Bush is an apparent “Punt Retard” (can that please be his new nickname? Although “Punt Savant” would be more appropriate). After all, it was Ed Hochuli’s crew that officiated last night’s game and, unfortunately for them, they were unable to avoid yet another controversy. This time, it was in the form of a non-call on a blatant facemask penalty and a controversial ruling that Adrian Peterson did not fumble the ball in the third quarter. Of course, Saints fans were up in arms and decided to write Mr. Hochuli a letter. Here was the referee’s response:

from EDWARD HOCHULI
to Jonathan XXXXXXX
date Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 10:46 AM
subject RE: How did you miss these?

hide details 10:46 AM (1 hour ago)

You are certainly free to have your opinions, but if you were a knowledgeable fan, you would understand that there are 7 officials out there, and you would not attribute all errors to the Referee. The face mask, for example, is no where near anything I’m looking at or supposed to be looking at when it happened.

It’s popular right now to pile on Hochuli, because I blew the San Diego call. And there is certainly no requirement that anyone have any real knowledge of officiating in order to have an opinion. Fortunately, the NFL and my boss don’t agree with you. You are free to have your own opinions, and since you took the time to write me, I figured I owed you
the time to respond.

Referencing himself in the third person aside, it does seem like Hochuli is a stand-up guy — though it seems he is a bit annoyed that he’s been getting so much attention (maybe he should change his e-mail address?). The particular Saints fan, who goes by “Jonathan” (and is not our photographer, Jonathan Bachman) did have a reply to the reply:

While I appreciate the response, I don’t appreciate the implication that I am not a knowledgeable fan and I am aware of the fact that the line judge - on the video - went to pull his flag out and then didn’t once he saw the ball come out. Then there was a conference - which you were a part of - when I thought this issue would be brought to light.

And had that been the only blown call, perhaps my frustrations would more easily be assuaged. But, alas, it was not. It was one completely missed call on a night of uneven officiating, the most embarrassing of which was the inexplicable treatise you gave on overturning the ruling on the field of a Peterson fumble.

I admire the need you felt in responding to me - or your assistant, whichever the case may be (third person personal references?) - but if it’s merely going to be to defame my ‘fandom’ or knowledge of the game or insult me and my opinion, then you’re better off just not responding.

It was a horribly officiated game by a crew of which you are the head - the third of such a poorly officiated game this season.

Take care and I hope for future games and the league’s integrity you can return to your former glory as a respected NFL official and not what we’ve seen in those 3 games thus far this season.

Peace -
Jonathan

God, isn’t the internet fun?

Comments:

Hornet Henry on October 8th, 2008 at 2:29 pm #

I have to give Hochuli credit for his willingness to man up - which is not the same as Fan Up, it should be noted - and admit his mistakes. I’m also impressed that he responds to e-mails such as Jonathan’s. However, like you, I am baffled/troubled by Hochuli referencing himself in the third person.

Hornet Henry would never do something like that. You know what Hornet Henry WOULD do?…..

Hornet Henry would tell all of his buddies to call 504-525-HOOP or visit Hornets.com to buy 2008-09 Hornets season tickets. Hornet Henry would tell his pals to not delay in doing so, because Hornet Henry doesn’t want to see them feeling left out on what promises to be an incredible season of hoops in the Hive.

Personally, I think the Saints best served by forgetting about refereeing snafus and figure out a few ways they can integrate a certain 6-foot phenom from Wake Forest into their playbook. Can you say CP3TD?!!!!

Brittany on October 8th, 2008 at 2:57 pm #

You know, Hornet Henry, the Saints were close to calling on CP3 at the game, especially after recognizing him on the field with his gold medal. Props to the Saints game entertainment department for that one since the entire Hornets team was in attendance….it’s great to see the two major professional sports franchises in the city working together. It was definitely a disappointing loss in what felt like the longest football game in the history of the world, but we’ll get them next time. By the way, has anyone noticed that it’s basketball season?? Furthermore, has anyone noticed that we had more than 14K people at our first pre-season game and we’re close to reaching the 10,500 season ticket mark? Unbelievable!! Go Saints and Go Hornets!

mary on October 10th, 2008 at 4:45 pm #

Nice to feel so self important on the internet that you want to call people retards. Have you no shame? What’s it like in your exciting life? What do you do to make a difference. I can only imagine the answers to that. You just sit around and laugh at others. What’s it like to demean and offend without thinking about the consequences. Yuck.

Alejandro de los Rios on October 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm #

Mary,

I don’t usually do this, but you’ve raised some very serious questions that I feel I should address line by line.

-Have you no shame?

I think anyone who reads my work knows that … um, actually, I don’t think that’s something you can judge by a person’s work on the internet. Let’s just say “maybe” and move on.

-What’s it like in your exciting life?

Well, if you can’t tell, it’s a thrill a minute roller coaster of awesome. Saints players wearing Spongebob pajamas, ESPN anchors saying “punt retard”, hanging out with Chef Who Dat. It’s all very incredible.

-What do you do to make a difference.

Well, for one, I can correct your grammar. I do believe this was meant to be a question, not a statement. Therefore you’d punctuate with a question mark, not a period.

-What’s it like to demean and offend without thinking about the consequences.

Again with the bad grammar. No matter.

18th-century English Poet Thomas Gray wrote “Where ignorance is bliss/’Tis folly to be wise.” I think he was talking about the internet.

As for demeaning and offending, it’s not like I was calling Reggie Bush a “retard”. Rather, I was pointing out that Robert Flores misspoke in a rather unfortunate, but hilarious way. But I’m sure you caught that when you read the post. You did read it, didn’t you?

-Yuck.

Indeed.

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