100% understand your frustration with inconsistency and there's legit reasoning behind, to why you hear this a lot. Myself, have been right where you stand: use to get frustrated, sometimes angry, and could not understand how refs or NHL situational room could get things so wrong at times. Now I'm feeling like Ghoul from Fallout TV show, when Ghoul answered Lucy's question of...... "What are you?" Then Ghoul replies.... "
Oh, I'm you, sweety, just give it a little time". Well..... minus the "sweety" part that is. Myself, also believe rule(s) should be same across-the-board, and calls done in a way, that tries it's best to be consistent. A standard that everyone knows from get-go!!!! But that's not reality, especially today'$ sports environment.
There's more than one legit possibility, to why rules aren't consistently called same. These legit reasons that will be listed below, might have answers your searching for. Hope so, but some of them will have answers that have humans not being perfect little beings. Is there even a reality within real life, where humans use/administer rules consistently the same for everyone? Not 100% sure, but don't think that exist: If that doesn't exist anywhere in reality, what would make Hockey so special to be immune to those human flaws?
Possible legit reasons for inconsistent calls across many sports
- Human error is legit at times, each sport can have unique challenges here.
- Hockey refs have to skate while trying to keep an eye on things.
- This can cause some calls to get missed: refs only see retaliations, angles changing their view, miss it completely looking elsewhere, etc. Much kudos to refs for skating this well at same time, it's very impressive work!!!!
- Modern Sports is a business 1st, and that business model rules-the-day. NHL and other leagues will game/series manage what sells, bring in most money, extend series for ratuings/Stadium draw, bring ehat entices more eyeballs, grabs most attention, causes most clicks, and promote stuff that check all the right boxes.
- Extending series for Rating/revenue, helping certain teams/stars get through, there's more business incentives 1st within my quote you sued , that goes much of this. Anyone can go read it.. By the way, thanks for actually reading my long post, not many will give effort past so many words. Some are here just to troll or don't have time in life to read long post. I enjoy reading informative, funny, great X's & O's. etc.
- Then there's the gambling issue changing outcomes! With as much money on-the-line within gambling world, this is an issue also. Especially when any entity leaves weakened spots in their protective armor. Refs getting paid crumbs compared to others, players witnessing others players making much more, and other weak spots open up the real possibility of compromise. Nah, Dodgers pitchers just have bad luck, and terrible judgement in who they trust, before making HUGE contracts becomes their reality. Money never would cause fingers-on-scales..... One just has to laugh at it all, to tel ya the truth....
- Suppose sports could use AI, robots, advanced camera's, better camera angles, and other technology to help with calls. But then it's "Who" programs all that? Human algorithms also have possibility of fingers-on-scales. We don't get to see how sausage is made right now within NHL situational rooms. So how will fans know if same algorithms are every used each game? When decisions are made in the dark? That one new football league deserve kudos for letting fans inside that reviewing "The Call" process
- There's more legit reasons to list but these major ones will do.
Many sports fans will not like these postings, and probably will most likely hit ignore. I'll be creeping back into lurk mode here soon, so no biggy. The thought of ..."Real possibility" sport$ is tainted at times, is to much. But that's not shocking, it's expected
(I'd find it more odd, and against human nature, if this wasn't met with resistance). Different truth/realities receive harsh welcomes inside Plato's Cave more than not. No matter who's truth or perception is right or wrong. Some would rather see their known world, as it's been shown to them their whole life. Rather than accept possibility what's been known or experienced, might not be so. Then there;s the fans who witnessed enough to open possibility of sport$ world game/managing to get certain desired outcomes.
Still enjoy sports a bunch! I've been very fortunate to watch favorite teams have insane success. More successes than any fan could ever ask for!!! Maybe that's helped take emotion out of it all, have clearer mind, allowed me to step back, and see sports differently. Who knows, but seeing differently. Still love sports story lines, historical moments, have butterflies before games, and go crazy when favorite team goes off. But at same time: realize room I'm standing in and refuse to put head-in-sand to possibilities. Plus, it's awesome when any player/team is facing #1 BS, that seems to exist, and takes names while overcoming it!! Fans do this all-the-time even without being fan of team they're watching: fans in that type of game might find themselves pulling for team, after witnessing they're getting shafted by refs/league. See ya, and enjoy NHL playoffs, they're the best!