TOM KNOTT – One-eyed official’s suit raises unsettling questions – The Wash. Times
When I saw this column about a half-blind former Big11Ten football official suing the conference for violating the National Disabilities Act, I was shocked. I always assumed that the Big11Ten required their officials to have impaired vision. It sure has seemed that way to Nittany Lions fans like me over the last few years.

Not surprisingly, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was the one who complained. Perhaps instead of complaining about the officials he should figure out why his program has only one national championship, a split one at that, in the last 50 years. Even Joe Paterno learned to shut up and take the officials (other than the clock operator) out of the outcome by having a better team. I do not think that Carr will be happy until every official is a Michigan alum like Dick Honig. I think I want the official to keep his job just to annoy Carr.

It will be interesting to see how the case goes. My expectation is that there will be an out of court settlement for undisclosed terms and a vision test added to the Big11Ten screening process.

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Tangentially related to this post: Willie O’Ree, the NHL’s first black player could only see out of one eye.