Viola:  No more ping-pong timeouts

November 8th, 2002

ROSEVILLE, MINN. -- In what will probably be referred to as the Jacob Flaherty Amendment, Frank Viola has ruled against timeouts in the middle of a ping-pong match.

"Just because you find yourself losing 10 or 12 straight points, we can't be holding up the tournament with those," Viola said.  "I wasn't there, but I heard that this tactic caused the ping-pong tournament to end at 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning rather than 2:15 a.m., when it should have ended."

Viola is referring to a timeout Flaherty took in the midst of a grueling third game of his Tournament I elimination match.  Flaherty lost a string of points falling behind 17-7 at one point and retreated to the restroom in an effort to regroup.

There was much debate in the broadcast of the elimination game.  Viola, listening live at his Florida home, decided this was uncalled for and released a statement to FVWBL President and Chief of Staff, Judd Berthiaume.

"Mr. Viola was not pleased," stated Berthiaume.  "He said these kinds of tactics won't be tolerated in FVWBL Wiffle Ball or off-season events."

Flaherty was unavailable for comment.