[BillyMac]

When in Rome ...

Not exactly a forfeit, but ...

I showed up for a freshman game (4:00 p.m. start) last season, and got the last minute cancellation call from the athletic director as I was walking in the gymnasium door. My game was was supposed to be the first game of a triple header (freshman, junior varsity, varsity) but due to a late change in the Christmas Tournament schedule only the junior varsity game and the varsity game got officially cancelled, the freshman cancellation was overlooked. My partner, who lived a lot closer to the school, got his call at home and never made the trip.

Athletic director assured me that I would be paid for the cancelled game. The odd thing was that both freshman teams were in the gym, in uniform, warming up, with a scorekeeper and timekeeper in attendance, as well as several parents in the bleachers.

Freshman coach, who I knew, approached me and asked if I could please officiate a few periods of a scrimmage. I was there, so I figured why not, and told him I would do a few periods as long as both teams took the scrimmage seriously (no fooling around, no knuckleheads). I felt no pressure to work the scrimmage.

I got changed, worked a few periods, and was having so much fun that I stayed for all four periods.

The next day, my assigner got an email from the athletic director complimenting me, and our board.

I got to try out my one person mechanics, saw some enthusiastic basketball from some young players, got a nice $63.05 check (I didn't ask for a 1 1/2 fee), got some good will at two schools and with the coaching staffs, and made some points with my assigner.

And I still made it home in time for dinner.

As usual, check your local listings.