Quote:
Originally Posted by BillyMac
Whether it's a once in a million "odd" call, or a once in a season "big" call, observing a colleague, of any experience level, making a right call, or a wrong call (mistake), will leave a lasting impression.
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Decades ago, I was observing one of our best officials (several state finals), also one of our best trainers, officiating a state tournament quarterfinal game. I was barely a full varsity official. He administers a sideline throwin, the inbound pass went across the basket line, across the court, untouched, but bouncing inbounds on the court before bouncing out of bounds. He allows his partner to administer the throwin to the non-inbounding team, but not at original spot, but across the court, actually pointing to the spot, and the direction, to his partner (who acquiesced to his much more senior and experienced partner).
After the game, I was invited into the locker room for the post game discussion and he asked me, "So, what did you see?". I asked if the cross court out of bounds on the inbound pass had touched a player on the court (expecting him to answer in the affirmative). He replied, "No, but it touched the court inbounds, and ... Wait a minute? I blew that call didn't I?".
Made a lasting impression on me, for many reasons. He invited me (barely a full varsity official) into the locker room for a both the halftime and post game discussion in a "big" game. He asked my (inexperienced) opinion about how the game went. He owned up to his mistake, a mistake that I will never knowingly make because of his mistake. Thanks Tony. Rest in peace.