For seven years in Northern Virginia, I had some bad officials. The one I spoke about was in NY, but in Virginia there were a few that had it. And some got weeded out while others didn't. There was one official that always seemed to have Regional games that no coach that I talked to gave a favorable grade to.

The problem that I have seen (and benefitted from personally) is that associations are always complaining they don't have enough officials. Well stop complaining and do something. Each night there is a game, you have players and parents who obviously have a pretty good idea of the game, put posters up at schools to recruit. Then you'll run into the problem of too many and the good ones will rise to the top.

It's true, one bad official can spoil the rest and most fans don't spot that. I do and expose it as a fan. I've had Major League umpires give me the finger during games, I've had NCAA officials give me the cut it out sign. As a Minor League P. A. announcer, I've even been warned about the music but do it to the point that I can't be run and if I am, I have a great "back-up". A lot of umpires that hated me as an announcer, respected me because I am an umpire and listened to complaints and question. Those are the ones that we need more of and associations need to urge that "friendly official".