[JRutledge]

Windy,

You keep trying to insult me at every turn. It is your right to do so if you feel necessary. It just makes you look petty and silly.

First of all this discussion started in a baseball context. You then dragged other sports and the NCAA Basketball example (out of bounds play) and said that "overruling was allowed because you saw it on TV." JR came into the discussion and showed you the rules that contradicted your point of view. A couple of other people that work basketball took issue with your point of view as well. Then you brought up the Big Ten experimental rule that will be used this year. But all this is not really the issue.

I asked this question on the basketball and football boards because it appeared that you were afraid to. Instead of asking people that work those sports, you resorted to further insults of the people that you constantly call names. I know what my position is and many in my area think, I thought it would be appropriate to ask the board. This is not the first time I have asked based on discussions with other officials and it will not be the last. I asked this board a question based on a situation that took place in a scrimmage and asked my football association the very same question yesterday night at our last preseason meeting. We had a very spirited discussion and many different points of views based on the stated rules and common practices. No one called anyone names or tried to insult their fellow official.

It is clear that in both basketball and football boards that most do not agree that you can overrule a fellow official. Of course there are people that think you can and I completely respect their opinion. Other than your posts it has been a very interesting discussion. I do not even see why this is an issue that brings out the worst in you? It is just a discussion about a philosophy and not everyone has to stick to that practice. If you think people are on the other side of that philosophy, do not work with them. I have a lot of say on who works on my football crew and if someone is doing something outside of our "crew philosophy" we have the right to not work with them. In the past few years we got rid of two individuals because they did not fly with your "crew concepts." In basketball I can hire who I want to when it comes to some basketball games, and I do not hire officials that do not fit my basic philosophies or do not fit my standards. It is not wrapped up in one point of view or on aspect of officiating.

As I have said before, I have no problem with your presence here. You can post anytime you like as far as I am concerned. When I started this post I did not use your name or your identity to get a point across. I just think it is sad you cannot have a discussion without name calling or trying to take bits and pieces of the conversation and call more names. This conversation was not just about one or two people. It was not on organization or one level against another. I asked this question to measure the points of view on this topic and to see why people feel the way they do on both sides of the topic. I have achieved everything and more in my short career. I will continue to achieve more as I go along, God willing. And along the way there have always been detractors and critics. So if you feel I am not qualified, so what. I asked the question to see what others think and that is what I accomplished. It is time to let it go and move on. Just do not tell us you know more than guys that have worked the sports in question. That is why you were heavily criticized on the basketball board and it seems that is taking place here.

LET IT GO!!!

Peace