WOW...I guess, it is a geographical thing...because in all my years as an African American male, I have never been told that I have the look. I have also attended Div. I college level clinics, and I have never been told that I have the look. I am 6'1" 185 lbs. with less than 10% body fat. I can see your point at what the clinicians are saying. I am not here to defend that, because in my mind that is an indefensible argument, but I will say that I, as well as many other officials I have known, have been denied opportunities, which on the surface seem to be racially motivated. Additionally, JRut makes a goood point about the military. I have had the plesure of working in a # of associations, and I have never felt like I was welcomed with open arms by the senior officials in the association, simply because I was in the military. I can only assume that see me as an interloper trying to horn in on their prime time games. While, I have only one agenda, to get better and bring credit to the science of officiating. I enjoy it immensely, and my love and passion for the game is what keeps me going despite those obstacles.
|