[SeanFitzRef]

LB,

I hope you understand that you struck a nerve here, and it was responded to with very raw attitude.

A lot of us here also played the game, coached the game, or both (in my case). Once I became an official, I realized that I knew so little about this game. For you to come here and say that we act as if referees are beyond reproach is totally crazy. You might as well become a fireman and run through a building in gasoline underwear!

We are the only ones on the court are openly criticized, ridiculed, and lambasted at every whistle. If your team is winning, do you give the referees credit for helping out? NO!!! If the other team totally outplays your team, do you give them credit? NO!!! It was all the refs fault. We put our selves in the position to be blasted as soon as we walk on the court, because 'fans' think they know everything about the game; 'coaches' feel that if they taught their player how to do something, it must be right; and 'announcers' feel that because they watch a lot of basketball, they know all aspects of the game.

Not at all the case. What would happen if a referee ran over to a coach during a timeout and blasted him for a dumb coaching move?? Or if a ref jumped all over a player for missing a wide open layup, or blowing a defensive assignment?? The world would cease to spin, because that isn't what we do. Yet we are arrogant for defending ourselves in our domain?

Get real, learn the rules of the game, then get back to me LB.