[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Lets face it, whether one officiates at the amateur level or the professional level, sports officiating is a really a profession that we like to think is an avocation.

But in either case a sports official must conduct himself in a professional and ethical manner. Taking assignments that would normally go to officials who are being locked out or on strike is unprofessional and unethical. There is no rational that an official can use to justify taking the assignment.

The opportunity to be seen, the chance to make a huge game fee, or a once in a life time opportunity to officiate at a level that one would normally not officiate are just excuses for not acting in a professional and ethical manner. The are not reasons.

I do not officiate football and do not think whether the NFLRA contract requests are out of line. The point is professional and ethical conduct by all officials.

One either conducts himself according to his professions ethical and professional cannons of ethics or he does not. There is no middle ground.

As far as whether we should boycott games officiated by scabs (and that is just what they are): sure why not. It will be easy for me because I do not live that close to an NFL city, and I am sure that they are other sports and television that I will be able to watch instead of NFL games.

As far as the timer's husband. He was upset that I was instructing his wife in how to do her job. The best part was that when he attacked me, he did it from behind just as I was walking into the coaches office that doubled as our dressing room. I was able to roll to one side while he was still on top of me and grab the telephone receiver and whacked him on the nose. I did not break it but it did not look good, and I also broke his glasses. The whack with the telephone receiver got his attention and he broke off the attack. The worst part that the Monroe, Michigan, City Prosecutor, dropped the charges against him against my wishes because the husband "promised" to take an anger management class. He signed off on the agreement in such a manner that if the husband did not take the class he could not be recharged.