Quote:
Originally posted by 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.
Taking assignments that would normally go to officials who are being locked out or on strike is unprofessional and unethical. There is no rational[e] that an official can use to justify taking the assignment.
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No offense, Mark, but at least two out of three of the above statements are outright false. I think you're allowing emotion to tinge your judgment.
First, sports officiating in general is not a profession. There are plenty of parents, teenagers, and even coaches who officiate all sorts of games for no fee. They do it simply b/c either: a) they weren't smart enough to say "Oh, I can't make it that day"; or b) there is literally no one else to do it.
Even for many of us who frequent this board, officiating is not a profession. We may aspire to that level, but we're not there yet. Yes, we get paid and we are expected to act professionally, but we're not truly professionals, any more than a man who holds the stick in an airplane for 5 minutes is a pilot.
Second, what exactly is unethical about performing a service that someone else is unwilling to do? The fact that the service is normally done by a guy in a union doesn't seem to me to make it unethical. This is arguable, I guess; I can't make the case that you are clearly wrong about it and I'm willing to hear a logical argument for your position. But on first blush, there doesn't seem to be any moral reason to avoid performing the service. I think if you hadn't spent so much time personally involved in union matters, this might not seem as big a big deal to you.
Third, of course there are plenty of rationales for an official to use in giving a reason for taking one of those unfilled NFL positions. You might not like any of them. But there are millions of reasons. And I'm not talking about "My pet rabbit Harvey told me to", either. You and I don't get to decide what's a valid reason for a third party, simply b/c there's a union job at stake.
You may be right that football officials should stick together. But not b/c of the statements above.
Very respectfully,
Chuck