Thu Jan 19, 2006, 11:13am
|
|
Official Forum Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lawton, OK
Posts: 505
|
|
Quote:
Originally posted by Back In The Saddle
Quote:
Originally posted by TravelinMan
Quote:
Originally posted by Back In The Saddle
Quote:
Originally posted by TravelinMan
Quote:
Originally posted by Back In The Saddle
Quote:
Originally posted by TravelinMan
I would not report him. Partners don't do that. He will hang himself if he continues his foolish, immature ways.
|
Bull****! A partner that engages in such unprofessional conduct brings dishonor and disrepute on me as his partner and the official's association that assigned us. His actions may well get me scratched from that school. His actions may cause my association to lose that school. In short, he's willfully causing me problems and potentially costing me money. He's made life more difficult for the next set of officials. He's degraded my passionate avocation. He's adding to the problems that we as officials all face from coaches, players and fans. You can bet your a$$ that my assigner is going to hear about it from me FIRST. And if I didn't, my assigner is going to have my head for letting him get blindsided when the coach or AD calls, and they will. They'll probably send video too. That's gonna cost me credibility and probably games from that assigner.
|
Whoa, BACK OFF. You are coming on way too strong with me. UNDERSTAND? Like I said he will hang himself. That is ALL I said.
|
No, what you said was that "Partners don't do that." Maybe in your neck of the woods you and the rest of the good old boys adhere to some strict code of honor among thieves. But where I come from, officials are required to behave in a professional manner and that means policing ourselves. Saying that "Partners don't do that," is just a weak excuse for not taking care of business. UNDERSTAND?
|
Actually, any code of honor comes from my time in the service. I'm certainly not a "good ol boy". Most of my life was spent in New York and I don't know too many good ol boys with MBAs from Boston College. As I said, you need to watch your tone of voice when you speak to me. UNDERSTAND?
|
Yes, I suppose I have spoken a bit harshly. I'm sorry if my tone offended you. Let me restate my position in a kinder, gentler tone.
I find the suggestion that an official should simply turn a blind eye to his or her partner's obscene gesture to the home crowd during a game on the basis that "Partners don't do that" to be refreshingly collegial. I had never thought of the role of a partner in terms of condoning one's bad behavior with silence. When viewed from that point of view, who better than a partner to help bury bodies? I mean really, what's a little obscene gesture now and then? Really? Is it all that bad? If it is, somebody else will take care of it, right? And all the bad will that this partner might create in the process of hanging himself, well, that's a pretty small price to pay in comparison to maintaining that esprit de corps that's so important among partners.
When taken to it's logical conclusion, this is the kind of "partnering" that's worthy of really admirable people like crooked politicians and morally bankrupt business executives. Who knows, Andy Fastow and Kenneth Lay might have made great basketball officials. Just keep a close eye on the association's retirement fund.
Not all "good ol boys" live in the sticks and drive rusty pick-ups.
|
BITS, now I will listen and try to answer your well thought out arguments for reporting this immature partner. I am not suggesting to turn a blind eye to your partner's behavior nor condoning his behavior through silence. I am suggesting a more direct approach - speaking to him directly about it. It may very well be that you end up telling him you are going to have to report this incident. But at least tell him to his face, not behind his back. Yes, I am loyal to a fault, and if this hurts me, so be it. I will not change. Peace.
|