[refnrev]

I need to brag on myself for a moment, so any of you that want to chew on me line up and have at it! Tonight I did two games that made me stop and reflect upon how far I have come since starting out many moons ago. Great competitive games in a virtual blender all night long. I watched my less experienced partner, with whom I have worked several times this year and who is a great guy did a great job in the regular season, and discovered tonight that he was in a little over his head. He had a real quick whistle that got quicker as the fans and coaches rattled him. He wasn't convincing in selling his calls, and had his "rabbit ears" up and talked too much to the fans and coaches. I realized tonight how experience has taught me not to get rattled, to stay relaxed and focused, to keep my rabbit ears down, to be patient with the whistle and see how the advantage plays out (love that soccer lingo) and to be dispassionate and professional. I don't mean to brag,(actually I can't lie. I do mean to brag -- which isn't like me) but I realized tonight that I've gotten good at this and I called a very good set of games -- and have done so all season long (except for the first game back from Christmas break and that I swear was due from being on the steroid pack for a pinched nerve in my neck). Sometimes watching others can teach you so much. Sometimes it can also help you to see that you often know more and do a better job night in and night out than you give yourself credit for. OK, no more patting myself on the back!