[JRutledge]

I will put it this way. I spoke to an assignor recently about working in his conference next year and a friend of mine suggested that we crew up with another official in this conference. BTW, all three officials would be Black. The first comment that the assignor made was, "Three Black officials going to all white schools?" Now he was mostly kidding and we will work in his conference next year as a crew according to him. But the fact that the statement was made suggests to me that race can be a factor and many times a big factor in where people might get picked up or not picked up.

I have also never worked with a female official on a HS game Boy's varsity game outside of the Chicago Public League Assignors. I do not think that is because there are not women capable, there are people not allowing them to work those levels. You ever wonder why the only women to work the NCAA Men's Tournament came from a traditionally Black Conference (SWAC). The gatekeepers to opportunity are not sharing the wealth.

Peace