[JRutledge]

I think if you look way back when, this discussion on my part had to do with taking tests and proving rules knowledge through test taking. And getting a 95 as compared to a 85 does not prove that someone is better at the rules because they got a certain score on a silly test. Not everyone are good test takers and those tests are most of the time do not tell the entire story. They worry more about semantic statements and confusing wording to rather than testing the application of the rules we apply. Rules knowledge is extremely important, but not the only way or even the main way we are judged as officials. Considering that you Z are questioning the professionalism of an official with a ponytail and whether he should be hired at the upper level based on that fact and that fact alone. It is the same thing we are judged on and what keeps us from having a smooth game. Or at least we can be judged by our appearance in ways that it affects the way our job was performed by others. In this case the way an official wears his hair can affect what games an official does despite how knowlegable that official might be in the rules department. So rules might be an officials best asset, but the might not ever prove it because of the way they look.

Peace