[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

We can have a pi$$ing match about this all day if you want. You and several others don't care for them...I and several other officials do.

I like them, I think they're decent and professional looking, and add a little class, maybe even a bit of pride, respect, or authority to the uniform as a whole. Something that is seriously missing in society when you see all of the flack and incidents that are happening between refs/umps and fans, players and such.

Obviously, you don't get why me or any of my crew want to wear them either. It's not about how much work it is to have your wife, sister, mom, or sporting goods store put a patch on your shirt(s). Getting a patch sewn on, temp glued, or velcroed on by yourself takes about as much energy as it does to get out of bed....or to get into position or out of the way when a play is coming right at you, for that matter.

I came here looking for in-depth insight to various areas of officiating certain sports, to share some things that I've seen over 15 years of officiating, and to bounce questions off of some others that have worked their sports long enough to give a concise, common, and correct answer to anything I may have an interest in and to see what others have witnessed over the course of their careers. A good portion of you guys seem like you're out for an argument rather than trying to point someone in the right direction. Maybe some of you should be coaching or in the stands instead, where you apparently see it all.

You made a statement that people here have the right to disagree with. And it is completely in the right for people to question you one why you feel that way. If that is a problem, then a discussion board is not going to be for you, because that is what we do here is debate several issues and that does include what we put on our uniforms. I personally wear a flag on my uniform and it is optional. Just about everyone does it where I live, because when 9-11 took place, it was obvious football season. Those around here, starting wearing flags on our jersey (which there was not standard policy if I remember correctly before that time) around that time and did not wear them before that incident. We have done it ever since, but I do not know if it is useful or appropriate. And that is why on every other sport I work. I do not wear a flag at all. I will do it only because the crew and most crews do it in football. But if someone does not put one on their jersey, it is no skin off my back. It was a legitimate question to ask you why you feel that way and you still have not answered the question. I think wearing a flag does not make you more patriotic or is something that needs to be displayed on a uniform of non-governmental people like officials are in their role during games. We are independent contactors and only working because our states allow us to work. Flags to me are not necessary for our jobs. And when you say they should be mandatory, people want to know why considering that even the government suggest that the proper display of flags are not to go on uniforms.

Peace