December 1999. I was coaching girls athletics (Basketball and Track) at the High School in a small central Texas town. Another coach (JV Boys BB) came in and said, "hey the officials did not show up for the JH boys game at the JH and they need us to go officiate the 2 games." Off we went in our coaching shorts and t-shirts with our "thunderer" whistles. I was beyond horrible . . . in fact,
horrible was in the stands and kept yelling, "YOU SUCK!"
I called that one time that year, didn't call again until the next season, but I was hooked. That was 10 years and about 2200 games ago.
Can't imagine not doing it now. It becomes a part of you . . .