[tballump]

Every athletic official has or had the chance to become an NBA or any other professional sports official. There is a proper way for an amateur to get the chance to call an NBA game or any other type professional game. If for some reason a crew does not make it to the game, there are amateur backup officials on call in case of emergency. Get on that list. Otherwise, do the same things the current professional officials did to become a professional official.

All officials, both amateur and professional are thought of as just another expense of doing business. They think that any John Doe off the street can call a game, and should do it for free, and should be thankful just for being given the privilege of calling that amateur or professional game and walking on the court, field, etc. with all the players, coaches, and front office in front of all those fans. They think the honor of hobnobbing and rubbing shoulders with the professional/amateur game is enough pay in itself.

Any of the amateurs who cross the line to work these games, just belittles officials everywhere, both amateur and professional who say that anyone can do that job. Let them try. Let the NBA go grab people off the street to work these games since they feel anyone can do the job. Let the NBA work out a new contract with their own officials, and let the amateurs continue to work and do the exceptional job they do in their leagues, at their level of expertise. Anyone crossing the line is just making an excuse to do so and once again bringing all officials at all levels down.