Years ago, a buddy of mine who is a referee asked me if I would work with him at a "charity" game. The Portland Trailblazers had an alumni team (retired players) that would play against amateur teams to benefit non-profits. My buddy was a teacher at the local HS and they were having a game to raise money for the school athletic fund. Of course, our time was donated. I told him I would and brought along my oldest grandson, who was 11 at the time, to "shadow" me out on the court. I gave him a shirt and a whistle.
Understand these games are called in much the same manner as a Globetrotter game. The purpose of the game is just to entertain the fans and for everyone to have a good time. The Blazer alumni were playing a team of gym teachers and a few other teachers from the HS. Obviously it wasn't a "real" game and the Blazers made it a lot of fun. Sometimes they would steal the ball and then just hand it back to the other player and give a big bow. A few times they pretended to be confused and scored into the wrong basket, etc.
My grandson had a blast. He "mirrored" my calls. The players on both teams got a big kick out of having him out there. I knew a few of the Blazer players and during a timeout, I had my grandson go over to their huddle and give a T to Michael Harper, who I knew. Everyone in the gym just cracked up.
No doubt about it, it was the most fun I ever had as an official. Oh yeah - they raised about $3000.
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Yom HaShoah
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