[Jerry Baldwin]

I see two issues here. One of safety and one of not stopping the game to prevent an accident. Shucks, we just started wearing BB shoes last year in Arkansas. Jay must have talented players. Most JV games or JHS games, the kids cannot dribble and chew gum at the same time.

I have seen, not often, a kid step on his own shoe lace and take a spill. I will try to prevent that, if I can. I have shut down a game when a player was obviously hurt even if the other team was driving for the basket, not often. My expainination to the coach was "would you want me to stop the game if that was your player hurt"?

Recently on a rebound two players from the same team came together, result a big cut under one eye. Because I stop the came immediately and got a towel, there were only a few drops of blood to deal with and the coach got a compress on the cut. Game delayed some but so what, I am not paid by the hour. Player safety is always on my mind. If that was my daughter playing a non contact sport like BB, I would hope to have officials on the floor that care about safety. And yes I think an untied shoe lace could be a hazzard.

Sorry thems my views and I'm sticking to'm.