[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

Just out of curiosity, why? The only purpose of the lanyard is to make things easier on the official. If he can officiate a good game and hold onto his whistle, what's the problem?

Chuck

I know that there are still some old geezers (and I am a bald old geezer myself) in the NBA that do not use a lanyard. When an official does not use a laynard his hand mechanics once he sounds his whistle just do not look clean and crisp. His first move is to always catch his whistle rather that make the required arm and hand motions that are required of him when he sounds his whistle. I am sorry, but a lanyardless official just does not look that good. I have a very good friend who is a very good official including the jr. coll., NAIA, and NCAA Div. III level, who does not use a lanyard, and I always offer him a lanyard whenever we officiate. He never accepts my offer and we have a good laugh over it because like me he is one of the old bald geezers still officiating out there.