Got in, got out and no one noticed!
The day went better than I could've imagined especially when you factor in that I was awake all night. The first hurdle was getting into the building but all nightmares ending with "Sir, your name isn't on the list" didn't come true. Walking to the dressing room there was a bit of an out-of-body experience. I started thinking, "This is really me heading to the officials' dressing room in MSG. That's pretty cool!" The hardest part before the game was waiting in the dressing room for the countdown clock to start. That's when panic #2 hit me: "OMG, I'm about to forget everything I've ever known about basketball." Then I relaxed myself with the thought, "It's the same game, just in a bigger gym."
My partners had worked stuff like this before (one had been in the state playoffs and both had worked city AA semis, which are held at St. John's). Our R had a great pre-game, especially concerning keeping the coaches in their boxes. We spent the game moving them back but didn't have to get tough since they were coaching as opposed to bothering us. I was the first one to move someone back (Lincoln's coach) since he was standing at midcourt yelling instructions. As I walk him back he says, "But I can't talk that loud! They won't hear me!" which made the scorers' table crack up and relaxed me even more.
The game was uneventful, thank goodness, as you can tell by the newspaper report. I won't have to post anything about myself on YouTube. The kids played and we just called the game. Our assignor came in afterwards and told us we did a great job and that, unlike last year, there's no way the losing team was going to do the, "We lost because of the officials" rant. The most challenging part of the game? Dealing with the Jefferson cheerleaders! They didn't want to stay behind the line they have for them, with one girl saying to me, "I can't cheer from back there! How do you expect me to cheer from back there when I have no room?!" Really, sweetheart?
The most draining part of the day was the complete focus. None of us wants to screw up but the intensity of that game in that environment keeps your brain on alert for the entire, in this case, hour and 45 minutes. The game itself isn't an issue. I've worked games with kids like this before. Add in the environment and what's at stake for the players and after today I truly understand what D1 officials tell us at camps when they say if you're doing your job the way you ought to you should be more mentally than physically tired when the game is done.
Awkward moment of the day? Giving the wrong number of a Jefferson player who committed a foul. I knew who the call was against but just misread the number. I got it corrected about five seconds after the Jefferson coaches started complaining.
Awkward moment of the day, Part II? The officials' dressing area is split into two lounges by a door. The female officials from the girls' game were on the other side doing a post mortem when their assignor comes in, the woman who also assigns me for GV...who, after giving me a pretty good and full schedule, gave me
one playoff game this season. (edited)
The most satisfying part of the day? Falling into bed this afternoon
The most satisfying part of the day, Part II? I wrote this in an e-mail to the assignors who put me on the game, thanking them for having faith in me: I may never be lucky enough to do this again but at least I know I can. That's worth everything.