Big Heads

I know this may spark something because it has with a select few officials I have brought this up with, however the majority of officials I work with agree with me.

First off, I'm a P. A. announcer who is also an official (I'm a refs worst nightmare, I know what I can get away with).

Second, what is up with the big-headedness and the "I'm too good for this" attitude I've seen from some officials. This is at all levels of basketball. I once announced a high school girls JV tournament game where one official made all the calls and his partner did not want to be there. The problem was, this official couldn't get a travelling call right. You must move your feet for there to be a travel (which is another post altogether) or did they invoke a new rule and not tell Dickie V about it? He's the only one that communicates new basketball rules.

Anyway, back to the situation at hand. The official threw out four fans and a scorer. As the PA announcer and tournament official, I was in my rights to inform him that he cannot eject the fans for what they say. He also informed me that there was to be silence from the fans for the rest of the game. I told him I was embarassed to call myself a member of his association and if he wanted it, he'd have to tell the fans himself. He threatened me with a technical, except I was not affiliate with any of the teams in the tournament, but with the facility. My question here is, who shoots the ball?

But after this tournament, the home team at the facility in which I worked, didn't get officiating like that but the referee was assigned several high profile games. Is there really a grading system out there? If so, then why not get fans to rate officials and not other officials. I talk to coaches, players, fans and administrators after games I do and what do I get? Helpful information. I've had fans curse at me, but when I ask them for help and they give it to me, I don't get yelled at later on and the fans don't get as riled toward the officials. I walk on the court and I'm a calming influence. Why can't all officials do this and get over the "I'm God" personality.

Thank you for your time.

[Damian]

First try to imagine that its possible that this person was having a bad night. On other circumstances, he may call great games.

I have been at volleyball games where the ref throws out fans. I know that the AD is supposed to do that. So, once she did, she had hell the rest of the night from the rest of the fans.

I know refs that really get in the CONTROL mode and think they have to dictate every little aspect of the game and think everyone else is there for them. But, apparently some people like this because as you say, they get good games for the schedulers and administrators. I cannot understand how this happens other than coaches being polite and not complaining and team officials don't want to talk bad about their associates.

Eventually, enough people scratch these people and either don't want them at their games, or fellow refs don't want to call with them. So, be patient. It all works out.

For seven years in Northern Virginia, I had some bad officials. The one I spoke about was in NY, but in Virginia there were a few that had it. And some got weeded out while others didn't. There was one official that always seemed to have Regional games that no coach that I talked to gave a favorable grade to.

The problem that I have seen (and benefitted from personally) is that associations are always complaining they don't have enough officials. Well stop complaining and do something. Each night there is a game, you have players and parents who obviously have a pretty good idea of the game, put posters up at schools to recruit. Then you'll run into the problem of too many and the good ones will rise to the top.

It's true, one bad official can spoil the rest and most fans don't spot that. I do and expose it as a fan. I've had Major League umpires give me the finger during games, I've had NCAA officials give me the cut it out sign. As a Minor League P. A. announcer, I've even been warned about the music but do it to the point that I can't be run and if I am, I have a great "back-up". A lot of umpires that hated me as an announcer, respected me because I am an umpire and listened to complaints and question. Those are the ones that we need more of and associations need to urge that "friendly official".

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by sportsannouncing
First off, I'm a P. A. announcer who is also an official (I'm a refs worst nightmare, I know what I can get away with).

Anyway, back to the situation at hand. The official threw out four fans and a scorer. As the PA announcer and tournament official, I was in my rights to inform him that he cannot eject the fans for what they say.

If so, then why not get fans to rate officials and not other officials.

Why can't all officials do this and get over the "I'm God" personality.

Oh, puleez...

[canuckrefguy]

Originally posted by sportsannouncing
It's true, one bad official can spoil the rest and most fans don't spot that. I do and expose it as a fan. I've had Major League umpires give me the finger during games, I've had NCAA officials give me the cut it out sign. As a Minor League P. A. announcer, I've even been warned about the music but do it to the point that I can't be run and if I am, I have a great "back-up".

Sounds to me like there's more than one "big head" at work here. Dial down the arrogance, the one-upmanship, and the finger pointing, and maybe your situations will improve.

Sorry to sound defensive, but it can't be all the officials' fault, here.

[JRutledge]

I am with Juulie on this one. First off, I really do not know what ego has to do with any of this. Maybe he is not that good, but we are talking about the side of an individual that was not officiating, but announcing. I might take this post half seriously if we had his side.

If you were that good of an official, why are you announcing the game. Hell, I can do that.

Peace

[canuckrefguy]

WHAT HE SAID

[Tim Roden]

The official does have a right to throw out the scorekeeper and the timer since he is the one according to the rule book that appoints those people to start the game. They are part of the crew. The fans should be delt with by game management. If the official wants them tossed then game management is to escort them from the building. I have seen it done and the game manager mumbled about it the whole night. You cannot keep the fans quiet. They paid their two bucks there entitled to their two buck opinion. Fans evaluating officials? ha!!!! For the most part they don't know a good one from a bad one since they have never been on the floor and don't know what it takes. They can rate an official on appearance, decisivness and presence. There are a lot of intangibles that a fan cannot evaluate an official. Most fans don't know what a legal guarding position is and don't watch the defense so they have no idea of that was a block or a charge that just happened. They can judge on whether a call was made and how sure the official was on the call.

When I am on the floor I am god. I am the judge as to how legal the actions are of all who participate. That is why I get paid the big bucks to where zebra stripes. However, my goal is to be like God and be fair and let justice prevail.

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by Tim Roden
When I am on the floor I am god. I am the judge as to how legal the actions are of all who participate. That is why I get paid the big bucks to where zebra stripes. However, my goal is to be like God and be fair and let justice prevail.

Tim -- great thought!!

[rockyroad]

Originally posted by sportsannouncing

The problem that I have seen (and benefitted from personally) is that associations are always complaining they don't have enough officials. Well stop complaining and do something. Each night there is a game, you have players and parents who obviously have a pretty good idea of the game, put posters up at schools to recruit. Then you'll run into the problem of too many and the good ones will rise to the top.

It's true, one bad official can spoil the rest and most fans don't spot that. I do and expose it as a fan. I've had Major League umpires give me the finger during games, I've had NCAA officials give me the cut it out sign. As a Minor League P. A. announcer, I've even been warned about the music but do it to the point that I can't be run and if I am, I have a great "back-up". A lot of umpires that hated me as an announcer, respected me because I am an umpire and listened to complaints and question. Those are the ones that we need more of and associations need to urge that "friendly official".

Good grief...have you ever stopped to think that maybe - just maybe - the reason we have a shortage of officials is because of people like you in the first place?? What in the heck did you do to cause all of these officials to respond to you in the ways you described?? I believe that the school where you work should be a little more concerned about the "friendly atmosphere" they can generate for officials to work in, and you need to try shutting up every now and then at games!

[Andy]

Originally posted by sportsannouncing

I've had Major League umpires give me the finger during games, I've had NCAA officials give me the cut it out sign. As a Minor League P. A. announcer, I've even been warned about the music but do it to the point that I can't be run and if I am, I have a great "back-up". A lot of umpires that hated me as an announcer, respected me because I am an umpire and listened to complaints and question.

This is something to be truly proud of! You are using the knowledge gained by being an official to bait, ridicule, and intimidate other officials.

If I was working any type of game where you as the announcer pulled any of this crap, and I knew that you were an official also, a report would be filed to your association.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally posted by sportsannouncing

Second, what is up with the big-headedness and the "I'm too good for this" attitude I've seen from some officials.

Substitute the words "players" or "coaches" for the word "officials" and you'd be much closer to reality.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by sportsannouncing
did they invoke a new rule and not tell Dickie V about it? He's the only one that communicates new basketball rules.

Wow. If you're getting your rules knowledge from Vitale, you have a long way to go . . . .

As the PA announcer and tournament official, I was in my rights to inform him that he cannot eject the fans for what they say.

You also have the right to be wrong . . . . (2-8-1, Note)

[DownTownTonyBrown]

Sport Announcing idiot.

Your self acclaimed credentials don't hold water with me.

Fans don't know the rules and would make very poor officials - they are primarily interested in their child or their team... not impartiality. You may have a good report with fans simply because you "listen" to them. Most of us listen to knowledgeable people - not raving fans or dorky self-proclaimed expert, sport announcers.

I doubt your officiating career will go to far. I also doubt your announcing carreer will go to far if you continue to choose crossing the officials.

I feel like tossing you right now.

Ooohhh, I saw you banal post on the baseball forum also. So your PA personality isn't limited to just basketball games.

Good luck in life! Happy Trails.

[NICK]

As a group, fans usually exhibit the characteristics: ignorance of the rules, highly emotional partisanship, and delight in antagonising the officials. I think that you should stick to this group and stop pretending that you are a basketball referee.