What's in a name???

[LSams]

I've got no problem being addressed as ref, stripes, or even blue (apparently some coaches are color blind).

Like has already been said NBA officials are few in number, and most have been around as long or longer than many coaches and players. You likely know many of their names when you see them on the tube as well. They also wear numbers on the back of their uniforms to identify them.

I remember one of the first times a coach addressed me by name, it kind of took me off guard. One of the assistant coaches at this school is also an official and he and I had worked together about 2 weeks prior. But when the head coached yelled my name across the gym to show his displeasure with my call-selection, I wasnt' sure what to do with it. My wife happend to be at the game, and she thought it was unneccessary for him to do so. I still don't have an opinion about it.