It's just having a perfect view and being in perfect position to see the play. I hadn't heard it either until this summer at a camp and Bob Staffen used the term frequently.

We Going Riding On The Freeway Of Love ...
 

.... In My Pink Cadillac (Aretha Franklin, 1985).

Most that used that terminology are now dead.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away NFHS two person mechanics always had the lead on the right side of the court, and always had the trail on the left side of the court (as the ball was advancing into the frontcourt). Even during free throws, the lead was always on the right side of the free throw shooter, and the trail was always on the left side of the free throw shooter (and trail administered first free throw). That was called the Cadillac position. Tableside and not-tableside didn't really apply to normal up and down the court mechanics (at one time we even could put the ball in play on either side of the division line after a technical foul).

Occasionally, due to an odd throwin situation, in order to get good coverage the officials had to work "opposite", with the lead on the left side of the court, and the trail on the right side of the court (as the ball was advancing into the frontcourt).

As the ball crossed the division line, or as soon as possible, the two officials would scurry back to "normal", i.e. the Cadillac position, usually controlled, or forced, by the position, or movement, of the trail.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.P...=0&w=300&h=300

I've only ever heard the Cadillac position referred to in 3-man, and it's when the Center is opposite the table. I would hear veteran officials talk about trying to be in the Cadillac position for last second shots. Don't know the reasoning other than maybe than wanting the C to have last shot responsibilities.

Though the former NFHS Officials Manual said nothing regarding running backwards (the new one hasn't arrived yet), one of the NCAA manuals stipulates this:

1. As soon as a new possession by the defensive team is imminent, the T official must move quickly toward the opposite endline and become the new L.
2. The new L must look back over her/his shoulder and observe the status of the game clock, 30-second clock, the ball and players as the play comes toward the new L.
3. When the ball is coming down the L and T side of the court, the L assumes the wide-angle position
4. When the ball is coming down the middle of the court or on the C side of the court, the L assumes the close-down position to receive the play.

The bolded part of #2 precludes running backwards.

That may a be a new use of the term, but it isn't the historical use. Billy's post covers the actual historical use of it.

An Expert ???
 

Yeah, because I'm whatcha call ... old.

I want to address two things.

1.0) The "hit": The "hit" on "Cadillac Charlie" was a costly one in lives lost and ruined. It happened on the day after Thanksgiving. The "hit" went down just after breakfast. Charlie was going to take his two younger sons to CYO football practice and then meet a buyer for a railroad car load of grapes. Cavallaro and his family lived on the north side of Youngstown only about 3 miles from where I live in Liberty Township.

Cavallaro and his youngest son, just 11 years old, were already in the car sitting behind his father, and his middle son, just 12 years old, was opening the backdoor on the passenger side when Cavallaro turned the ignition. The explosion was so powerful that Cavallaro's body was torn into pieces and his younger son's body was practically vaporized. His middle son escaped death but underwent five hours of surgery and had to have one of his hips replaced, and walked with a cane the rest of his life.

While the Youngstown Diocese allowed Cavallaro to be buried in the Catholic cemetery, only a funeral mass was said for his son. His son's casket was allowed in the church but not Cavallaro's.


2.00) The origin of "Officiating Cadillac":

2.10) The term originated from the women's college side of officiating and only used in a Two-Person Crew.

2.20) Back in the "Ancient Days" the R faced the Table and the U was Table Side for all Jump Balls at the Center Circle.

2.21) If the the Team, that gained Control of the Ball, Basket's was to the U's right, the U would move to his/her right and become the L, Table Side, and the R would become T, Opposite the Table. When the other Team gained Control of the Ball, the Old L would become the New T and would remain Table Side while the Old T would become the New L and remain Opposite the Table. This was called Working Left Handed (because the T's left hand was always closest to a Side Line) or Cadillac.

2.22) Whenever a Throw-in required the L and the T to change sides of the Court this was called Working Right Handed (because the T's right hand was always closest to a Side Line).

2.23) Whenever a Throw-in resulted in the Officials working Right Handed, there was a protocol (not found in either the NFHS or CCA Men's and Women's Two-Person Manuals) for the Crew to move from Right Handed to Left Handed (Cadillac) once all ten Players and the Ball was in the Offensive Team's Front Court.

2.24) Cadillac was still used after the adoption of the Three Point FG and the L going Ball Side. The L going Ball Side while in Cadillac did not cause the Crew to stop officiating Cadillac.

So ends today's history lesson.

MTD, Sr.


P.S. I should add that Liberty Township was also home of the infamous Jungle Inn, only about a 1.25 miles as the crow flies from my home. After "The War" Dean Martin was a singing waiter in the Jungle Inn's night's club and a croupier in the Jungle Inn's mob run casino whose security you uniformed Trumbull County Sheriff Deputies with Thompson Sub-machine guns.

I've heard it called Cadillac due to not having to run or move so much. If you're in a Cadillac, everyone else does all the work. This position was given to officials who would get burned on a fast break. If they got down the court a little late, the L and T covered the area being missed.