Clay,
You are missing the whole point here! Now if you said they are fat AND wore belted pants then you would have got your point across to everyone! I gather that most who have answered your thread are a little over weight, havent seen this much action sence the belted pants thread on appearance.

Lets put into perspective, if a doctor came in to cut on you and he looked like he just overhauled an engine would you let him? Even though his skills and past abilities are of the greatist. Or a meat cutter who's missing three fingers, he too was once realy good at it.

I think that most here are missing your point Clay, you never said that you wasnt getting v-games they assumed that you wasnt. Your point was not a statement BUT a question as to how do these out of shap, appearance is not important, reff's continue to keep getting the games that are way to fast and now out of there league!

Youre points here are well taken.

Bird's of a feather...
 

Evidently bird's of a feather stick together....

Enough said.

Nope. Wrong assumption.

Z

No smitty,
just not reading more into what CLAY was saying in his first thread! And ferther more, who said I was thin???
Was YOU asuming that too smitty???

I wasn't referring to anyone being "fat" either. In my replies to Clay I was trying to look at the bigger picture and not have blinders on when criticizing anyone's abilities. I was referring to something else when I replied to your post. I guess now would be a good time to ask if anyone could put in a spelling/grammar checker? ;)

smitty,
I'm bigg enouf to admit i ant a good speler or typer so whats your excuse. Are we getting pi$$y becouse you dont like what someone has to say. opinions are like a$$holes, and I too have one.

You just handed me an excellent way to prove my point. Perhaps you aren't the best speller, but are you an outstanding referee? That's all that matters when you're on the court. And that requires a lot more than how you look on the outside.

170 games a season. I think that says it all!
And smitty, you should have been reading some of the other threads months ago on how important "looks" are...pleated pants, shiny shoes so on and so on, so THANK YOU for helping me prove that looks are not everything!

Keep up the positive writing.

Smitty,

Great comment. Since it does not matter what I or you look like on the outside, then Iam going back to the belted pants, (cost less) and facial hair. Just like I looked when I started officiating.

Actually I disagree that the number of games you work says it all. But I've already given my point of view on that. I have read some of the posts on pants and shoes and belts. Personally I found them to be a bit over the top. I think it's very relative, though. It appears different associations around the country put different degrees of significance on clothes and such. I have never shined my shoes - I like the way my Nike's look. I don't wear a belt, but only because I happened to buy the sansabelt style pants. I have never based any assumptions on a fellow official because they wear belted pants - I think that's just silly. But it's all relative - I guess in some places in order to get to a certain level, you have to do things that don't make a lot of sense. I am not looking to get to any particular level - I just love reffing basketball, and I have a blast doing it. I work hard and try to get better every game, and I'll take whatever games are assigned to me. That's what it's about for me. For you, this may seem completely backwards. We're all different.

[Edited by Smitty on Jan 23rd, 2004 at 02:43 PM]

I never said it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside. I said it takes much more than just that to define you as a good referee. Are you always this confrontational? Do you bring this to your games? Out of curiosity, approximately how many T's do you hand out per week?

Okay I am 5'9" and a large framed individual. I would not call myself fat but stocky. That being said I am in good shape and do not have to huff and puff up and down the court. The misconception that was given in the first post is that if an individual does not meet a certain criteria in the weight department they have to be out of shape and can not ref. I have seen skinny guys that are out of shape and huff and puff and can not keep up with the plays. I have also on the other hand, seen really "fat" guys that could keep up with the play and seemed to be in good shape despite their weight. I am more concerned when I know there are officials out there working alot more than I am that totally blow chunks when it comes to judgement and rules knowledge. And he is even a little heavier than I am and has a beard. Come out and chats with cheerleaders, fans, kids around at the score's table before the game. Just totally unprofessional. He will probably have a game tonight. I will sit at home. And humbly I am far better but as long as I focus on what I need to improve and take care of myself my day will come. When it does I will be ready because I have taken the time to prepare and better myself than to sit around and feel sorry for myself because he was working and I was not when in all honesty I could do a better job.

SMITTY,
Dido on the last thread. Hard to believe we are on the same page on that one. You talk to someone long enough and you will get down to the nuts and bolts of who they really are! As far as 170 games, experience brings knowledge.

CLAY....

I agree wholeheartedly that officials who are physically unable to fulfill the role should not be there. But I think if you post some specifics about why these three officials "sucked", and some examples of how their "huffing and puffing" kept them from making good calls, people here will be more willing to accept your arguments. I know I will.

All I see so far is bad, bad attitude vibes.

Change my mind.

Smitty,

And I feel the way you do about the belted or beltless pants. Same goes for the level of a game, I will take any level. Like I have always said, "no matter what the age they all think their game is just as important as a varsity game" They deserve the same level of officiating.

Just like today I get a call to fill in for a Varsity game saturday night. I have booked last year a 6th grade boys. Do I drop the 6th grade game to take the varsity game? Not on your life. I made a commitment last year when I booked this game and it would not be fair to the grade school in which i committed.