Anyone work in the ABA?

OverAndBack · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Nov 08, 2004, 07:14pm

Newspaper story on a guy who will this year:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/stor...ady_for_li.sto

Quote:

"I'm going to continue my boys schedule and college," said Babcock, who will be an extremely busy man this winter. "Down the road, I want to exclusively work for the ABA and just travel."

You gotta hope the ABA is still around down the road, Larry. And that they actually pay you. I've heard of some folks who've been stiffed.

Good luck, though. Hope it works out. They've got some odd rules in that league, it would be tough to keep it all straight if you do a bunch of levels.

Mark Padgett · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Nov 08, 2004, 10:58pm

I spoke twice with the GM of the new Portland ABA team about being the PA announcer for their home games. Never heard back, though. Too bad - that would have been cool.

OverAndBack · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Nov 08, 2004, 11:09pm

What I don't get is how the guy works full-time at officiating during the winter, does 8-12 games a week, and has a wife and two kids.

I mean, let's say you can get even $50 a game on average, which is probably a little high if you're working that many games a week, since they probably won't all be varsity. That's maybe $500 a week. Considering your expenses it's less than that.

I can't even get by on that, and I'm single. Never mind putting the ABA and travel on top of that, since Chicago's the only close ABA team to him.

jr, have you had any problems? Have you done the league for a while, or are you just starting in it?

Mark, not surprising. They've got issues in Portland.

lrpalmer3 · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Nov 09, 2004, 07:43am

He's got a 2 yr. old and a 6 month old, and his wife gave him the okay to hit the road. I've just got one question, does she have a sister?

Seriously, stories like this encourage me to stay focused. I too have high aspirations, but I don't know if I would take a full time refereeing gig right now (not that anyone's offerring).

rtr · #5 (**permalink**) Fri Nov 12, 2004, 02:26pm

The season is ready... and so are the refs! It's gonna be a great ride with 1st class players, new innovative rules, well trained refs - and lots of local fan excitement!

betweenthelines · #6 (**permalink**) Sat Nov 13, 2004, 12:07am

Hey I think it is great his wife let's him go. Think about it how many of our wives would even let us "consider", kids or no kids, doing anything like that. Besides that, over and back are you saying that just because he is married and has kids he can't ref pro ball. How many guys in pro ball have kids? Think about it....What do yo have against this guy? Maybe that he has had more success than you. Don't knock this guy. He is one of our brothers. He is in our brotherin of officials. Be happy for him and know that things will work. I commend his wife for understanding how important officiating is to him. jr.....Do you think the ABA Director of Officials would like to hear you talking negative about one of your own? Just a thought.....Watch your tounge, you never know who is looking....After reading the article he is full time and your on the associate.....He may have a little more than you and you never know how close he is with the director of officiating.....Just a thought.the officiating grapevine sucks to get a bad rap in.....

jr · #7 (**permalink**) Sat Nov 13, 2004, 10:49pm

betweenthelines:

if you would reread my post, i don't think i 'bad-rapped' one of my fellow aba officials at all...in fact, i commend him for knowing what he wants to do for a career and going for it...again, his goal is to get to the nba, and he is doing everything he can to try and get to his goal...

JRutledge · #8 (**permalink**) Sat Nov 13, 2004, 11:26pm

Did it ever occur to anyone that this official was able to tell his wife what he wants and she does not want to stand in his way? I think the reason most official cannot convince their wives or girlfriends, they probably started officiating well after they were married or had kids. This guy is young and I am sure his wife knew of this dream before he got to this point in his officiating career. I know a lot of officials who have spouses that are on board with their dreams in officiating. Just because there are some that are hostile to officiating, does not mean that applies to everyone.

Peace

zebraman · #9 (**permalink**) Sun Nov 14, 2004, 01:27am

My wife is completely supportive of my officiating. She even brings my 2-year old son to many of my games, complete with his little Honig's ref shirt on. If college officiating was a dream of mine, she'd support that too. Marriage is a partnership no?

Z

kgruber · #10 (**permalink**) Sun Nov 14, 2004, 01:52am

Here's a different twist on the spousal support topic. My wife just got the high school basketball beat for the local newspaper so she will have to go to more games than I will have to officiate! Sure hope she doesn't have to write that "the officials sucked tonight" in an article!

The bottom line is BALANCE and COMMUNICATION. We all have to balance officiating with our larger lives and allow our significant others to be an intergral part of our decisions through good communication.

Ken

dblref · #11 (**permalink**) Sun Nov 14, 2004, 05:20pm

Quote:

Originally posted by zebraman
My wife is completely supportive of my officiating. She even brings my 2-year old son to many of my games, complete with his little Honig's ref shirt on. If college officiating was a dream of mine, she'd support that too. Marriage is a partnership no?

Z

I agree. My wife completely supports my officiating -- right down to the point of taking my check! She likes the fact that I get a fair amount of exercise, but cautions me not to do too many games too many nights of the week (I am 61 years young). I like to officiate.