Worst. Partner. Ever.

[OverAndBack]

Recently I had a partner (by name, but not by nature) who:

1 - Showed up 30 seconds into the game, so I started solo.
2 - Disappeared during the first time out to go to another court to BS with someone over there, then didn't return when it was time to resume play, so I resumed play myself.
3 - Disappeared at halftime and didn't return in time to start the second half, so I resumed play myself.
4 - Walked the entire game. And walked slowly back downcourt (coming from lead to new trail I almost passed him) with his back to the court, never once looking back until he was set on the baseline.
5 - Never came over during a timeout to introduce himself or say anything.
6 - Never broke a sweat.
7 - Hardly blew his whistle unless it was for a ball out of bounds.
8 - Talked to people on the side, made faces, and generally acted as if it was beneath him to be there, and what difference did it make what he did?

Now, I'm still relatively new at this, and I would have no problem working with someone who's new and doesn't know exactly how everything goes yet. But it was obvious to me this wasn't a kid, this was a veteran who was slumming for the day and was not the least bit interested in what was going on on our court.

I just called my game, hustled, did what I was supposed to do (it was the last of three games for me on the day) and didn't worry about him, but it ticked me off. When I left, I told the guy who was going to have to work the next three games with him "good luck!"

Now, here's my dilemma - as a relative newcomer still, do I risk a political upheaval by telling the assignor I don't want to work with the guy anymore? For all I know, he's best buds with the assignor, and I have a sweet deal at this facility. But they're not paying me enough to have to work with this guy - it's supposed to be a little bit fun, right?

[Dan_ref]

Yeah, it's fun to work with Chuck, aint it?

Just keep your mouth shut, you'll be fine.

[Mark Padgett]

Don't worry about it. You'll get partners who are much worse than that.

I should know. My partners tell me that all the time.

Hey - wait a minute.....

[JRutledge]

What level was the game?

Peace

[RookieDude]

Originally posted by OverAndBack
do I risk a political upheaval by telling the assignor I don't want to work with the guy anymore?

You already did when you told the next guy "good luck".
Translation: This guy sucks!

Unless you can trust this guy you talked to...you are risking making an enemy of a veteran.
Yeah, if everything you say happened...this guy showed a lack of professionalism.
If this guy had done these things to JR, Tony, Dan, or a host of other veterans that post here, they probably would have chewed him a new a****** or told him to get lost...and do the game alone.

Remember what mick says, OAB...you are new...
Get in.
Get done.
Get out.

[OverAndBack]

Fair enough. Yeah, I know the next guy in question. If I piss off a veteran, oh well. The game is bigger than all of us, and if you can't at least put a minimum of effort in, don't show up.

And as I've said before, it's not like I'm on some sort of career track here.

But get in, get done, get out is fair enough.

[RookieDude]

Originally posted by OverAndBack
If I piss off a veteran, oh well.

Good Luck in your next avocation.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by RookieDude

Good Luck in your next avocation.

All veterans are not made the same. There are many veterans that no one respects and no one cares to piss off. There is a reason why certain veterans work certain types of games. It is not becasue they are just so much better than everyone else.

Peace

[RookieDude]

Originally posted by JRutledge

All veterans are not made the same. There are many veterans that no one respects and no one cares to piss off. There is a reason why certain veterans work certain types of games. It is not becasue they are just so much better than everyone else.

Peace

Ya think?

My point is...you've got 37 total games under your new pleated pants.
Sh**** veteran or not...why piss him off?
Wait untill you've got just a little more experience before you start criticizing veterans to other officials in your association.
(That's one of the reasons to post on this forum...you can let off steam without the politics involved.)

JRut, if this guy needs plumed up...let veterans like yourself do it...not some 1st year guy...IMO.

Having said all that...I could care less what this new guy wants to do...maybe it will work for him...again, good luck.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by RookieDude


Ya think?

My point is...you've got 37 total games under your new pleated pants.
Sh**** veteran or not...why piss him off?
Wait untill you've got just a little more experience before you start criticizing veterans to other officials in your association.
(That's one of the reasons to post on this forum...you can let off steam without the politics involved.)

JRut, if this guy needs plumed up...let veterans like yourself do it...not some 1st year guy...IMO.

Having said all that...I could care less what this new guy wants to do...maybe it will work for him...again, good luck.

I see your point, but you missed my point all together. If this guy is a "veteran" he probably is not very respected coming in with 30 seconds to go before game time. If he did come in that late, if he had any respect for the game or his partner, he would have all kinds of explanations for his behavior. He did not according to the post. Along with the other things, he probably is in it for the money and does not care about the game or how he is perceived. Who cares if O&B says something to this guy? I am the vice-president of a basketball division and I can tell you that there are guys that get little or not respect by certain assignors and board members (not just this organization either). That is partly the case because these type of officials come in late, do not wear the proper uniform, has no respect from the coaches and administrators, has no respect from their fellow officials and most of all cannot work a game worth a damn. So pissing off this guy might not matter at all. You are making it out to be that if O&B pisses off this guy his career is over, WRONG!!! He might piss off this guy and find out that others think this official is a clown as well. I had a run in with a former state final official and my career has done nothing but take off since my encounter. I would take a guess that this official has not worked a state final anytime lately.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally posted by RookieDude

Good Luck in your next avocation.

Get real -- it's not this bad.

[RookieDude]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

Get real -- it's not this bad.

How do you know how "bad" it is Rich?

You don't know the rookie...you don't know the veteran.
And either do I.
Granted, the veteran probably isn't the cream of the crop...and granted, I probably am overstating things a bit...but, IMO, rookies should hustle (as OAB said he does), rookies should work with whoever the assignor assigns them (OAB stated he might request to never work with this guy again), rookies should study rules (OAB is showing he is willing to do that by being here), rookies should learn from bad examples (done), rookies should put forth their best attitude in bad situations (there will be plently just starting out), and rookies should nod their head alot (even if they completly disagree with the vet)...the rookies chance will come...be patient.
A couple three years...you very well could be Lead official over these very vets.

Now, as you grow in your experience, knowledge and credability...have at it with the state championship official...the exchanges may do you both good.

But, a rookie, nah....again, just IMO.

[OverAndBack]

Originally posted by RookieDude
Ya think?

My point is...you've got 37 total games under your new pleated pants.
Sh**** veteran or not...why piss him off?
Wait untill you've got just a little more experience before you start criticizing veterans to other officials in your association.
(That's one of the reasons to post on this forum...you can let off steam without the politics involved.)

JRut, if this guy needs plumed up...let veterans like yourself do it...not some 1st year guy...IMO.

Having said all that...I could care less what this new guy wants to do...maybe it will work for him...again, good luck.

Your dissent has been noted. Thanks. And you sure have a strong opinion for someone who doesn't care what I do (and I'm a second-year guy, FWIW - does that mean I can go a half-step further, or a full step, or what? When do I get the right to be a part of your little reindeer games, exactly?).

I'm not talking about expecting NBA Finals Game 7 effort on a sixth-grade girls game here, folks. I'm talking about expecting sixth-grade girls effort on a sixth-grade girls game. That's all I and my 37 games under my new pleated pants have a right to expect out of anybody.

I should have said "If I piss off this veteran, so what?" As JRut said, not all veterans are created equally. He's been around me, ask him how deferential I am to veterans and willing to learn. Someone shows me they deserve respect, they get it. And anyone who thinks that someone who's relatively new at this has to walk two steps behind with his head down and say "Thank you sir, may I have another?" to someone else just by virtue of the fact the other person has been working longer doesn't exactly earn it, either. If that's me being out of school, then so be it.

But they don't get it simply because they're on the court with me, especially since you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

[JRutledge]

Rookie Dude,

I think it depends on what kind of game it is. If this is an rec. league, AAU type game, I can tell you with a lot of confidence that no one is going to get upset at Over and Back for speaking up to this clown. If this is a high school game (which is the only game that really matters around here as you move up the ranks), then the conduct of the Over and Back could let some challenges. I live in the same area that Over and Back does and I can tell you that what goes on at a non-high school game is not a career buster if he chooses to speak up. Now if something happens at a HS game and this veteran is really big time, then he would be working varsity games on a regular basis and probably would not be working these kinds of games in the first place.

Peace

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref

Yeah, it's fun to work with Chuck, aint it?

It wasn't me. When I walk to the endline, I don't just have my back to the court -- I look back over my shoulder to check out the cute girl who's keeping the book.