Why the heck didn't the Naismith Award winner make it to the Final Four? Hank???

I really don't understand this one. Shouldn't the best of the best be at The Final Four?

Does this Award really mean anything?

What are you babbling about?

This must be what he's talking about:
http://www.naismithawards.com/index.asp

Says they were held last night. Sounds like Valentine won the Official of the Year for college.

Is that your welcome to the forum? Thanks!

I wasn't babbling. I was making a point. I have been a NCAA Official for 14 years and I know the politics involved. Hank Nichols made a mistake. How can TV win that award and not be asked to go to St Louis? That with the fact Burr and Hightower didn't get the NC game proves what a joke the process is. Their experence was needed that night.

Well, at least we know which team you were cheering for last Monday! :D

:) :)

Michigan grad. But I only do 14 games in the conference. Big East is where I pay my dues.

Yep, I was right. Babbling. Just because a committee selected TV, it doesn't mean that they were right and Nichols was wrong.

I don't have a problem with Teddy. I've met him and found him very down to earth and unassuming. But many people don't like him.

Does the award mean anything? Well, let's just say that if it were me, I'd rather work a FF or NC game than win such an award.

Ted was the best man at my wedding. He is one of my closest and dearest friends. I wasn't babbling. I was venting. This is the forum to do that in right? Just because you have a massive amount of posts here does that give you the right to be an arse?

Ted could care less. He has done many FF games including two NC games. This omission gave him a chance to start his golf season a week early. Personally I was upset that Ted didn't get the call to go to St Louis. As an official I feel the best in our craft should be at the FF. That didn't happen this year. If your a NCAA official you know that's the truth.

No, I was an arse long before I posted 7000 times. :D

Everyone has opinions. There are plenty of posters here who don't like TV. There are plenty that do. Sounds like you might be a little biased. But you're entitled to your opinion. But that also doesn't mean you're right.

In any case, just because he got an award, it doesn't mean that he's the best of the best. Look around! How many different players got national player of the year awards?

As for babbling, when a first time poster starts out venting and complaining, I refer to that as babbling. You might to engage in some discussion and make some contribution before you start out venting. For the most part, no one seems to care about the subject.

Welcome to the forum!

[Edited by BktBallRef on Apr 10th, 2005 at 09:12 PM]

:) :)

Fair enough. Thanks.

Why don't you tell us your real name, and we'll make sure Hank Nichols hears your opinions.

I know a few guys who work in the Big 10. I'm hoping they'd be smart enough not to make a post like this in an online forum about how certain people are getting screwed with politics.

Also, if you'd like their opinions of you, I'd be more than happy to ask them. :)

Now I am being called stupid? OK. I posted the truth. Is that not something that can be dicussed here? I guess in your world everything is A OK with the current system. What's your real name and who are your friends? I'll let you know what I think of them.

Are you a Big Ten official? If so PM me. I'll give you my cell phone number and we can talk.

Hank will hear my opinion in Myrtle Beach next month.Thanks anyway.;)Maybe your in our foursome???

Here is the link to Ted interview:http://news-register.net/sptcolumns/story/0327202005_sco01.asp

I've gotta tell you Jackdog, this looks more like a "lifetime achievement" type of award, rather than really recognizing the best official for this year. Take a look at past recipients. There are no repeat winners.

I see that. They have only been giving this to official's since 88. Seeing Lenny Wirtz won it in 95 I'll have to agree with you. Lenny was not good at all that year.

That depends a lot on who you're trying to discuss it with.

I'm not a Big 10 guy, just a lowly D3 guy trying to work my way up. But this is my real name, so if you could put a good word in with Hank for me. . . :)

That's a joke, obviously. But I'll see Hank myself at the end of July at camp. And, BTW, put me in the Teddy V fan club. He was observing at Nunn-Better when I was there and I thought he was very down-to-earth, constructive, and positive.

Hope you had a good season. Welcome to the board, Jack.

Thanks.My season ended a little soon. I had knee surgery in Febuary. I had to give up some dates. $$$ lost. There is nothing lowly about D3. It seemed like I lived at Malone College in Akron. Fun times.

Keep hitting the camps when you can. They were huge for me. I went to camps every year in Pittsburgh. Ted and Willie Nevels ran them and I learned so many little things that helped further my career. Mr Nevels helped me get a contract with the Big East. Camps are big.

How was your season? How many games do you do? What region?


I am working a Nike camp with Ted in Charleston SC in July. I'll post some more info about it as I get it.Maybe you can hit it before you go to Hank's. Good luck man. I hope to meet you at one of the two camps. Just don't let my real name slip out here,I don't want to get on Hanks crap list!;)



[Edited by Jackdog on Apr 10th, 2005 at 11:14 PM]

Jack,

Do not spend your time telling these clowns who you are. They would try to tell you that you are not that person, then tell you what you do not know and who you do not know. They probably would tell you what your schedule was like. They would tell you what philosophies you are supposed to follow. Then they would tell you everything you say is not true. I know some guys that work in the Big Ten and I know something about what they go through. Not a lot, but some things.

Welcome to the board and I would not mind hearing your insight on many issues that face officials at that level. We need someone here that can share those things.

Peace

Thanks man. I don't mind. I know it's part of the game when you start sharing your thoughts on a forum. I stumbled on to this place and I really enjoy reading the posts.I like the stories and plan on adding a few myself. If folks don't believe them that's their call. No pun intended;) If someone wants to be a joker I'll just put them on ignore.

I had ACL surgery and I am in still in rehab. I have some time on my hands. This forum can help me fill some of that. As far as my idenity goes. I am sure I have met and will meet some of the guys here at camps. If this forum comes up in conversations they will know who I am. In the meantime I am sticking to Jackdog. LOL

Welcome
 

Jackdog

Welcome to the forum. My JUCO supervisor works in the BIG 10 (Donnee Gray). Donnee is a great guy and I was upset that he didn't make it to St. Louis. I look forward to hearing some philsophies from you and your experiences. Once again welcome!

Sorry to hear that. Will you be able to go next season?

Which camp is that? I don't think I knew of a college camp in Pittsburgh.


This was my fourth season of varsity and I got 20 games. Not a great schedule, but better than last year's. So I was happy.

No sweat. I understand completely. We had a regular poster on the forum a couple years ago who used his real name. He got a D1 schedule and even a pro schedule, but some of the comments he made here were not appreciated by people over (or around) him. So he isn't here much anymore.

Interesting...I didn't even know there was a Naismith Award for officials...love watching Ted V. work games, and obviously he is one of the best in the game, but I thought the three guys who did the NC game did a great job also and deserved to be there based on other games I saw them work in the tournament. Hard to argue against any of them being there, and it sounds - from what you posted - theat Ted V has a great attitude about the whole process...

Welcome to the board Jackdog,

I've always thought Teddy V. was an excellent official. However, there are many, many excellent officials at that level and I don't think I'd jump to the "politics" accusation unless I had some tangible proof. He may be the best official in your eyes, but perhaps those who made the decision this year felt that the other 3 were more deserving. I thought the championship game was very well refereed.

I think it's totally irrelevant whether someone uses their real name or a nickname on this board. Some posters here have gone off on tangents (manifestos) criticizing others for not using their real names (I think they called it cowardly) but who cares? Very few of us have actually met each other anyway so what we call ourselves is irrelevant. What's important is to share scenarios and experiences that we find either interesting or useful.

On that note, maybe you'd share your experience on working for an assignor at the conference level and also working for Hank Nichols on the "NCAA level." Does your assignor ask for particular things that contradict some things that H.N. espouses? For instance, Hank posts some NCAA bulletins regularly when he feels that some things are being called incorrectly or not called at all. Since your contract is year-to-year and you are hired by an assignor, do you weigh what your assignor says heavier than what Hank says?

Thanks,

Z

Interesting -- a Big East fellow who ceased working around February; that's a pretty thin disguise you're wearing Jackdog! ;0)

Interesting to hear your comments on the national final crew, particularly since it did include John Cahill. As for TV, I thought he was absolutely outstanding in this year's tournament and he had a couple of real barnburners of games in the subregional and regionals. Does the fact that he did not draw this year's FF really mean anything, though -- I mean, it's not like he's been a stranger in the past to the FF. Add me to the list who was impressed with all three FF crews this year -- not whether they were the 10 most deserving; not a subject on which I am remotely qualified. Just saying I thought they called good games.

Jackdog ...

I too went to all of Teddy's camps in Pittsburgh (and Slippery Rock). Hands down some of the best I've been to.

Re: Welcome
 

I'm guessing you're MACBOA? I'm in D.C. - my intramural supervisor gets a few MACBOA games every year, and I had the privilege of working with Donnee last summer. Unfortunately, he didn't do any games at my school this year.

Mark, who is your supervisor?

We did not get a chance to meet. You will have to tell me when you are free. I'm doing some Police ball tomorrow (Thursday).

Re: Re: Welcome
 

Mark, you are correct. Tomegun & myself both belong to MACBOA. What a small world.

Re: Re: Re: Welcome
 

And I just wish I was in MACBOA. :p

Re: Re: Re: Re: Welcome
 

Go to camp in July and maybe Donnee will give you a shot.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Welcome
 

I don't want to embarras myself that much. While there are definately refs who work college ball before getting a HS varsity game, I doubt I would go straight from intramurals to D-III.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Welcome
 

I don't think you would embarass yourself. What are you doing tonight? Email me if you are free. I have a couple of games tonight and maybe you can come out. There are also other avenues to get you involved and working. I would like to meet you face to face and talk to you.