Who is your favorite?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by SeanFitzRef

College: Ed Hightower, Ted Valentine

Aren't they the same person???

[brianp134]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dan_ref

Originally posted by brianp134

He's also a decent magician

Yes he is.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Mark Padgett
There's only one guy I'd rate above Earl Strom - Mendy Rudolph. He was the absolute poster boy for an NBA ref. His demeanor on the court just shouted professionalism.

In his book, Strom indicates Sid Borgia was the best ever, but I never saw him work.

I saw all three of them in action. All great officials but I gotta agree with you about Rudolph being the best. He certainly was the most respected official of his era.

The difference between Rudolph and Borgia? When fans got on Rudolph, he used a little move where he'd kinda face them and wipe the sweat off of his forehead, with the middle finger sticking out of the wiping hand. When fans got on Borgia, he'd just turn around and tell them to "f**k off". I'm not sure which move I liked better.

My own, personal favorite official in the NBA was, and is, a guy called Manny Sokol. Worked back in the 70's and early 80's. Not one of the top officials at all, but he was as funny as hell to watch. He literally threw himself into every call. Didn't matter how routine the call was, Manny was gonna sell it big time. Imagine a punch-drunk ex-pug trying to referee a game while little birdies were flying by his head--that was Manny.

[Mark Dexter]

NBA - Matt Boland. I don't watch the NBA, but we're both alums of the same high school.

NCAA - My favorites to work with were always Reggie Greenwood (who has one of the best on-court personalities ever) and Donnie Gray (with whom I worked last summer), both of whom live in the D.C. area.

On the women's side, one of my favorite to watch/work with is Bryan Burnette. Great crisp mechanics, his calls seem to be perfect, and he never draws attention to himself. (When a game is going to h***, the coaches usually are screaming at his partners, but say nothing to him.)

[JugglingReferee]

NBA: Strom, Bavetta, Corbin.

NCAA: Foxcroft, Honig. The other obvious choices too.

NFL: Hochuli. He really is the only choice. And everyone knows it.

NHL: Scapinello. As far as linesmen go, he re-wrote the book. I'd put him in the top 3 officials of all time, for any sport.

MLB: Don't know alot of these guys.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee


My own, personal favorite official in the NBA was, and is, a guy called Manny Sokol. Worked back in the 70's and early 80's. Not one of the top officials at all, but he was as funny as hell to watch. He literally threw himself into every call. Didn't matter how routine the call was, Manny was gonna sell it big time. Imagine a punch-drunk ex-pug trying to referee a game while little birdies were flying by his head--that was Manny.

I remember Sokol. You are absolutely correct about his demeanor on the court. He was great fun to watch. I always thought of him as kind of a pudgy Daffy Duck.

BTW - how could I leave the Immortal Dave off the list? I guess this last lobotomy isn't taking hold.

[BktBallRef]

Blane Reichelt.

When I visual Chuck, I see Blane Reichelt, although Blane is much taller.

[Carbide Keyman]

My favorite official in the NBA would be the official who would have the stones to call traveling on the superstars on a regular basis.

"King" LeBron should pack luggage on his last two scoring forays last night.



Doug

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

When I visual Chuck, I see Blane Reichelt, although Blane is much taller.

But Chuck has more hair.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by JugglingReferee

NFL: Hochuli. He really is the only choice. And everyone knows it.

Got that right. I didn't even think to expand outside of basketball.

[tnzebra]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

Got that right. I didn't even think to expand outside of basketball.

Mike Carey is right up there IMO.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Mark Padgett
[/B]

I remember Sokol. You are absolutely correct about his demeanor on the court. He was great fun to watch. I always thought of him as kind of a pudgy Daffy Duck.

[/B][/QUOTE]Luv it. That might just be the most accurate description of Manny refereeing as possible.

On second thought, an even better description of Manny might be that he was the spittin' image of Hector on the old Tweetybird cartoons.



A nervous Hector.

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Jun 2nd, 2005 at 02:55 PM]

[sleebo]

I got the opportunity to go down to the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions last weekend and work. I talked to Marat on the phone in registering to work the event and I met both Marat and Kane at the tournament. I would agree that they are good dudes and definitely are destined for officiating success. As for my two cents on the thread:

NBA: Dan Crawford
NCAA: Joe Lindsay (one word-calm), Doug Shows, Mike Stuart, Lisa Mattingly, Tina Napier
MLB: Sam Holbrook, Randy Marsh
NFL: Hochuli (the best in the league, period)

[Luis]

NBA: Dick Bavetta, Joe Crawford & Zach Zarba. Sometimes, Violet Palmer, she's great.

[tjones1]

Originally posted by refTN
Who is your favorite ref or refs? It doesn't have to be recent or anything. The forum is running really slow so I just thought I would throw it out there.

I don't care whether it is an idol from your assosciation all the way up to the NBA. Everyone who officiates is fair game.

I will start off and I have a couple:

NBA: Sean Corbin for his professionalism, Zach Zarba for his age and his look, and Mike Callahan for his demeanor and height (I believe he is about 6' and that is how tall I am)

NCAA: I of course have quite a few in... you guessed it... the SEC. My mentor who I love is Jeff Smith an OVC official and a dang good official.

By the way keep your eyes out for two young guys by the names Marat Kogut and Kane Fitzgerald, they are on the up and up. You will probably see them in the SEC but not for long they will be working in the NBA I would have to say within 10 years.

Hey, the Ohio Valley was mentioned... don't hear much news from the OVC. I am currently attending an OVC school. Nice to see some of the OVC officials mentioned.