One of our own is completing an amazing feat today.

Our own BktBallRef- Tony Haire- has been picked to officiate a North Carolina state high school football championship game today. That follows closely on last year's success when Tony was chosen to officiate a NC state high school boys basketball championship game.

Being chosen to do a state final in two different sports is a great achievement in any official's career.

Big ups, TH.

Btw, for anyone who may watch this game, TH will be the umpire. That's the guy that stands behind the defensive line with Snickers in his hand instead of a whistle.

Outstanding! Congrats to TH.

Basketball then footbal, same year?

Just another example of the good-ol'-boy network at work.

Congratulations Tony! Great job!

:D

Way to go Tony. :cool:

Z

Congrats, Tony!

Congratlations Tony!

I coulda seen him in action in the 2nd round when I visited my folks last month. He was doing a game about 5 miles from their house. But it was dang cold [you could ask him] and I was there for my folks' 50th so to slip out for a HS FB game [especially when my niece's team also had a home game that night which she went to] would've been asking for a T.

Mega dittos.

Congrats Tony!!

<font color = purple size = 10>Attaboy, Tony !!! </font>

Thanks to everyone!
 

Actually, basketball was 2003. But thanks to JR for remembering.

It was a blast! 26YG, even though we kicked off at 4:30 and it was about 40 degrees, it felt like it was 70 and sunny. 9-3 at the half, ended up 28-16 final, with the losing team's drive coming up short in the final minute.

Still deciding if I'll take up baseball and go for the threepeat! :p

JR, not sure the basketball guys understand the Snickers reference. ;)

BTW, I don't think I've ever been this tired.

For the readers...
 

Usually when people break into football officiating, they work the sidelines. From there, you could be promoted to a deep guy, then to Referee, or directly to Referee. Umpires are special people - not everyone wants to Umpire and they usually have good job security :). Working the Umpire spot, as JR mentioned, is usually reserved for those with more mass. (In Tony's case, it is his height.) IOW, sometimes you'll have a player bounce off you. The joke is that they got this way from eating a lot of Snickers bars.

BTW, congrats TH!

Thanks Jug.

Been working the middle for two seasons now and I'm proud to say that through 30 games, I've yet to go down. But I've helped several DB's back to their feet! :p

You will go down.

Oh yes, you will.

Guaranteed.

And you'll wonder whatinthehell hit you when you do go down. :)

Again, congratulations, Tony. A rare double, fer sure.

Woody, he'd better be big, fast and most importantly, I'd better not see him coming! :D

<center><img src=http://www.saoa.faync.com/Finals.jpg></center>

If #62 hits your azz, your azz is grazz.

Real men don't wear mittens. Did you have a string going between them, through both sleeves and around your neck, so that you wouldn't lose them?

Just kidding. :D

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Dec 11th, 2005 at 01:46 PM]