here are the final 4 officials

[AZ_REF]

Tommy Nunez Jr. went from the Pac-10 to the NBA. I personally know of at least 5 people working the D League, or WNBA and multiple college confrences.

And on the size issue Billy Kennedy is like five foot nothing and he's been in for 8 or 9 years. However his arms are about as big around as my thigh. And he could break me in half by just looking at me. So I think size matters, just the direction the size is in doesn't. But whats his face from Phoenix has been in a long time and his small, really small. I'm sure somebody remembers his name, I'm drawing a blank.

[zebraman]

I just know that it was nice to see a college official at the highest level who excels in all facets of the game. So many times at the D-1 level, we see officials with really screwy mechanics or weird habits and it is great to watch a guy like Tony Greene who has the entire package. It does not surprise me that the NBA is interested in him, in fact it's kind of heartening.

I have not seen a correlation between size and successful officials in my part of the country. Not at the elite HS level or at the college level either.

Z

[refTN]

Originally Posted by zebraman

I just know that it was nice to see a college official at the highest level who excels in all facets of the game. So many times at the D-1 level, we see officials with really screwy mechanics or weird habits and it is great to watch a guy like Tony Greene who has the entire package. It does not surprise me that the NBA is interested in him, in fact it's kind of heartening.

I have not seen a correlation between size and successful officials in my part of the country. Not at the elite HS level or at the college level either.

Z

I hope this now helps people to understand that the NBA takes guys who are the best of the best, the only thing is that I assume(and you know what assuming does) that Tony decided he wanted to take a crack at the League later in his career so that is why he is in the SEC and working the big games. The guys that the NBA usually takes are taken before they get major D-1 conferences. They usually only make it as far as the Mid-Major D-1s before getting picked up. Take David Guthrie for example, he worked in the SEC for two years before he was picked up. The other two guys supposedly getting picked up this year besides Tony have less than 8 years in the SEC combined. It might even be lower than that.

[sleebo]

Sorry for getting in on the thread late, but I have heard from an SEC tourney official that Tony Greene is, in fact, going to the NBA next year. Who are the other 2 getting the call, RefTN? By the way, haven't heard from you for a while. Shoot me an e-mail to let me know how your injury is doing and your plans for summer camps.

[refTN]

Originally Posted by sleebo

Sorry for getting in on the thread late, but I have heard from an SEC tourney official that Tony Greene is, in fact, going to the NBA next year. Who are the other 2 getting the call, RefTN? By the way, haven't heard from you for a while. Shoot me an e-mail to let me know how your injury is doing and your plans for summer camps.

Like you said and I said I believe Tony is going to get the call, but the question is does he take it? Tony with all the reffing he does on top of his job which I heard he makes 6 figures or near it, is grossing about 250,000 a year so when and if he signs with the league he will be barely making 110,000. This will definitely be a topic talked and thrown around his household for the next days, if not weeks, if not months to decide what to do. I hope he goes to the league personally.

The other two that I have heard are John Goble, a fairly new SEC official, from Miami. Man that kid can ref, he is going to be a damn good one. P.S. He is not very stocky and is 6 foot maybe.

The other is Joe Forte's son Brian who also is fairly new to the SEC. Once again is a little over 6 foot and not near as stocky as John, and he can toot the whistle pretty damn good himself.

I have had the pleasure of sitting in the locker room with both these guys, and they are good. I remember asking Brian a question about a block/charge play after the game was over and he truthfully told me that he wasn't sure and he waited till the game tape got to them and we watched it time and time again and everyone was unsure, but they did all agree that it was something.

Sleebo if you would set it up where I can send you private messages I will send you one. It would be good to hear from you as well.