Shoes

[MJT]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

I love comments like this. I wish I had a bingo card whenever I see them so I could play along:

-- It's not about us
-- It's about the game
-- Think of the children
-- etc.

Hightower is an officiating legend. I find it amusing that people criticize him and speak down like they're watching some random JV HS game somewhere.

And saying Valentine doesn't get noticed means you haven't watched a lot of Teddy V over the years. This was as good a crew as you're going to get on a Big 10 game.

The nonsense about a stripe on the shoe should be on the bingo card, too. These guys are wearing whatever shoe is most comfortable and helps them hurt less after games. Period. Just cause some supervisor thinks it's important doesn't mean others do -- or even notice.

Rich, you are way off base with my comments. Ed is a very good official, but over the years, it seems as if he is getting more dramatic. Yes, Ted gets dramatic, but not as OFTEN as Ed. I just think he is overdramatic too often. On big calls, yes, sell it with authority, but they are not all that big.

I agree with you on the shoes, no biggy to have one stripe or swoosh.

I have seen plenty of Big 10 BB over the years and the only better crew, IMO, is to have Steve Welmer instead of Hightower.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MJT

Rich, you are way off base with my comments. Ed is a very good official, but over the years, it seems as if he is getting more dramatic. Yes, Ted gets dramatic, but not as OFTEN as Ed. I just think he is overdramatic too often. On big calls, yes, sell it with authority, but they are not all that big.

I agree with you on the shoes, no biggy to have one stripe or swoosh.

I have seen plenty of Big 10 BB over the years and the only better crew, IMO, is to have Steve Welmer instead of Hightower.

You must be talking about his 4-hip-bang block call. I'm happy to see guys throw in a bit of individuality and fire.

The Steve Welmer drinking game requires one to drink every time Steve tugs on his pants.

[HawkeyeCubP]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

You must be talking about his 4-hip-bang block call.

I think he went with 5 today, on the block call against WI when Haluska was shooting in the paint. It was a bid odd, as the arena was pretty quiet at the time, no one hit the floor, and it wasn't a drive to the basket.

And I'm going to see what my partners say at my next pregame, when, in discussing the procedure for going for help on OB calls, it goes something like this:
Partner: "If I'm lead and need help on the baseline, I'll blow the whistle, raise my hand, and come find you - step out and make eye contact,"
Me, interrupting: "And I'll come running through the players from my outside position, all the way to the baseline, pointing the direction repeatedly and blowing my whistle repeatedly as I'm running down there. Sound good?"

He's funny to watch. My wife was in the next room when that hip-banger call happened, and upon hearing him yell his "block" repeatedly, she yelled in, "Is that Hightower?" (She hadn't previously been paying attention to the game at all.) Funny stuff.

Helluvan official, to be sure. Just funny to watch sometimes. I'm still amazed at how his facial expression never ever changes, no matter what he's calling/doing. Seriously amazing. I have no idea how he does that.

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

The Steve Welmer drinking game requires one to drink every time Steve tugs on his pants.

That'd make for a quick night.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

You must be talking about his 4-hip-bang block call. I'm happy to see guys throw in a bit of individuality and fire.

The Steve Welmer drinking game requires one to drink every time Steve tugs on his pants.

And the "block! block! block! block! that followed each time he banged his hips.

Great observation of Welmer.

Great post HawkeyeCubP!!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MJT

And the "block! block! block! block! that followed each time he banged his hips.

Great observation of Welmer.

Great post HawkeyeCubP!!

I was working a boys varsity Christmas tourney in Illinois and I had one as the lead where A1 tried to drive baseline and B1 just didn't quite get there before A1 was airborne. Right in front of me and it was a helluva collision. I gave it a 3-hip-bang block (with the BLOCK! BLOCK! BLOCK!.....count it!) and it was out before I even realized what I was doing.

But 4 or 5? Now that's a SELL!

[MJT]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

I was working a boys varsity Christmas tourney in Illinois and I had one as the lead where A1 tried to drive baseline and B1 just didn't quite get there before A1 was airborne. Right in front of me and it was a helluva collision. I gave it a 3-hip-bang block (with the BLOCK! BLOCK! BLOCK!.....count it!) and it was out before I even realized what I was doing.

But 4 or 5? Now that's a SELL!

Done it myself in big games and big plays, and it does sell the call. Ed is just a little to much for my taste.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by MJT

I have seen plenty of Big 10 BB over the years and the only better crew, IMO, is to have Steve Welmer instead of Hightower.

I almost fell out of the chair! MJT, you know very little about officiating! Very little!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I almost fell out of the chair! MJT, you know very little about officiating! Very little!

I don't know if this is a dig at Welmer, but I like Welmer, Hightower, Higgins, Valentine, Hillary, Burr, etc. over most of the guys I can't recognize.

[Ref54]

Obviously these shoes were Nike but does anyone know the exact style?

[dblref]

I only break them out on my big games, on TV, etc.

Then this means you have never worn them.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I almost fell out of the chair! MJT, you know very little about officiating! Very little!

I guess my opinion sucks! You must be the expert. Welmer must be doing something right besides pulling up his pants often.

When my favorite team is playing, and I want the best Big 10 officials, IMO, I want Welmer working that game. But then again, what do I know. Apparently nothing!

[j51969]

Both of those guys are two of the best in the country. JMO, but if your working the Big 10 your shiznit is certainly wired pretty tight. Working D1 is one thing. If your a regular in a power conference that's another. However, at the end of the day these guys are human. There are two groups of people who are the hardest on officials; ourselves and other officials. Even when we watch our favorite teams play we are seeing it form an entirely different perspective. I would imagine that is what drives most of us.

[johnSandlin]

Does anybody know where you can get these shoes?

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by johnSandlin

Does anybody know where you can get these shoes?

Google Nike Air Max 360...the silver covers very easily with a magic marker, so they get to all black, with just a little bit of work.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

Google Nike Air Max 360...the silver covers very easily with a magic marker, so they get to all black, with just a little bit of work.

I had a pair a few years ago when they first come out, and that's exactly what I did. No problem covering up the silver swoosh at all. Comfortable shoes too.