Bob Knight's Latest Comments about College Officials

[Camron Rust]

Someone mentioned the issue of independant contractor status being the reason that the number of games per week could not be limited.

Its not that hard, the independant contract excuse is a red herring.

All that would have to be done is make the contract for a game require that the official be in town 24 hours before the game time or specify in the contract what they could do for a period of time before a game. Unless they could book 2 games in the same town, they couldn't do back-to-back nights....or they would be inviolation of the contract terms.

[REFVA]

All that would have to be done is make the contract for a game require that the official be in town 24 hours before the game time or specify in the contract what they could do for a period of time before a game. Unless they could book 2 games in the same town, they couldn't do back-to-back nights....or they would be inviolation of the contract terms.

I disagree with that statement. This is America, if an official is capable of doing multiple games in a week such as 6 games in 6 days why not? Basketball season is short. If the officials were not harrasses as much as we get, maybe you might be able to get more possible candidates in the pipeline. So there wouldn't be a shortage of potential officials.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Someone mentioned the issue of independant contractor status being the reason that the number of games per week could not be limited.

Its not that hard, the independant contract excuse is a red herring.

All that would have to be done is make the contract for a game require that the official be in town 24 hours before the game time or specify in the contract what they could do for a period of time before a game. Unless they could book 2 games in the same town, they couldn't do back-to-back nights....or they would be inviolation of the contract terms.

There are conferences that stipulate that you have to be in town the evening before if you have an afternoon game. But conferences would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did what you suggested. They would lose a lot of good out-of-region officials. You also have supervisors who assign for multiple conferences. Those conferences often schedule their games so that officials can work one night in one conference and the next night in the other conference.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by REFVA

It's bullcrap what Knight is saying. he has to blame someone for his 5 game skid.. You don't here that from Coach Krzyzewski.

You obviously have not been reading any of the articles re: Coach K and officials/officiating the past few years!!!!

I've seen too many games over the years where the K should stand for king of whiners!

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by CamronRust

All that would have to be done is make the contract for a game require that the official be in town 24 hours before the game time or specify in the contract what they could do for a period of time before a game. Unless they could book 2 games in the same town, they couldn't do back-to-back nights....or they would be inviolation of the contract terms.

Originally Posted by REFVA

I disagree with that statement. This is America, if an official is capable of doing multiple games in a week such as 6 games in 6 days why not?

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

But conferences would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did what you suggested. They would lose a lot of good out-of-region officials.

Respectfully, I think you guys are missing Camron's point. I don't think he's advocating the contract stipulations. I think he's merely pointing out that being an "independent contractor" has limits that can be worked into the contract.

The statement "Conferences can't limit the number of games an official works because he/she is an independent contractor" is not true. I think that was Camron's only point.

Am I right, Camron? If so, where's my cookie?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Respectfully, I think you guys are missing Camron's point. I don't think he's advocating the contract stipulations. I think he's merely pointing out that being an "independent contractor" has limits that can be worked into the contract.

But like I said, conferences would lose out on some good officials who travel to work for them. Someone who works in both the ACC and Big Ten, but lives in the Southeast is not going to sacrifice ACC games just so they can be in town 24 hours ahead of time to work a Big Ten game and the same for a guy living in the Midwest who works in both the Big 10 and Pac 10.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I think there is this major myth in our society that people are hired on pure merit. College Student Applications are not based purely on merit. Why would you expect college officiating hiring to be based on that as well? Not to make a political statement, but do you really think that George W. Bush was the most qualified in the country to become President? If you know anything about Chicago Politics, people are being elected left and right based on who their parents were or who they are related. Officiating is not at all different in the way people are hired.

Peace

And as long as we're getting political about this, I think it's fair to say that some officials are hired based on their race.

Popcorn anyone?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

And as long as we're getting political about this, I think it's fair to say that some officials are hired based on their race.

Popcorn anyone?

Yes. And their gender, and their geographic location. And their job. And who they know.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by REFVA

I disagree with that statement. This is America, if an official is capable of doing multiple games in a week such as 6 games in 6 days why not?.

I made no claim about whether they should or should not be woring 6 days in a row. I only dispelled the claim that being indpendant contractors prevented a conference from putting "rest period" requirements on the officials. They could put anything they want in the contract. The officials that didn't want to abide by the terms wouldn't take the games.

Originally Posted by REFVA

Basketball season is short. If the officials were not harrasses as much as we get, maybe you might be able to get more possible candidates in the pipeline. So there wouldn't be a shortage of potential officials.

You really think there would be a shortage of officials wanting to work D1 games?

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

There are conferences that stipulate that you have to be in town the evening before if you have an afternoon game. But conferences would be shooting themselves in the foot if they did what you suggested. They would lose a lot of good out-of-region officials. You also have supervisors who assign for multiple conferences. Those conferences often schedule their games so that officials can work one night in one conference and the next night in the other conference.

If the smaller leagues did it without the top leagues, it would hurt the smaller leagues.

But, if the top conferences made it a requirement for thier leages, do you really think those top officials would chose to give up the ACC, SEC, PAC10, etc. games and, instead, take the Mid-America, Big Sky, etc. games?

Sure, that would keep the top officials from working the smaller conferences in between the bigger games...but the ACC, SEC, etc. would not be that concerned for the officiating of the smaller conferences. They primarily care about thier own games.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

If the smaller leagues did it without the top leagues, it would hurt the smaller leagues.

But, if the top conferences made it a requirement for thier leages, do you really think those top officials would chose to give up the ACC, SEC, PAC10, etc. games and, instead, take the Mid-America, Big Sky, etc. games?

Sure, that would keep the top officials from working the smaller conferences in between the bigger games...but the ACC, SEC, etc. would not be that concerned for the officiating of the smaller conferences. They primarily care about thier own games.

You also have guys who work ACC one day, Big East the next, A-10 the next. You also have mid-Majors who are trying to move to the next level and hiring top notch officials. They are willing to have an official work the Big-10 one day and their own conference the next. Unless you get at all the majors to agree it will never work.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

And as long as we're getting political about this, I think it's fair to say that some officials are hired based on their race.

Popcorn anyone?

Would you like to be more clear about that statement?

Are you saying some officials are hired because they are black, white or other?

[DC_Ref12]

Originally Posted by chartrusepengui

You obviously have not been reading any of the articles re: Coach K and officials/officiating the past few years!!!!

I've seen too many games over the years where the K should stand for king of whiners!

cite, please

I realize that Coach K is one of the more vocal coaches on the court and doesn't have a great reputation for keeping his cool in the midst of a game, but he is the antithesis of Knight in the post-game press conference. I can't remember the last time he made a disparaging remark about officiating to the media. Do you care to enlighten me?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by DC_Ref12

cite, please

I realize that Coach K is one of the more vocal coaches on the court and doesn't have a great reputation for keeping his cool in the midst of a game, but he is the antithesis of Knight in the post-game press conference. I can't remember the last time he made a disparaging remark about officiating to the media. Do you care to enlighten me?

He makes disparaging remarks directly to the officials during the game instead. He's a world-class whiner, moaner, b!tcher and complainer, right up there with Jim Boheim. Knight doesn't whine as much during a game as Coach Krybaby does.

Cite? Just watch a Duke game. Any Duke game.

[IREFU2]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Yes. And their gender, and their geographic location. And their job. And who they know.

Peace

I would hope race wouldnt have anything to do with it.