Why do you officiate?

[The Canuck]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Did the thought ever cross your mind that maybe....just maybe.....because do two sports because they need to be around those two sports? They can't not be around those two sports?

Congratulations. You just dumped on a whole bunch of fine officials without ever having met them.

I beg your pardon, but:

Originally Posted by The Canuck

There are a few guys who do football and basketball in my area... and it's clear they're there probably for the money second but certainly the power trip first.

You'll note I dumped on the officials in my area; read: a whole bunch of fine officials I have met. There are some who I welcome working with, be it as a partner in basketball or as a coach in football. However, I also know for a fact that some have never played the game in question, be it football or basketball (yes, some colleagues of mine have never played basketball - how they were able to get onto the court is beyond me), and assumed that because they were expert officials (in their own minds) in one sport, they'd be equally good at making money and throwing their weight around in another.

I realize the officials in the original article are not examples of such, but it's not them I'm "dumping on".