Cooling off

[Old School]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

OS, how can you make this statement? It is absurd. You know nothing about his state or association or his abilities. You throw generalizations around like they are fact. I call "BULL". You sound like one of those bitter old officials that think they are owed a state assignment just for showing up.

No, not at all. I am not beating myself up trying to get a HS playoff assignment. I know what I can do and I let my ability speak for itself. I have not been trying to get a HS playoff assignment for 15 years, so I am not in that boat. However, I do think I played both sides of the track here. I complimented the OP on his success. Go back and reread my post. I know that you only focused on the negative remarks I made, but there was some congrats and advice.

Getting to the 2nd part of the story. I am in the camp that believes there are a lot of qualified officials that can work both DI and state playoffs where the same DI official shouldn't have to work 7 to 28 days in a row. With state HS assignments, I have been told that there are way more officials applying then there are assignments. This causes the selection process to come under scrutiny and knowing this country's poor track record of discrimination in hiring, especially in sports, an eyebrow raises when someone who's being doing it for such a short period of time is chosen over a person who's been doing it much longer. I wanted to try and paint the picture to the OP how the other person may feel. But please don't give me the BS that this cat earned his way. He probably earned 20% of his way. It's all about who you know in this business and you have to put as much effort into the politics as you have to do your game. That be the way it is.

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by Old School

No, not at all. I am not beating myself up trying to get a HS playoff assignment. I know what I can do and I let my ability speak for itself. I have not been trying to get a HS playoff assignment for 15 years, so I am not in that boat. However, I do think I played both sides of the track here. I complimented the OP on his success. Go back and reread my post. I know that you only focused on the negative remarks I made, but there was some congrats and advice.

Getting to the 2nd part of the story. I am in the camp that believes there are a lot of qualified officials that can work both DI and state playoffs where the same DI official shouldn't have to work 7 to 28 days in a row. With state HS assignments, I have been told that there are way more officials applying then there are assignments. This causes the selection process to come under scrutiny and knowing this country's poor track record of discrimination in hiring, especially in sports, an eyebrow raises when someone who's being doing it for such a short period of time is chosen over a person who's been doing it much longer. I wanted to try and paint the picture to the OP how the other person may feel. But please don't give me the BS that this cat earned his way. He probably earned 20% of his way. It's all about who you know in this business and you have to put as much effort into the politics as you have to do your game. That be the way it is.

Rec ref alert!

I do rec leagues, because I don't want to play the politics of that other ball, it's beneath me.

Yeah, right!

Let's think logically about this for a second...I know that is tough for you...but the assigner has to live with the official he/she picks, no?

So this assigner is going to throw a completely unqualified official out there in a high profile game/level knowing that when they screw it up, the assigner will be the one taking the heat...and phone calls...for choosing that official? Don't think so.

It's typical...it's called sour grapes.

Last year my partner and I were fortunate enough to work a state semi-final, on that same day friends of ours worked semis also. One worked a semi at a higher level this year. My partner and I worked a final. My other friend didn't work anything past the first round.

He was upset, said some things about how we obviously kissed the right butts and played the "game" better than he did. The funny thing is, that he was the one calling the assigner about his schedule, begging to do the high profile holiday tournament, while we did neither. We worked the big holiday tournament again, because we were asked to based on how we performed in it last year and in our state semis. We in turn worked our semi and final this year based on how we performed last year and this year in the big holiday tournament. In other words WE EARNED IT.

So keep in mind, the cream will rise to the top. Sour cream usually sinks.

[swvaref]

I agree to let it go. I have just finished my 5th year. I got a playoff game last year and also one this year. Our commissioner has allowed almost every JV official to work a V game with 2 veterans.He believes in promoting officials and giving them chances. It is at least 5-10 officials with less then 5 years in our assossiation that is doing D3. We had an invite to go to a D1 camp in Florida last year by our commissioner in which 5 of us went. I know there is a lot of talk from the veteran officials. I was with 2 veterans on a Big game in Jan. We did the pre-game, everything was going great. We were standing beside the court just about ready to go on the court,the older ref turns to me, gets in my face and said "I dont think you should be on this game." Turns and walks on the court. Needless to say I was shocked. I got on the floor worked my butt off, I had no problems. I agree the cream will rise to the top.When the coaches see the new young officials more and more they will get more comfortable. I will admitt I get more heat from the coaches and the fans than the vets do.I had a vet tell me , no matter where I go, middle school, JV, V, boys ,girls or AAU to work as if my commississioner is in the stands watching me and believe me, it has paid off

[PIAA REF]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the support...

To Old School, first of all I am not a cat. I am a 25 yr old white male. I also feel that even though I will agree politics play a small part is playoff assignment your judgement that I only earned the assignment 20% is way off base. Like someone else stated you do not know my state and/or how things are done here. I don't know why you even come on this sight. You have nothing to offer us true officials. Yes you may be an official but you will never be a true official. Your negative comments have proved that. You try to stir the pot but it doesn't work on here. Most of us have been posting on here for years and we know not to listen to you. You really need to evaluate yourself if you are an official because a true official would not post like you. There are many other officials on here that I may not agree with but I respect them to no end. You have lost the respect of every person on this board. Do us a favor and never post again.

[PIAA REF]

To my knowledge I am the only ref that is under 30 that is able to ref at the state level. There are a few others that are in their early 30's. I may be not thinking about one or 2 but I believe I might be the only one.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by PIAA REF

To my knowledge I am the only ref that is under 30 that is able to ref at the state level. There are a few others that are in their early 30's. I may be not thinking about one or 2 but I believe I might be the only one.

I rest my case. However, I still will congratulate you (hopefully this time you Will hear it) because this is still an accomplish. Just remember, in order for you to step forward, someone was held back. I know you probably don't care about that but in the industry you seek to move up in. There are many disappointed officials and not all of them fall into the category of not good enough.

I support the strategy that assigners, just like our presidents, should have term limits.

[dblref]

@OS

Just remember, in order for you to step forward, someone was held back.

Not necessarily true. By working hard, PIAA REF took the initiative to get better and he stepped forward. Maybe, just maybe, those that got left behind didn't do anything to step forward.

[PIAA REF]

Old School I won't hear anything coming from you. You are like a said not a real ref, No one likes you on here so why don't you do us all a favor and stop visiting this sight.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by PIAA REF

Old School I won't hear anything coming from you. You are like a said not a real ref, No one likes you on here so why don't you do us all a favor and stop visiting this sight.

I'll tell you what young man, you keep talking and thinking like that, and your stay at state playoff's will be short lived.

[K-Bach]

"The majority of the ball simply is not that good..." Games rarely live up to their hype; that doesn't reflect the officials' selection process though.

"More often than not, selection to HS playoffs is more political [than] it is how good you are." I presume you have the statistics to support this statement? I didn't think so.
"He probably earned 20% of his way." Do I even need to ask if you can corroborate this statement with statistics, or even clarify the criteria you have used to develop this estimate?

"...knowing this country's poor track record of discrimination in hiring, especially in sports, an eyebrow raises when someone who's being doing it for such a short period of time is chosen over a person who's been doing it much longer." America's poor track record of discrimination reflects those in positions of influence sharing their power with their own ilk, not throwing favours to impertinent young hucksters. However, eyebrows are often raised when a young person advances -- those who feel entitled by birth, ethnicity, age, or whatever, raise their eyebrows and wonder why some young schmuck has gone and made himself qualified for the position they have coveted in all the wrong ways.

"...in order for you to step forward, someone was held back..." Ah, more sour grapes. Apparently, individual progress is only possible if someone else is unfairly punished. Being rewarded for one's hard work and overall improvement must be foreign to you. This doesn't mean others are held back; it means they still have room to improve.

"I'll tell you what young man, you keep talking and thinking like that, and your stay at state playoff's will be short lived." Beautiful! Your argument falls apart under scrutiny and you resort to baseless and empty threats. Ooooh!

"You know, if he's working games at that level, his head is swollen and if he goes and cocks off to the wrong person, that could be his demise." After your threats fail, you accuse him of youthful hubris and disrespect. Clearly, anyone so young and accomplished is a ticking time bomb who should not be trusted, despite his previous behaviours.

Old School -- you strike me as petty, vengeful, bitter, ill-informed, poorly vitriolic, and sad...really sad.

[Old School]

Originally Posted by K-Bach

"The majority of the ball simply is not that good..." Games rarely live up to their hype; that doesn't reflect the officials' selection process though. I didn't say it did, but I'm glad you agree. Most HS playoff ball is boring.

"More often than not, selection to HS playoffs is more political [than] it is how good you are." I presume you have the statistics to support this statement? I didn't think so. Question asked and answered. How about you give me a chance to respond. The reason I say HS is worse than most others is because you see the same people over and over. And some of these people are simply bad officials. Some are getting too old. I really do not have a problem with HS playoffs because I just don't think it's worth all the effort, the pay is minimal and combine that with a half-azz game and to me it's just not worth it, imo. So I don't pursue it as hard as I do other types of games that are way more competitive.

I do hear a lot of officials complaining, maybe it's because there are just way more who don't get selected than there are people who do. One more thing, their voices are all saying the same thing. That's where you're going to run into problems. If they where to all get together and file a class action lawsuit against the state HS school organizations selection process. Me thinks the HS selection committee would be in a little bit of trouble with the government. The 20 year old would not look good for the home team. The funny little thing about our government, they don't like to see companies come up with criteria for hiring that only a young man can pass, or that unfairly punishes one group (older Americans) over another.

Last, and to round out my argument. I am squarely in the camp that I don't believe you have to be "super referee" to referee these games. We see mistakes made all the time at all levels. Until we get over that fact, it's going to always be a problem here. In other words, JBurr doesn't have to ref the final four every year. Just think how screwed up this country would be if we selected our president this way! Only the most qualified guy be the president. Our president would never change, and some committee would be in control of who gets to run this country, and every year, it would be the same guy over and over and over. For far too long, they have gotten away with this in the sporting industry. That's just my opinion though....

"He probably earned 20% of his way." Do I even need to ask if you can corroborate this statement with statistics, or even clarify the criteria you have used to develop this estimate? Yes, the boy confirmed it for me.

Old School -- you strike me as petty, vengeful, bitter, ill-informed, poorly vitriolic, and sad...really sad.

I wasn't trying to strike you as anything. I was just trying to make a point that you and the others took the wrong way and then ran off the cliff with it. To this date, no one has acknowledge that I said congratulation to the OP. Vengeful, not. I'm only vengeful when you strike at me.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Old School

. It's all about who you know in this business and you have to put as much effort into the politics as you have to do your game. That be the way it is.

You could know God and it still wouldn't get you a regular season high school game, let alone a playoff game. You actually have to work at a certain level before being considered for playoffs at that level.