Jim Burr

[tomegun]

Wow, all of this has been going on and I haven't been involved? I have a take on this too! Surprise, surprise!

I wouldn't lump Welmer and Burr together.

Everyone on here should know I don't think much of Welmer. Sure, he hasn't been in many controversial situations. That will NEVER happen as long as he only calls the SUPER DUPER REALLY REALLY REALLY obvious calls. No matter what league it is, he is only going to call the obvious and not very much of those. The Big 10's physical play has nothing to do with it.

Burr is a great official, but he calls all over the court too much. I think he can still get it done, he just calls everything. There are many officials who work D1 and expect a double whistle all the time regardless of where the call is on the court. Not good.

Rich, was Valentine wrong? Are you afraid to make the controversial call? You say Welmer and Burr must be at the top of their game because they get hired. Doesn't the same apply for Valentine? He is in the ACC, SEC and Big 10; he must be doing something right too and I'm sure he's been to more final fours than Welmer.

I think it is funny when someone says an official who is doing D1 basketball is automatically good and right. I mentioned this on another thread; officials are hired and hid all the time. It is a fact. Officials are also hired for different reasons - not only their ability. I can understand our (people on this forum) disdain for fanboys, but to some extent some of us are fanboys too. D1 officials make mistakes and they do not all have equal talent. Just like officials at the high school and JC level, the best officials do not always do the most or best games. Knowing that, some of us sure are drinking some strange Kool-Aid!