A Fond Farewell

[ChuckElias]

After talking about this with some friends from the board and some other officials, I've decided to stop contributing to the forum. As Mick alluded to in the baseball thread, I was hired by a couple of D1 conferences (although I didn't recieve any assignments from one of them). Although it's not very likely, I don't want any of my comments to be misconstrued and then passed on to an assignor.

Fear not, I will be back to start the annual baseball thread. And I'll keep reading. But I won't be posting very much anymore. If for some unknown reason somebody wants my input on something, you could still email me through the forum.

It's been great, guys and gals. Everybody have a great season.

[26 Year Gap]

Will we see you in AmEast? And when you get home after a game, will one of your first tasks be to walk the dog? I'll pm you from time to time. Thanks for your helpful input.

[JRutledge]

Good luck to you. You and I do not always see eye to eye, but I wish you the best and this is probably a good decision. All that they look for is a little thing and you never know how a comment will be taken. Hope you get the opportunity you are looking for and let us know if you will be on TV. At least we can say we have known you in some way.

Peace

[Texas Aggie]

I hate to see those with potentially good input not post. I'm sure I've had a disagreement with most anyone that's posted regularly on here as long as I have been on (~2 years or so), probably including you, so this isn't a personal issue. But, I'd recommend you reregister under an assumed name and continue to post. However, if you choose not to, good luck in your endeavors.

[tjones1]

Take care Chuck, and good luck.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

But, I'd recommend you reregister under an assumed name and continue to post.

This one gets my vote!

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

After talking about this with some friends from the board and some other officials, I've decided to stop contributing to the forum. As Mick alluded to in the baseball thread, I was hired by a couple of D1 conferences (although I didn't recieve any assignments from one of them). Although it's not very likely, I don't want any of my comments to be misconstrued and then passed on to an assignor.

Fear not, I will be back to start the annual baseball thread. And I'll keep reading. But I won't be posting very much anymore. If for some unknown reason somebody wants my input on something, you could still email me through the forum.

It's been great, guys and gals. Everybody have a great season.

I understand your decision. I ran into a fellow in camp this summer who used to post on this site. He said someone had printed out all his posts and passed it along to one of his assignors.

[Nevadaref]

I can't help but think that the remaining members on the forum are coming out on the short end of this. I have learned a great deal from this poster and am truly sorry to see him go. With him gone I don't think that this place will quite measure up to how it was with him around.

I would certainly like to see him continue to post under a ficticious name. While I certainly respect his choice, I have to say that I believe that it is sad that a D1 caliber official must refrain from sharing his knowledge with others in this avocation for fear of it somehow costing him his place in a conference or game assignments.

I've been told that one of the most satisfying aspects of making it to the top is that ability to help others.

Truly what should an assignor care if one of his officials is helping others with rules interpretations, court positioning, and teamwork principles? Isn't that a good thing?

Bold emphasis to give you a parting Chuckle!

I wish you the best.

[drinkeii]

Good luck!

[cmathews]

Chuck,
Good luck and congratulations. I will miss your insight on the board, but I do completely understand your decision.

[Junker]

Great for you Chuck! You can always show back up under an assumed name. Thanks for all the comments over the past few years.

[rainmaker]

Chuck SAID he got hired to work some D1, and although I've never actually seen him ref, allusions on this board make me wonder how possible that is. And then I saw this news item:

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/0...el-spies-.html

and I knew that whole D1 story was just a fabrication. Chuck was going undercover to serve his country. One of our own has joined the fight, and is now paying the ultimate price.

Do you suppose they'll behead him on camera for the benefit of other squirrels worldwide who might be tempted to work against the Iranian interest? Oh, Chuck, Chuck, how patriotic you are! How we admire you now, when it's too late for you to know our true feelings!!

I will take a moment of silence thinking of all your heroism and bravery. I only hope when my time comes my death will serve a purpose half so worthy.

PS. Whoever's posting in the baseball off topic thread as Chuck, can stop now that his cover is blown. And don't worry, we all know it wasn't you that out-ed him!

[mick]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

It's been great, guys and gals. Everybody have a great season.

Good **** ..., Big Dawg !

[deecee]

to bad to see you go

hard to imagine that we are in a profession where expression ones opinion and openly discussing what is going on is frowned upon. what are we protecting when we are concerned when what we think and feel can come back and bite us in the a$$? just my thinking but if this is the petty state of officiating then quite frankly i am happy where i am.

however chuck it is a sad thing that you cannot share your experience with us and i wish you the best.

"Doubt whom you will, but never doubt yourself."

-- Christian Nestell Bovee

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by deecee

hard to imagine that we are in a profession where expression ones opinion and openly discussing what is going on is frowned upon. what are we protecting when we are concerned when what we think and feel can come back and bite us in the a$$? just my thinking but if this is the petty state of officiating then quite frankly i am happy where i am.

Why is it so odd to think that a D1 official needs to be held to a certain standard of behavior? Officials are expected to be unbiased. Assignors need to be certain that an official is not going to let their opinions be construed in any way as to give any participant an unfair advantage. We all know this, and so it shouldn't be considered "hard to imagine" or "petty" in any way. It is the foundation of what we do. That's why we are not allowed to talk to the press. We are protecting the basic ethics of what we have chosen to do. If you prefer to do something where your opinion matters, you should choose another vocation.