Association politics

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Jay R

So Jeff, you're saying Bush is President because of poltitics? Made me chuckle.

No, I am saying he became President on his family history more than the merit. No different than a current candidate that is in the spotlight because of their spouse.

But I get the joke BTW.

Peace

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

No, I am saying he became President on his family history more than the merit. No different than a current candidate that is in the spotlight because of her spouse.

But I get the joke BTW.

Peace

Just filling in for Mr. Annoying Grammar Guy.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

No, I am saying he became President on his family history more than the merit.

Well, his opponents didn't offer much in the race either...particulary in the first election...the voters essentially had to pick which one they tought was the least bad.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

No different than a current candidate that is in the spotlight because of their spouse.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Well, his opponents didn't offer much in the race either...particulary in the first election...the voters essentially had to pick which one they tought was the least bad.

That made me chuckle (inside) but it is a sad statement.
Did he really get elected the first time?
The second time is beyond my understanding...why America why?!!

I agree there are politics in life and basketball officiating is no different. The sad part is the biggest losers are the players. I love this game and it sickens me to see what goes on that doesn't do justice to the game. I can take myself out of the equation and say we are not putting our best foot forward and IMO it just hurts the game.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by tomegun

That made me chuckle (inside) but it is a sad statement.
Did he really get elected the first time?

Completely off-topic and I will not be upset if it gets deleted. But:

It's time for hardcore Democrats to give up this illusion. Three separate Florida newspapers (Orlando, Miami and Tamp/St. Pete) did separate hand recounts of the Florida ballots. A university (I believe it was the University of Wisconsin) Political Science department also did its own independent study of the ballots. All four studies determined that Bush received the most votes in Florida. Additionally, it's likely (although this is just a guess) that he would have received even more votes in the panhandle of Florida if the media reports hadn't declared Gore the winner prematurely.

Like him or hate him, he won. It's time to stop whining about it. (Full disclosure: I am NOT registered Republican.)

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Completely off-topic and I will not be upset if it gets deleted. But:

It's time for hardcore Democrats to give up this illusion. Three separate Florida newspapers (Orlando, Miami and Tamp/St. Pete) did separate hand recounts of the Florida ballots. A university (I believe it was the University of Wisconsin) Political Science department also did its own independent study of the ballots. All four studies determined that Bush received the most votes in Florida. Additionally, it's likely (although this is just a guess) that he would have received even more votes in the panhandle of Florida if the media reports hadn't declared Gore the winner prematurely.

Like him or hate him, he won. It's time to stop whining about it. (Full disclosure: I am NOT registered Republican.)

[Bad Zebra]

No matter what the ballot looked like, we still would have found a way to screw it up. It's Florida. That's what we do.

Interesting transition..Association Politics to Florida ballots.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Like him or hate him, he won. It's time to stop whining about it. (Full disclosure: I am NOT registered Republican.)

I totally understand what you are saying and you may very well be right. However, don't believe everything you hear on the news - yes, to include the questionable ballots too.
After living in DC for three years and seeing how low us humans can stoop, I believe anything is possible.

Back to basketball officiating politics. I want to plead with every young official: do not be a brown noser, worrying about politics, before you take care of your (officiating) game on and off the court. This is a business where opportunity may knock several times, once or not at all and it will have nothing to do with your ability. There are also those guys who you see climbing the ladder and you know they just have the gift.
Putting forth the correct effort is so important. Politics can put an official in a position they shouldn't be in and don't deserve. If you get burned for being someplace too soon, you may not ever get the chance to get back.
We have meetings here, in Mississippi, and I just feel like telling a lot of guys to shut up and listen. They are so worried about making witty comments and talking about all the "what ifs" that they can't get the basics. It is so dumb and frustrating to see guys running their mouths all the time and you know they can't ref to save their lives.

I have to go, I forgot to block an official.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by tomegun

Politics can put an official in a position they shouldn't be in and don't deserve. If you get burned for being someplace too soon, you may not ever get the chance to get back.

Agree completely. Politics and sucking around might get you there. You aren't going to stay there though unless you prove that you can actually do the job. I've seen too many "stars" flame out completely because they were pushed way too fast, and weren't up to the level that they were being assigned to. They got themselves into a situation that their experience(and maturity in some cases) hadn't prepared them for, and they just weren't up to the task. Assignors( and coaches, AD's, etc) have a long memory.

[JRutledge]

I think another point that needs to be made is that "Politics" is not always about someone kissing up. Sometimes "Politics" involves going to meetings regularly, helping out at a camp or association function or simply working with the right veteran that sees something positive in you. I know I have benefited from the fact I dedicate so much time to many of my associations and do things that others are not willing to do. I offered my services to give presentations and run for office in associations when others choose to not do anything. The fact that I am a perceived as a decent official helps, but when you prove you can work you get asked even more to help out because you have some credibility. In one association we created a mentor program and I am the only official that has been involved in the mentor program as a mentor every year the program has been active. I did not know this until recently, but guys like me are going to be considered for things that the equally qualified veteran may never get consideration for because they never take a leadership role. I even have been helping a guy this past year that one of my mentors asked me to help when this official moved to this area. I have become good friends with this guy not because he kissed my ***, but because he wants to learn, get better and constantly calls me for advice and wants to get better. All I have done is share what I know about officiating and point him in the right direction, he has done the rest and it is paying off for him.

I think sometimes we need to look in the mirror when we complain that we did not get opportunities. I have not gotten all the opportunities I feel I should have and I am sure some have some political consequences to the lack of those opportunities. But all I can do is continue to work hard and do what I have been doing. I feel if it is in the cards, I will get there. I feel that God always has a plan and just because it does not happen my way it does not mean I will not be happy with the results.

Peace

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by tomegun

That made me chuckle (inside) but it is a sad statement.
Did he really get elected the first time?

If you recount only the precincts that were strongly democratic and were more like to find missed democratic votes, no. But if you reo****ed all the state, yes.

Gore only wanted to recount the votes in places where he thought it would favor him....not a general recount where they might also find votes that would benefit Bush in a recount. I've yet to understand how anyone can think that a selective partisan recount could be anything close to fair or just.

Originally Posted by tomegun

The second time is beyond my understanding...why America why?!!

Again, the candidate the Dems put up against him was unacceptable to enough people.

Personally, I think that GWBush is overall the weakest/poorest president we've had since Carter. In that timeframe, I think that Reagan is 1st and Clinton is 2nd (even though he left the ecomomy in a tailspin in his last 9-12 months....and not rebound for Bush, who was left with most of the blame when he couldn't recover from the mess he was left with) and G.Bush was 3rd.

If Gore had won instead, he would have likely been in the bottom spot. He was no match for Reagon or Clinton...he may or may not have beat out the first Bush, hard to say without him actually winning.

Kerry, had he won, may have ultimately slipped in above GW Bush (that was not an obvious thing...he had a lot of weaknesses too) but he was never going to come close to either Reagan or Clinton....maybe would have been a match for G. Bush.

When both parties have poorer candidates, you've got little choice but to get a lessor president.

[Mark Padgett]

Where's Teddy Roosevelt when you really need him?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Where's Teddy Roosevelt when you really need him?

Dead.

[tomegun]

Rut, I think what you described above is more an example of leadership and taking an active role than politics.

Your substance and integrity will always become obvious to those who also have substance and integrity. When you love the game, and I think many people on this board do, it shows.

Look for the person who is not getting any better, but always wants their face to be in the place. Look at the official who always complains but doesn't want to do anything. Look at the official who always speaks before they think. It will become obvious when someone is into politics.