I think Gary Maxwell is due. He was the alternate 2 years ago and has done a great job. No 'on court' time yet in the Final Four. One of the best D1 officials to not get the call.

He normally isn't. I would be stunned if he was on this one. That seems unbelievable for a mid-major conference.

He's certainly eligible as he worked a regional final.

Actually he is pretty close on that one.

The pay scale that Jeff quoted are contained in the 2007MVC Men's Basketball Championship Handbook. The 2008 version does not include the pay scale.

34. OFFICIALS
A minimum of 12 officials will be assigned to the tournament by Jim Bain, Coordinator of Officials. Officials will be paid the same fl at fee by tier as during the regular season. E-Tier offi cials will get $1600 for a weekday game and $1800 for a weekend game (Saturday or Sunday). Level I will receive a fee of $1200, Level II will receive $1000 and Level III will receive $850 per game.

The MVC has made a concerted effort to attract top officials and their roster bears this out. By my count, 28 of them received NCAA tournament assignments. The roster also includes several others who didn't receive assignments because of the computer snafu: Jim Burr, John Higgins, Steve Olson and Steve Welmer.

Agreed...

Allow me to pass the BBQ sauce. ;)

No need. I simply said I would be stunned if he was correct.

According to my very reliable sources, Welmer not working the NCAA tournament was not a "computer snafu." Welmer turned back his NCAA tournament assignment because he only got assigned 1 game instead of 2 (that the normal big-dogs get) during the first weekend. He saw it as a sign of disrespect.

Eric Curry, the suspended Big Sky official, was originally not assigned a NCAA tournament game but got the call when Welmer turned his back.

If true, that is quite interesting...

and pulled up his pants! ;)

Les Jones is out of the running for this weekend. He had the first semi in the NIT along with John Higgins and Ted Hillary, neither of whom were eligible to work this years Final Four.

I know Hightower & Eads are in, not sure of the rest...

I'm thinking Shaw and Tony Greene for sure....

I heard the same thing about Welmer from a reliable source. Only got one game, so he turned it back. I thought Donato would get in this year but I guess not. I'll say Hightower, Valentine, Thornley, Shaw and Eades as my locks.

It was just announced. Here's the officials for one of the games:

http://s155426766.websitehome.co.uk/.../marx-bros.jpg

Here's the other group:

http://www.tvcrazy.net/tvclassics/ar...ee-stooges.jpg

Here are the alternates:

http://www.corrieblog.tv/laurel%20and%20hardy.jpg