Letter to the editor re: NBA officiating article and my response

[Adam]

My guess is that Mr. Decker buys into all sorts of conspiracy theories.

[DonInKansas]

Padgett's going to be published.

*braces for armageddon*

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by DonInKansas

Padgett's going to be published.

Actually, I get "published" every once in a while, which shows you how small a town Portland really is.

Seriously, I know quite a few reporters, both print and electronic, as I've been involved in civic, youth sports, school and political activities in this area for over 35 years. It's not that unusual for me to receive a call asking my "take" on a particular issue, usually for "background".

I'm not stating this to be bragging, only to say that if you take the time to get involved, people then take your opinions into consideration when reviewing issues and you gain credibility.

Two years ago, I asked a reporter friend of mine to run a story on the need for volunteers for our local kids rec league. He ran it, and ten parents showed up at our next meeting to volunteer. It was a big help. I also got three TV stations and all three local newspapers to cover a fund raiser for a local G.I. who is stationed in Iraq. They covered it not only because of the story value, but because they knew I had credibility and the event was legitimate.

Again, anyone can achieve this level of credibility if they get involved in their community. I would encourage all of you to do the same.

OK, I'll get down off my soapbox now.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Actually, I get "published" every once in a while, which shows you how small a town Portland really is.

Seriously, I know quite a few reporters, both print and electronic, as I've been involved in civic, youth sports, school and political activities in this area for over 35 years. It's not that unusual for me to receive a call asking my "take" on a particular issue, usually for "background".

I'm not stating this to be bragging, only to say that if you take the time to get involved, people then take your opinions into consideration when reviewing issues and you gain credibility.

Two years ago, I asked a reporter friend of mine to run a story on the need for volunteers for our local kids rec league. He ran it, and ten parents showed up at our next meeting to volunteer. It was a big help. I also got three TV stations and all three local newspapers to cover a fund raiser for a local G.I. who is stationed in Iraq. They covered it not only because of the story value, but because they knew I had credibility and the event was legitimate.

Again, anyone can achieve this level of credibility if they get involved in their community. I would encourage all of you to do the same.

OK, I'll get down off my soapbox now.

Agreed. I have a good relationship with several writers at our local newspaper. They routinely do articles on officiating and local officials. The HS Preps sportwriter contacts me at the end of football and basketball season when putting together the paper's all-region teams and asks about deserving players that I may have seen that he's not familiar with. He'll call me with rule questions whenever he comes across something unusual. But he would never put me in a controversial situation by quoting me about an officiating screwup or something like that or publish anything I might say. It's been very positive.

Sports writers are alot like officials. They don't get a lot of cooperation from coaches. You'd be amazed at the coaches who don't send in stats or game reports or who don't nominate their kids for recognition.

[Amesman]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Sports writers are alot like officials. They don't get a lot of cooperation from coaches. You'd be amazed at the coaches who don't send in stats or game reports or who don't nominate their kids for recognition.

You've got that absolutely right. Have several close family members who have been sports writers. They're only doing a good job when they're writing something good about the reader's team. Sound familiar? And while they're not running up and down the court in front of a several hundred or thousand fans, they're still working a game, trying to stay somewhat separated from fans, and a lot of their real work starts only after the final horn and everybody else gets to go home.

You have to know who you're talking with, and how trustworthy they are (broadcasters can be some of the worst with their smash-and-grab process), but these (re: BBRef and Mark's posts) are some good reasons why officials should not outright shun members of the media.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Amesman

You have to know who you're talking with, and how trustworthy they are (broadcasters can be some of the worst with their smash-and-grab process), but these (re: BBRef and Mark's posts) are some good reasons why officials should not outright shun members of the media.

I always have a good understanding of where broadcasters are coming from since I used to be one. In the late 60s and early 70s I did radio play-by-play for local HS and college basketball plus HS football and baseball at a suburban Chicago station (WKKD in Aurora, now WERV). What's weird is that a rival station in town also did HS basketball and their announcer was Chick Hearn, who became the L.A. Lakers long-time announcer. He was really good even back then.

[grunewar]

I may get published too……but, it may not be what you think.

July 2009, REFEREE Magazine, page 21, Respect, Please. The magazine makes a big “ta do” about paying respects to our Nation’s flag, which I am all for of course, but then provides the wrong guidance (shocker).

The article states, “The umpires should stand at attention, with their left hand by their side and their right hand holding their hat over their heart (see PlayPic).”

While this is what most people believe to be correct (Mythbuster Billy?) and do, it is incorrect.

The correct verbiage should be something like, “Men who are wearing a hat should remove it and with their right hand hold the hat over their shoulder. The right HAND, not the hat, should rest over the heart. Placing the right hand on the left side of the breast, covering the heart, shows our love for the Flag and all it stands for.”

Same should be said for officials of any kind.

(Note - I don’t truly know if there is a distinction for women, but everything I’ve seen talks specifically about men removing headgear. Sorry.)

As Billy Joel once wrote:

Get it right the first time
That's the main thing
I can't afford to let it pass
Get it right the next time
That's not the same thing
Gonna make the first time last.

Once you tell/show people bad habits, it's hard to undo em.

Just a pet peeve.
Off soapbox, carry on!

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

My guess is that Mr. Decker buys into all sorts of conspiracy theories.

I have a family member I can hook you up with for some , ahem, tales.

The theorys get better after about 5 beers.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

I have a family member I can hook you up with for some , ahem, tales.

The theorys get better after about 5 beers.

Yeah, I've heard some of those tales from colleagues in my Guard unit. It's like listening to Art Bell.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Yeah, I've heard some of those tales from colleagues in my Guard unit. It's like listening to Art Bell.

I spent many a night driving from Norcal to Vegas and back. I would always listen to Coast to Coast.

I,at one time, owned land in the kingdom of Nye.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

I spent many a night driving from Norcal to Vegas and back. I would always listen to Coast to Coast.

I,at one time, owned land in the kingdom of Nye.

Worked graveyard shift for a security company for a short time in 97. Art got me through the nights.