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

[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!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

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

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
SECTION 171 During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.

Now, my pet peeve:

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
Section 176. (j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

I love our flag as much as anyone. I display the flag on all holidays. The wallpaper on my work computer, home computer, and cell phone, is a flag. I'm proud to wear a flag patch on my official's uniform, but are officials considered a patriotic organization?

[jbduke]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
SECTION 171 During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.

Now, my pet peeve:

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
Section 176. (j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

I love our flag as much as anyone. I display the flag on all holidays. The wallpaper on my work computer, home computer, and cell phone, is a flag. I'm proud to wear a flag patch on my official's uniform, but are officials considered a patriotic organization?

As usual, I think it depends on whom you ask. My answer to the question is 'no,' which is why I haven't and won't put a patch on my uniform. This refusal rankles some, but I fail to see why it makes more sense for sports officials to wear flag patches than it would for members of catering staffs. After all, they usually wear unis, too.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I love our flag as much as anyone. I display the flag on all holidays. The wallpaper on my work computer, home computer, and cell phone, is a flag. I'm proud to wear a flag patch on my official's uniform, but are officials considered a patriotic organization?

No they are not. Here is a list of patriotic organizations. I am sure there are more organizations which are not on the list but you can read the descriptions of the organizations and see that sports officials/officials' associations do not belong with the other groups.

Patriotic Organizations, American organizations and clubs, public service.

Sports officiating and flags really don't go together at all. If someone is patriotic why does that need to be shown to all while they are officiating a game?

[Mark Padgett]

The Sunday paper came out today and there were no responses to my letter from last Sunday. I guess everyone agreed with what I said. Yeah, right.