Letter to Big South Commish regarding Joe Forte

[ncaambbref]

We should be backing these guys because they represent all of us. Don't you see that how this whole thing plays out directly influences how all referees are viewed and respected on all levels?
We are all in this together as referees.

They (NBA referees) do NOT represent me. Period.

[ncaambbref]

Originally Posted by dwarren

have you not seen joe's response yet...

http://www.bscc-refs.com/jf_statement.html

At least there is a response. lol

What about the fact that he sent out emails wanting to know who was working and then did not give any of those guys games when he found out who they were. Amazing how things happen from this site...lol.

[tjohnson65]

Wow.

So all of this uproar over a posting from someone with AT MOST a 10th grade education?

"...unprofessional treatment that is being displayed on and to some of your officials..."

Now I may not be an English professor, but I am pretty sure you cannot display treatment, of any kind, "on" a human being.

Only an insecure, shallow, small minded, feeble little man-child would post a message like this on a forum without a signature.

Joe Forte is one of the best officials the NBA has ever had, and if there is any justice in this world, officiating in the NBA will forever remain an unattainable dream for people like you.

I hope you get what you deserve - and that is a lifetime of officiating girls Junior High basketball games in lower Alabama for the rest of your miserable life.

Sincerely,

Todd Johnson
67 Feeble Little Man-Child Street
Insecure, CO 22222

[ncaambbref]

Originally Posted by tjohnson65

Wow.

So all of this uproar over a posting from someone with AT MOST a 10th grade education?

"...unprofessional treatment that is being displayed on and to some of your officials..."

Now I may not be an English professor, but I am pretty sure you cannot display treatment, of any kind, "on" a human being.

Only an insecure, shallow, small minded, feeble little man-child would post a message like this on a forum without a signature.

Joe Forte is one of the best officials the NBA has ever had, and if there is any justice in this world, officiating in the NBA will forever remain an unattainable dream for people like you.

I hope you get what you deserve - and that is a lifetime of officiating girls Junior High basketball games in lower Alabama for the rest of your miserable life.

Sincerely,

Todd Johnson
67 Feeble Little Man-Child Street
Insecure, CO 22222

Thanks for your well wishes. Yeah...officials are a brotherhood? NOT.

[tjohnson65]

...you mention that personal attacks on you do not change the facts. Funny thing is that you offer no facts. Only your clearly biased opinion.

[ncaambbref]

Originally Posted by tjohnson65

...you mention that personal attacks on you do not change the facts. Funny thing is that you offer no facts. Only your clearly biased opinion.

Facts:

* Forte sent out an email to staffers requesting the names of those who were working the lockout. (I doubt that ANY other coordinator did this)

* No one working the lockout received games this year even though they received games last year.

* Some lockout refs requested to miss the Big South clinic and were granted permission.

* Forte is a convicted felon for tax evasion - disputes the integrity claim.

* Forte served his time by being on HOME INCARCERATION for several months.

* The NBA grants Forte permission to be a supervisor in the first place - outside employment MUST be approved.

* The Big South has contacted several affected officials in THEIR investigation PRIOR to this thread!

Those are the FACTS!!!

[ncaambbref]

I never said that Joe was not a good official...which he clearly is. He is historic as a matter of fact in a very good way. But he has exercised POOR judgment in how he is treating a certain group of officials due to his personal bias.

Joe clearly knows this thread is going on, so why doesn't he come on here and clear the air? Since I have no balls according to some, where are his? He knows what he has done and he knows it is wrong...no matter how he tries to defend his actions.

[bb_ref]

FACTS:

1. Actually, many coordinators did what you allege Joe did. Some instituted a drop dead date by which the officials had to chose the NBA or NCAA. In the emails you reference, he also asked every one of them for their closed dates so he could work around their dates, but guess what, they don't know their availability yet because the NBA has not assigned the regular season! What assignor do you know allows an official to not know his availability and assigns games to him anyway??

2. They are independent contractors and are not guaranteed games day to day, let alone season to season. So what they received last year means absolutely nothing.

3. They don't need to be granted permission to not attend his clinic. They are independent contractors and can do what they please. However they made a choice not to attend while others sacrificed their time to be there and showed a commitment to the big south.

4. Joe Forte's past has absolutely nothing to do with this and for you to drag that out is irresponsible and childish. Referring to the irrelevant past is what one does when his argument lacks credibility. Joe Forte has more integrity than anyone that would post anonymously on a message board and attack his character and try to jeopardize what he's worked 20+ years to establish.

You obviously have no clue what Joe has done for young officials OR you're not will to acknowledge it because it kills your argument against him. Joe has multiple camps a summer where he hardly charges any money. He stays in the gym everyday at those camps all day long working with young officials. He WORKS with them. He doesn't walk around for 30 mins like some supervisors and leave. He is there for the first game in the morning and leaves the last game at night. He has had nba management to his camps to get young officials a look. He has always worked hard to get young officials as many games as possible and help them advance. Everyone knows how much Joe helps young officials.

It's a shame that someone like yourself who obviously knows the sacrifices officials have to make would try to bring down someone who has given back so much to officiating.

[Back In The Saddle]

Have you noticed how the maturity level here has risen so sharply lately?

[ncaambbref]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Have you noticed how the maturity level here has risen so sharply lately?

I will apologize for some of my comments. I let some of the people on here get to me...then I realized, why should I care about personal attacks when they really aren't personal because NONE of you on here know who I am, just as I do not know who any of you are or what leagues you officiate. Some have criticized my officiating ability when you have NO idea what leagues I work at all. That in itself is funny. I could be in the Big East or just a JuCo guy...you NEVER know. ANd yes, I could be working the lockout too! Speculate all you want...

Again, I pointed out what I felt was unfair treatment, regardless if people agree with me or not. Obviously, some do. Obviously, those who are in the Big South know what I have alleged is true. Why else would the NBA and the Big South contact those who were affected to investigate the situation?

It is clear that some have a loyalty connection with Forte and that is fine. But loyalty is a ONE way street. As soon as some of those who are LOYAL to Forte misapply a rule or are late to a game or do something eles, let's see how far that loyalty card takes them. They would more than likely be punished for their actions just as Forte should be punished for his!

Reagrdless of one's personal feelings toward the replacement refs, the game of basketball is bigger than anyone of us. And there will ALWAYS be referees who will gladly step in our shoes, even if YOU may not be one of them.

Forte abused his power as the coordinator of the Big South and this my fellow officials, MUST be addressed!!!

[BBref 654]

To ncaambbref:

You have way too much time on your hands to keep this trivial carping going. It sounds as if you're going to have even more free time on your hands when the season starts. Enjoy..... it won't be long now that we'll all be back on the floor, including Joe and you'll be home with ......yourself.

So sad....