Curious to know how most of you keep track of games? I've used the 'ol pocket calendar in the past two seasons, but found it rather cumbersome. Always had to carry it with you.....easy to misplace.....Not enough room to write.....Hard to keep organized.....had to replace it every year....

What I've just done is build a Lotus Notes database that keeps track of all my games, dates, partners names and numbers, directions to the site, etc. etc. Comes in pretty handy. Of course, I can't carry it with me, but it does seem to solve all my other problems! On the day of my game, I just print off the record, and it has all the pertinent information: site, directions, date, time, partner(s), assigner information...

How do all of you keep track of games?

Well, I don't like to plug products, but I've found that the Assignment Secretary for my Palm Pilot works great. It keeps track of games, fees, mileage, partners, expenses, etc. It also puts all the pertinent info into my Palm datebook. The other nice thing about it is that it's written by a guy on this board, Rick Vietti. It has its drawbacks; the main one being that all the info has to be entered on the Palm, there's no desktop interface yet (I think Rick's working on it tho). Other than that, I love it. It was also very inexpensive and Rick sent me updates for free.

The website to check it out is:
http://officialssoftware.homestead.c...Secretary.html

I don't make a dime off the product, so I'm not trying to get rich off you guys. It's just something that I tried and have had a very good experience with it.

Chuck

I keep all of my dates in my palm. I always have it with me, and I can sync it with my work calendar.

I have a spreadsheet at home where I keep track of the date, school, fee, and mileage. I have a lookup table, so when I enter the school, the miles pop in. It also automatically, enter $0 fo meetings and sums the total.

I also have a separate sheet for expenses.

It takes a few minutes a week to keep updated, and really helps come tax time.

3 Things
 

I use my computer with Microsoft Outlook. I have a calender that I got from Honig's. And I use a small calender that I got from my Association. I was thinking about getting a Palm Pilot but I would probably lose it or break it.

Guess it looks like I need to invest in a Palm. Thanks for the input, guys!

I've tried to use computers/handhelds to keep my schedule
but I've found it's far easier for me to keep everything
on a single appointment book. The book allows me to enter
whatever information I need in an unformatted style. A
few times a season I transfer whatever info I need from the
book to the computer, primarily for tax purposes. I also
keep all contracts, turnbacks, additions, etc until the end of the season, primarily to CYA in case there's a screw-up.
I usually dump those in May.

Did you get this from me? ;)

It sounds like it is EXACTLY what I created several years ago. The mileage lookup, sums, etc.

I know I sent out links to an example copy s few years ago.

Truth be told I had one on my own, but could never get the lookup part to work.

It could have been yours, but I think Rick had a prototype I looked at for the lookup part. Turned out I needed sort the schools or some such thing to get it to work.

I was going to buy the excel client for Palm and keep it all in one place, but after using the trial version you only see 3 or 4 cells at a time, and I did not find that useful.

I want to thank Chuck for the nice plug on my Palm software. A couple of additional things about the program. You can export the records from the Palm and then pull them into Excel. There are also reports etc.. to pull the info out of the Palm.

If you are interested and you decide to buy, then drop me an e-mail telling me that you are from the forum and I will throw in one of the other products. The Play Book program can be used as an evaluating tool or a pre-grame tool.

Here is the web site again.

http://officialssoftware.homestead.c...Secretary.html
----------
Rick V.

I keep my entire calendar on my VTech PDA, including all games. I also keep my ref info (date, gym, mileage, fee, number of games that day, etc.) and schedule in Excel and just send a copy to my CPA each year with my tax info. I have to keep perfect records because I ref as an employee of my corporation.

I also print a hard copy of my calendar in Publisher and give it to my wife so she'll know in advance when I'll be gone. Funny thing, though. She always gives a copy to our mailman.

i use outlook
 

I use Outlook-I don't like handheld stuff, and I simply print out my individual weeks each Sunday night.

But those I know with a Palm swear by it.

I get it.That's humor,too!

I hope!

BTW,whoinhell is Michael Jackson?Who did he play for?

Wrong sport.
 

The Cleveland Browns.

Peace

Re: Wrong guy.
 

Nope,Dwayne Rudd plays for the Cleveland Browns.

Maybe!

Re: Re: Wrong guy.
 

For those of you who officiate football, what did you think of this call? This is one of the few times that an official's call actually did change the outcome of a game. The guy thinks the game is over, so he begins celebrating. It certainly wasn't taunting, as he was yelling at the crowd. I understand that there is a rule in place that prohibits removing a helmet, but should it have been enforced at that point of the contest? It seems like T'ing up a coach for stepping out on the floor (as the horn sounds at the end of regulation) to see if the opponent's desparation 3-pointer goes in. Any thoughts?

Chuck

Re: Re: Re: Wrong guy.
 

I don't work football, but I think it was the right call.
It was so obvious that I think you <i> have</i> to make that call. Can you imagine the conversation with his super on Monday if he didn't??

The bogus call I thought was the KC guy who got hurt, and took his helmet off as he was rolling around in pain on the ground. The guy was hurt, cut him some slack.

I think John Madden got it right last night by saying that there are rules and then there is the "Spirit" of the rules. As we all know that circumstances can dictate when you enforce some of the "conduct control" rules. Madden made the point that players routinely come on to the field to celebrate a touchdown etc... and 12 men on the field could be called but is ignored.

I do not think he berated the officials for calling it and since the NFL refs are under a microscope they probably make those calls early in the season and then get a P.O.E. now about enforcing it.

Re: Re: Re: Wrong guy.
 

I'm not a football official but I believe the helmet rule is
a safety & fight prevention thing. As I recall seeing it on
replay the official was standing right in front of the
player when he took off his helmet during a live ball. The
player made it easy to make the call. Beyond that, I'm
thinking if I'm paying you $million per year to play
football you had better be smart enough not to draw a seldom
seen flag to give your opponent a last ditch opportunity.
If he would have left his helmet on there would not have
been any "game changing call", now would there?

I don't officiate football and I don't know whether that call should have been made or not but I'm sure glad it was. I am hoping this incident might prompt some coaches to tell their players to do a little less celebrating (self-promotion) on the field.

Even before I learned of the Cleveland incident, I had been irritated all day long by all the "look at me" celebrations. If someone caught a pass, there was a dance. If there was a sack, there was a dance. If there was a touchdown, there was a dance, etc., etc., etc.

I can't remember what coach is credited with the saying. It was somebody of the ilk of Bear Bryan but he told his players "When you get into the end zone, act like you've been there before."

These guys are professional athletes. You're getting paid millions of dollars to score or tackle. I don't want to see you dance after every one.

It's a team sport!!!

End of Rant

Re: Re: Re: Re: Wrong guy.
 

Absolutely. He didn't have his "game awareness". It was not smart. Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask whether in that situation, when the player obviously truly believes that the game is over and is merely celebrating, the infraction (which had no impact on safety of the game) should have been overlooked. Especially since the call literally altered the outcome of the game. I'm just curious what our pigskin brethren might think. Jeff, Tony, anybody?

Chuck

I think the sweet irony is the guy who caught the "pass" and rumbled upfield was the same guy who had his grill caved in with his own lid during a training camp fight.

Guy took like 18 stiches, if there was ever a reason to keep it on...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Wrong guy.
 

This gets me back to the thread we had recently about a
player going up for a pregame dunk, then changing his
mind in mid air but ending up hanging from the rim for
"safety reasons". Some calls just beg to be made and you're
doing yourself harm as an official, IMO, if you give these
guys the benefit of the doubt. In football leave the helmet
on until you run off the field. In basketball stay off the
rims pregame. In baseball, as a pitcher don't pick up a
broken bat head and throw it at the batter as he runs to
first...uhmmm, wait, that last one's not a good example...

Actually,Jimmy Brown of the old Cleveland Browns was the first person that I remember this quote being attributed to--many years ago.Mr. Brown is still the single greatest running back that I have ever seen,as well as being one of the greatest all-around athletes ever.When I was a kid,in the late 50's,I went to to one of the Browns' training camps in the summer and chased down Mr. Brown for his autograph after a practise.He told me to go f*** myself.Didn't bother me at all-still thought he was great.

BTW,Barry,I agree with your rant.You can extend it to basketball,hockey,baseball,etc.My personal favorite is soccer.Guy scores a goal,then runs around the field three times with his arms in the air,falls on the ground on his stomach like he just had an epiliptic fit,kicks his arms and legs,and then his team-mates pile on top of him and try to screw him dog-style.Unbelievable!

End of my rant.:D

Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
 

It is a rule. It was an obvious violation of the rule, it was an obvious foul.

We are told to call the obvious and this was obvious. Football players at the very least are told to play to the whistle. You play to the whistle. Dwayne Rudd did not do that, he got penalized for it. If the offical did not call that then the opposing coach could have easily questioned the judgement or integrity of the official. Unsportsmanlike Penalties never have to affect the play, they are non-conduct fouls at all levels and the official did the right thing.

If players would stop feeling the need to celabrate after every single play, then this would not have been an issue.

Peace

Hey, sounds like the 4 legged Woody! Except for the screwing part of course...

Palm + Yahoo
 

I keep my schedule, notes, contacts on my Palm Pilot like others have said, but I sync it with my account on Yahoo. For me, there are two advantages to this approach: First, if I forget or lose my Palm Pilot, I can get to my schedule from any connected PC. Second, I can give people (particularly assignors) the URL to my online calendar for availability (only I can edit it, though).

Hey, sounds like the 4 legged Woody! Except for the screwing part of course... [/B][/QUOTE]Is poor Woody still hanging his head in shame and refusing to go outside and play with his friends?I know I would!

Bad Dan! Bad,bad Dan!

Is poor Woody still hanging his head in shame and refusing to go outside and play with his friends?I know I would!

Bad Dan! Bad,bad Dan! [/B][/QUOTE]

Nah, for Woody they're just a fading memory by now.

Nah, for Woody they're just a fading memory by now. [/B][/QUOTE]After my anniversary last Wednesday,I'm just about in the same boat.

In soccer it IS a tremendous achievement with many games won by a score of 1-0. There are just not that many chances to score in soccer, so the achievment is pretty high.

But, I do think it is a little over done.

Don't know how true it is, but I've always heard of this one being attributed to Vince Lombardi.

BTW, didn't see the play, but from the description this seems like the type of play that needs to be called. If the guy was too stupid to wait two seconds to be sure the game was over (and also stupid enough to think that he got the sack when he didn't - you should always pay attention), he deserves the USC.

In soccer it IS a tremendous achievement with many games won by a score of 1-0. There are just not that many chances to score in soccer, so the achievment is pretty high.

But, I do think it is a little over done. [/B][/QUOTE]Camron,I don't think that there is a darn thing wrong with the GAME of soccer.A 1-0 game can still be very exciting and well played too,as you stated.It's the histrionics involved in the game that personally drive me nuts.Not only the goal-scoring extravaganzas,but the acting jobs done by players trying to draw a foul or card are completely ridiculous,too.Guys get stretchered off,and all of a sudden a miracle occurs and they come running back on the field.It kinda makes you wonder if Oral Roberts has come back to be their team doctor.Unfortunately,this behavior seems to have become endemic to a lot of pro sports,and seems to be be sifting down to their amateur counterparts.Soccer is certainly no worse than football,basketball or hockey when it comes to the "look at me" syndrome.Baseball seems to be a little more restrained,but you still get multi-millionaires who won't run out a ground ball(hello,Manny!).It has certainly added another dimension to games,that we,as officials,must be aware of.

Then again.maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age.

End of another rant!:D

Palm Pilot
 

Which style or model of Palm (or similar) are recommended. If I were to use it just to track schedules and the like I would hope it wouldn't be very expensive!

Any recommendations?

Re: Palm Pilot
 

I use the visor NEO.

It was cheap $150, it can be expanded, and serves its purpose. And, god forbid, if I lose it or break it, I won't be out that much.

Has Oral Roberts left us? I didn't know that. Unfortunately, I lost all respect for the man when he told his congregation (and TV viewers) that God would kill him if he couldn't raise however many million dollars he was looking for.

Quote:

but you still get multi-millionaires who won't run out a ground ball(hello,Manny!).

You talkin' smack about Manny Ramirez?!? Manny plays hard, he does run out ground balls, he doesn't dog it on defense (like another Red Sox backup left fielder) and he even agreed to play left field against his preferences. Admittedly, he didn't agree right away and the Sox did play him in right for a while last season. But he's been the model of "team spirit", in my opinion, since coming to the Sox. Yeah, he's obscenely overpaid, but that's not his fault. Maybe you just saw him on a bad day when he was sore or something.

Of course, if you're not talking about Manny Ramirez, then please excuse my rant. :)

Chuck

Re: Palm Pilot
 

I use the Palm m105. It was $149, has 8 mb of memory, which is more than enough for me. It is not, however, expandable.

If you really only want to type in your assignments, you can get real cheap handhelds at Radio Shack or KMart. They're like $40, but only contain a datebook (and maybe an address book) and have very little memory.

Chuck

You talkin' smack about Manny Ramirez?!? Manny plays hard, he does run out ground balls, he doesn't dog it on defense (like another Red Sox backup left fielder) and he even agreed to play left field against his preferences. [/B][/QUOTE]Uh,Chuck,don't they have newspapers and television in your area?:D

Yes,that would be the same Manny Ramirez that got fined yesterday by the Bosox for not even taking one step to first base after hitting a come-backer to the pitcher on Monday.The same guy that really should have the nickname "Trot" for the way he goes after fly balls.The same Manny that has routinely turned doubles into singles this year.

Check out this morning's Boston Globe on line.There's a whole bunch of "Manny" stories in there,by several different columnists.None of them are exactly what you would call "complimentary".I know that the Boston press can be critical,but this guy deserves everything he gets.

He's a dog,Chuck,imo.

What the heck is that supposed to mean?

(Posted by Woody, using Dan's id)

I have to admit that I didn't see that, or even hear of it. But I still think that's unusual. As far as trotting in the outfield, he's obviously not the fastest guy you could put out there, but I've never seen him loaf on a ball that he "should've" gotten to.

And maybe it's just me, but I like the guy. He seems personable and he seems to be a positive in the dugout (with the obvious exception of his comments during the Williams/Duquette/Kerrigan fiasco last year, but who can blame him for that?).

I would guess that I see a lot more of Manny's games than you do, and I would disagree strongly that he "routinely" turns doubles into singles. I've never heard anybody make that criticism of him before.

I'll check out the Globe piece, but I think you've way overstated Manny's downside. Again, just my biased opinion. (But you're wrong!! :) )

Chuck

Whoops!!

Sorry,Young Woody.

I really don't want to get into that kind of "lack of testicular fortitude" thing.BTW,are you still kinda placing "Dan" and "Pearl Harbor" in the same category in your mind?

I'll e-mail you on ways to get even with him.

Your friend,Old Woody.

Actually,between being retired,having plenty of free time(or maybe no life),and being the proud possessor of a pirate dish,as well as being an accomplished surfer,I think I have seen some of just about every Bosox game this year.I'm also into self-flagellation,but that's another story.I also read the Globe,among other papers, every morning.Seems to me a whole lot of people in New England have got the same impression of Manny as I do.Read all of today's Manny stories-there's more than one on him.Then tell me what you think.:D