Tim Higgins?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

I would totally disagree with you on this...if the best officials each year are the same officials then they should be assigned to work the NCAA tournament and any HS State Tournament. The assigning for the NCAA tourney is a very complicated process hoping to put the "best" officials to work in the Tournament. If you are good enough to work you will get your shot to work at all levels...IMO!

Best is subjective. Who's to say one official is better than another? What are the objective criteria?

It's easy to say this when you're on the inside and there are many officials trying to pound on the (seemingly) locked door. When some officials have been to the state tourney 5, 6, 10 times and there are outstanding officials who never get a shot at it, I think the system is broken. There is nothing about the officials I saw on TV last week (and I admit I didn't watch much as I'd rather watch the NCAA tourney) head and shoulders above the varsity officials I see with 25+ years experience who've never gotten the call. I think it's just easier to pick the same people year after year than try to identify new people and give them their shot.

[bradfordwilkins]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

There is nothing about the officials I saw on TV last week (and I admit I didn't watch much as I'd rather watch the NCAA tourney) head and shoulders above the varsity officials I see with 25+ years experience who've never gotten the call. I think it's just easier to pick the same people year after year than try to identify new people and give them their shot.

Right, you're also going on what you see on TV which doesn't factor in a LOT of variables including rules knowledge, game management, etc. Or even a lot of the minor things like signals, etc that you rarely see on TV (I always scream for them not to cut away when they go to report but they almost always do :-( )

Of course all of it is still subjective -- but there is a lot of that subjective we are not privy too either.

[tomegun]

I think there are some physical things that aren't subjective and we can make a decision on. Whether we choose to or not is another subject. For instance, if an official can't make it up the court...they can't make it up the court (not saying this about Higgins). If an official does not make position adjustments and is clearly straight-lined that isn't really subjective. If a position adjustment, like continuing to go low at the C, keeps a closed look that isn't subjective.

Hey, if we want to be a fan(boy) of other officials, or fans of the game I have no problem with that - IU and Bobby Knight are the greatest. However, if we want to talk about this as officials, we can't just look at who the official is and ignore what they do on the court. Having said all of that, I don't know why Higgins wasn't selected and I think there was some good/great officiating last weekend.

I think officials like Karl Hess, Anthony Jordan and others have done a great job so far. Does anyone know what Karl Hess tells his patients during the season?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by tomegun

...

I think officials like Karl Hess, Anthony Jordan and others have done a great job so far. Does anyone know what Karl Hess tells his patients during the season?

That's why doctors have associates and partners.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

That's why doctors have associates and partners.

You have kind of been messing with me today huh? Are you still coming out here soon?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by tomegun

You have kind of been messing with me today huh? Are you still coming out here soon?

I'll be out there 10/10/10 to get married. I'll probably finagle a TDY to Creech/Nellis sometime in June or July.

Back on topic. I am most definitely happy with the seeing new faces in the tournament. For new officials to get in some familiar officials have to be left off the list. That's the nature of this, or any, business.

Saying XYZ is still a good official is not a sufficient argument to exclude new faces. By using that argument the only way an official stops going to the tournament is if he gets injured or retires. This isn't the Supreme Court.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

By using that argument the only way an official stops going to the tournament is if he gets injured or retires. This isn't the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court justices do not step down due to injury. At least, not brain injury.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by tomegun

IU and Bobby Knight are the greatest.

Bobby Knight is the greatest what? Let's take turns finishing that sentence. I'll go first. "Bobby Knight is the greatest CENSORED."

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tomegun

I think there are some physical things that aren't subjective and we can make a decision on. Whether we choose to or not is another subject. For instance, if an official can't make it up the court...they can't make it up the court (not saying this about Higgins). If an official does not make position adjustments and is clearly straight-lined that isn't really subjective. If a position adjustment, like continuing to go low at the C, keeps a closed look that isn't subjective.

You mean like many using college mechanics even though there was a memo out specifically asking people not to use college mechanics?