Canadian reffing NBA Summer League

[canuckrefguy]

Calgary referee climbing the ladder
Allan Maki

Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 8:24PM EDT Last updated on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 8:25PM EDT

Michael Weiland’s ambition has taken him to the brink of basketball history.

The 29-year-old Calgarian was told Wednesday he has been selected as a referee for the NBA’s 16-team Development League. No Canadian has ever been hired to referee in the NBA, and Weiland admitted he still has a ways to go. But working in the D-League is a necessary first step, one that only 18 officials were invited to take this fall.

“I was more caught off guard when [George Tolliver, the NBA’s supervisor of D-League officials] called and invited me to the Summer League tryout,” said Weiland, who has been refereeing for 10 years now. “I had a feeling I did okay at the Summer League, but you never know. I’m from Canada. They haven’t had anyone from here before.”

Weiland handled three NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas last month and showed enough athleticism and court savvy to be given the chance to work his way up.

His father, John Weiland, officiated for more than 30 years in Canada and abroad. He was good enough to earn an NBA referee’s tryout in 1978 but didn’t make it. Weiland said it was a special moment being able to tell his dad about his selection Wednesday.

“He’s pretty good at not getting too over-excited but he was on cloud nine,” Weiland said of his father’s reaction. “The first six, seven years of my career was based on getting his insights.”

Asked about the possibility of being the first Canadian referee in the NBA, Weiland replied: “We float under the radar because basketball is not in the media as much in Canada. But in terms of referees, we’ve always been strong, especially internationally. I hope I make it. It’s always been my dream. I hope this is an opportunity where I can say to other guys, ‘Go to an NBA training camp. You never know.’”

Calgary referee climbing the ladder - The Globe and Mail