I'm not shaved but buzzed pretty close around the edges.
Nothing left in the middle - on tape I'm the ref who
reflects light. :) I'm a litle surprised to hear Stripes is
not getting games from an assignor because he shaves his
head, but as he says who knows. I sweat at the drop of a
hat, I attribute that to being in good shape.

Gerry Sauter, one of my camp clinicians, is the totally bald/shaved guy in the Big 10.

I know that there are lots of officials sporting the same "do" as me, but this supervisor doesn't like it. All of the other college leagues I work, it isn't an issue. My ratings have been good and I worked a conference tournament in one league, but I can't get a sniff in the other league.

Important to remember is that what it takes to get in may not be the same as what it takes to stay. I'm betting that any of the previous years NCAA semi-final or final officials could show up with a shaved head, longer hair, or a goatee and they would still get games. Once you're established as a quality official, other items have a smaller impact.

So, just because we see and official in NCAA D1 with a certain look, it doesn't mean they got the posistion with that look or that anyone else like them will.

That is weird. Think of buying a wig? :)

Physical appearance should have nothing to do with how well one can officiate a basketball game, but it does. An official must gain the respect of all participants, including coaches, other officials and supervisors, in order to succeed. These people whose respect we must obtain judge us based upon their own biases. Most coaches, officials and ADs are pretty conservative in their grooming and dress. They want the same from other officials. If you are a young official trying to advance, you'd better look the part.

If Tom Rucker were trying to break into D1 officiating today, with his age, weight, limp and pants that don't quite make it to his ankles, he wouldn't get a second look. But no one cared about Rucker's appearance during his last 15 years in the Big 10 because they knew from his first 15 years in the league that he could call the game.

Wierd or not, it is the way it is. I haven't gotten to the point that I want to work that league bad enough to grow my hair out. Will it change??? Maybe. I hope my work on the court will be the deciding factor, not the length of my hair.