Why We Don't Diss

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by deecee

the games are what they are; slow, boring and at times painful.

Kinda like your posts on this forum.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Did you mean the last sentence, or the penultimate sentence?



I still don't see how your response was relevant, but maybe it's my meds.
He wasn't saying you have to work it, only to be careful how you talk about it if you do work it.

Don't worry about it. It obviously was not meant for you.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Don't worry about it. It obviously was not meant for you.

Peace

Thanks, now I can sleep tonight.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Kinda like your posts on this forum.

really. middle school games are fast, exciting and a blast to work? Very few are, but the fact are the games most of the times are an exercise in patience and leniency.

but whatever, i work a handful of these games a year and i dont mind them and i enjoy them, but the fact remains these games are what they are. no need to get butt hurt because i dont think these games are for the most part exciting.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by deecee

really. middle school games are fast, exciting and a blast to work? Very few are, but the fact are the games most of the times are an exercise in patience and leniency.

but whatever, i work a handful of these games a year and i dont mind them and i enjoy them, but the fact remains these games are what they are. no need to get butt hurt because i dont think these games are for the most part exciting.

Makes no difference to me. I was just saying the games remind me of your posts.

[Adam]

Yep, and none of that addresses the OP, who simply stated it may be best not to express negative feelings about a particular game when you don't know your entire audience.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ref3808

I got into officiating basketball when I was 54 years old. I don't have visions of exciting tournament assignments and progressing through the ranks until I reach some defined pinnacle of officiating.

I enjoy my involvement in a sport I love, but wasn't skilled enough to play at an advanced level. I am motivated to keep myself in shape and I get some exercise during the season that keeps me reasonably fit, and I pick up some money that helps with the occassional unexpected bill or allows me to spend on something I really want but don't need, or hand a few dollars to my daughter when she needs new tires on her car but can't quite see her way to pay the bill.

I learn something from each assignment, mainly because I try to remember two or three things from each game and either read the book to see if I handled it correctly, or change the scenario somewhat to challenge my knowledge of the rules.

Sure there's well played games and poorly played games, but there's no where I'd rather be. And I would never make a negative comment to anyone about a game experience.

That is all great and wonderful, but why do you need to tell us this? If you like working a level, work that level. I am sure the vast majority are not going to care what you work anyway. I know I do not care what others think about the levels I do. I also work 3 sports, I do this because when I leave my house I want to enjoy the game. I just think too many here worry what others think of the level they are working. If you really enjoy working middle school, grade school or even Men's leagues, work them and enjoy them. You do not have to try to convince others why you are there.

Peace

[deecee]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Makes no difference to me. I was just saying the games remind me of your posts.

fair enough

[deecee]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That is all great and wonderful, but why do you need to tell us this? If you like working a level, work that level. I am sure the vast majority are not going to care what you work anyway. I know I do not care what others think about the levels I do. I also work 3 sports, I do this because when I leave my house I want to enjoy the game. I just think too many here worry what others think of the level they are working. If you really enjoy working middle school, grade school or even Men's leagues, work them and enjoy them. You do not have to try to convince others why you are there.

Peace

thats the point i was trying to make - much better said rut.

[RobbyinTN]

I love doing MS games and will take any that do not interfere with a HS assignment. It is fun to be around those kids who are in the learning phase of the game and although it is a 2 man crew here, it is a fairly light workout.

Robby

[Bad Zebra]

I enjoy them too. The gyms are smaller. It's loud, and the parents are still of the opinion that their kids are serious D1 prospects so they cheer and scream accordingly. Since Florida is really a HS football state, the middle school games sometimes have more fans than HS basketball games.

[stiffler3492]

I do a good amount of middle school games. Just had two fantastic MS boys games today.

What I've found is that no matter the level, I can stay sharp. I've done every level from 3rd grade girls to JV boys. A foul is still a foul.

Then there's the old adage of "They're giving their best, why shouldn't they get our best?" If some official is going to half *** a middle school assignment because they think they're too good for it, they can hang up their whistle for good for all I care.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

I do a good amount of middle school games. Just had two fantastic MS boys games today.

What I've found is that no matter the level, I can stay sharp. I've done every level from 3rd grade girls to JV boys. A foul is still a foul.

Then there's the old adage of "They're giving their best, why shouldn't they get our best?" If some official is going to half *** a middle school assignment because they think they're too good for it, they can hang up their whistle for good for all I care.

So are you saying that you will have to run as fast and as hard with Middle school kids as you would a HS Freshman game?

Let us not get silly here.

Peace

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

So are you saying that you will have to run as fast and as hard with Middle school kids as you would a HS Freshman game?

Let us not get silly here.

Peace

When 2 of the kids I had today are at least 6'3" and are faster now than I ever was...yeah

Seriously, though, of course not. I didn't break much of a sweat today. But that doesn't at all mean that I'm lackidaisical (sp?) out there.

[Amesman]

Face it, at some point, doing MS and even kid rec games falls under the "giving back to the game" category (even though, ironically, you're probably still taking $omething from it). The kids are trying their best, so they still deserve our best -- physically, attitude-wise and mentally focused. If it doesn't make you sweat, that's great. (Some officials it will make sweat and, well, bully for them if they're giving it a good go.)

I never thought how much I was sweating or how far/fast I was running was the point of officiating (a needed element, perhaps but not the sole or most important criteria). There is still "good" basketball to be seen and officiated, whether it's HS V, frosh A or B, MS, Princeton or Dean Smith's four-corner stall.

All of it deserves conscientious effort and should be appreciated for the earnestness of the participants ... which basically loops back to the message in the OP. IMHO