Good read.
http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/story?id=1511196

When I grow up, I want to be like Violet!

Agree, good read. I have watched her several times and she is good. Two of the officials mentioned (Leroy Richardson & Tom Washington) were instructors at a camp I attended about 4 years ago.

Funny we haven't heard anything further about Dee Kantner's firing.

That's a very nice profile, and "V's" people-skills are clearly evident. My personal feeling is that the following was the best passage of the whole article.


Aside from "100 verdicts a night" (it's more like 1,000), I think this is dead on the mark.

Just out of curiosity -- OMQ, how much do you pay for the ESPN "Insider" content?

Chuck

Oh, hadn't you heard about Dee??? When she joined the NBA, she actually thought she was still reffing the game of basketball. Of course they had to dump her.

While it would be politically incorrect to say,
 

I saw Kanter work four times and I thought she was (doing my best Bill Walton impression) "Hoooorible!"

She never understood one thing about an NBA "flow of the game" and was rather weak.

As much as I dislike NBA basketball and do not understand the logic of how it is officiated, it was obvious that Dee was in over her head.

Tee

Good one Chuck.
 

One of the best quotes right there.

Peace

Nada.. borrowed.. n/t
 

One thing that struck me was her ability to get to know the personalities in the NBA. I can only speak for myself, but I find it difficult to get to know all the players and coaches that I see.

Obviously Violet has a realitivly small number of people that she deals with and can store away info on everyone for future reference.

I, on the other hand, may have 5 games in a row, and I'm lucky if I catch the name of the coaches- much less the players.

With HS ball, the kids come and go, and while I do get to know the tendencies of some, it's difficult to build the relationships that Violet speaks of.

Coaches are a different story, and I look forward to future years where I may have a better idea on how to handle a particular individual.

Just read this thread for the first time, and decided to rehash it by adding a post.

She spoke at a camp I attended a few years ago, and she brought up that very thing.

She said, that NBA officials have more flexibilty at the end of games, because they know they have so and so again next week.

She then told us about Gary Payton giving it to her at the end of a close game, in the middle of the T worthy outburst, she said, "I'll see you next Tuesday Glove." Tuesday rolls around and the first time Payton opened his mouth, WHACK.

V showed up on ESPN's "Not Top 10" this morning b/c she almost got beaned with an errant pass. She had to duck and cover. :) Happens to the best, I guess!

Thanks, oatmealqueen.

Hey, no problem.

However, I don't remember this thread. Geez, bad memory I guess.