People Skills...

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by rainmaker


I think we should lay the whole thing to rest. Jeff, could you trust me enough to agree that perhaps no one really meant that rules-knowledge is the only important thing, if I can talk Chuck and Tony into agreeing that perhaps you see value in both the rules-knowledge and the court presence? One of my dreams in life has been to be a mediator in race relation problems. Could I have the chance to practice here?

Maybe the words did not come out that way, but that has been suggested by many posts against things I have stated. I think we are simplifying the issue way too much anyway. Officiating is not about two issues. Rules knowledge to me has many different elements to it than just knowing a rule. Court Presence has many different elements. And there is much more to becoming a good or great official than those two elements. Neither element has to do with your fitness, floor mechanics or positions just to name a few or even people skills. This is why you will never see me saying someone is a bad official by an opinion expressed here. Kind of hard to judge that without seeing if that individual can get up and down a court. But I guess that is just me.

Peace