you make the call

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

What kind of crap is that?

Crap?

Really? Just because his opinion is different than yours makes his opinion crap?

Maybe this is that "god complex" from earlier in the thread...

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Crap?

Really? Just because his opinion is different than yours makes his opinion crap?

Maybe this is that "god complex" from earlier in the thread...

Yeah. He's trashing an entire group of officials because they haven't played recently or at all....that if they haven't, they just will not be able to be as good of an official. He's insinuating that only those played recently can properly call this play....that older officials that played a long time ago or those that never played can't. That is crap.

While former players may very well be able to be good officials and potentially have a head start in some areas over those that didn't play, they are just as likely to make crappy officials. It is sort of like the "I used to be a ref" statement you get from some coaches.

If what he said was any where near accurate, assignors would never want veteran officials because they were too far from having played. Last time I checked, assignors tend to prefer experienced officials over rookies who just finished playing.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Yeah. He's trashing an entire group of officials because they haven't played recently or at all....that if they haven't, they just will not be able to be as good of an official. He's insinuating that only those played recently can properly call this play....that older officials that played a long time ago or those that never played can't. That is crap.

While former players may very well be able to be good officials and potentially have a head start in some areas over those that didn't play, they are just as likely to make crappy officials. It is sort of like the "I used to be a ref" statement you get from some coaches.

If what he said was any where near accurate, assignors would never want veteran officials because they were too far from having played. Last time I checked, assignors tend to prefer experienced officials over rookies who just finished playing.

He didn't trash anybody. He said "I THINK..." followed by his thoughts that being a player helps someone differentiate...you obviously got offended by that. Why? Who knows...but saying he trashed some group of people simply because you disagree with his thoughts on the matter? That's ridiculous.

For the record, I disagree with his thoughts on the matter also...but that doesn't make his thoughts "crap".

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

He didn't trash anybody. He said "I THINK..." followed by his thoughts that being a player helps someone differentiate...you obviously got offended by that. Why? Who knows...but saying he trashed some group of people simply because you disagree with his thoughts on the matter? That's ridiculous.

For the record, I disagree with his thoughts on the matter also...but that doesn't make his thoughts "crap".

Ok...fair enough...perhaps too strong of a reaction on my part. I've just met too many people that, just because they played, they think they're better. Unfortunately, the ones with that attitude often hit a wall that others, whether recent players or not, often pass right by.

Sure, it can help. But it doesn't establish the ceiling of how good an official can be...it just shifts the broad spectrum of the two overall groups relative to each other...but there is a dramatic amount of overlap in the ability levels and the best (and worst) can come from either group. It may shift the starting point such that former players may get a head start...but there is nothing they know that non-players can't learn.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Ok...fair enough...perhaps too strong of a reaction on my part. I've just met too many people that, just because they played, they think they're better. Unfortunately, the ones with that attitude often hit a wall that others, whether recent players or not, often pass right by.

Sure, it can help. But it doesn't establish the ceiling of how good an official can be...it just shifts the broad spectrum of the two overall groups relative to each other...but there is a dramatic amount of overlap in the ability levels and the best (and worst) can come from either group. It may shift the starting point such that former players may get a head start...but there is nothing they know that non-players can't learn.

Agreed...having played the game might help some people in their career, and might hurt others. Not one of those things that anyone can say 100% positive one way or the other...the 2 officials I know personally who have made it to Final Four status were not basketball players at all - one played football in college and the other ran track.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

He didn't trash anybody. He said "I THINK..." followed by his thoughts that being a player helps someone differentiate...you obviously got offended by that. Why? Who knows...but saying he trashed some group of people simply because you disagree with his thoughts on the matter? That's ridiculous.

For the record, I disagree with his thoughts on the matter also...but that doesn't make his thoughts "crap".

I thought his particular thoughts on this issue were crap, even though I didn't see him as trashing anyone in particular.