Local politics blues

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

One person has the power to grant or block a person's ability to get to the post season? (it did sound like the system was somewhat data-based but they didn't have to follow it) Sounds like a recipe for problems.

Any less than what I am reading here now? Of course there are problems, but that person tries to get the best guys working. Usually what I see, is usually the most deserving get a shot. Are there omissions or sometimes people overlooked? Of course, but there is no perfect system. And the people that make the decision here do not have officiating people that have a vested interest in their people going to the playoffs.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

If you ever get on the bad side of that one person, you can kiss your future opportunities goodbye. If you are a buddy of that one person, you get favor. They may not even do it consciously, but I can guarantee that it has happened.....two similar officials, which one do you think they are going to pick.

Yes and no. Of course this is based on one person, but as I said this person runs the entire sport in the state and only assigns the playoffs. He/she does not assign anything else or only assign one area. They assign the entire state. So yes you are right that you could get on the bad side of anyone in anything and kiss your future goodbye. Not that different in this system and chances are those that get on the bad side usually got their on their own.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

It may be independent of each conference/association/etc. but it is still one person deciding who is in and who is out. It seems to keep all of the negatives unless you're in the inner cirlce....it has no checks and balances.

And this is not really different than the NCAA Tournament or getting a job. It sounds like you can tick off the wrong person in the association-does-all-the-assigning" model that I am reading.

And coaches and certified (a ranking) officials have a say. It is not like you cannot get high numbers and overcome and opinion. I have never met a person that has not gotten a playoff game if they were not available and they did not have good numbers. The people I see complain usually do not have the numbers and have not been seen.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

At least with a vote system, I don't have to make sure that I please one person or a small group of people but just be generally regarded as doing a good job by more people than not. It is OK if a few don't like me, they can't block my opportunities. It certainly isn't perfect, but it seems far better than a single gatekeeper.

If coaches are the only people voting, not so sure I agree with that. Voting also means that people can come together to accomplish the very same thing you say is wrong with our system. And coaches often have agendas as to why they do not like a certain official. At least in our rating system the coaches have to tell who won and lost and have to answer some questions to even complete a rating. If they choose not to do so, then their rating will not be noted. BTW, coaches have absolutely no say in who works playoffs here or who does not work playoffs. They can give a rating, but it is not uncommon that a guy that is banned from working a coach's games in the regular season, gets playoff games at the very place or with the very school that banned them. I think I told a rather funny story of that happening with a friend of mine this past year. The bottom line our administrators are independent from the coaches and the official's associations. They make decisions based on their integrity or their judgment. Not everyone is going to like all those decisions, but I have grown to understand that I would take that system over what I read many here having. And as I said, this is really not much different than the NCAA and people complain there too. You will never stop complaining.

Peace