Don't Needle Me ...
 

Funny you should mention this. Up until this season, I've used the same IAABO jacket for the past twenty-five plus years. And I had the same needle in my pocket for twenty-five plus years. Never lost it. It was tarnished after all this time. This year, our local board switched to a "local board" jacket. The pockets aren't anywhere as deep as the pockets on my old IAABO jacket. I've only been officiating for about three weeks and I've already lost three needles, the original tarnished one, and two additional ones. I actually had to go down to our local discount store and buy a pack of needles a few days ago. There's no way that I'm going to lose another one, so I've used a piece of duct tape to tape the needle to the inside of my jacket. Stupid jacket.

Some things just shouldn't surprise us anymore, you know...

I think I said it wasn't a big deal, too...I honestly have never had a problem getting a different ball when needed.

All Bow Down To The "Game Ball" ...
 

We've got a few schools in our area that have "game balls". These are balls that are not used in practice, are not used during warmups, and never come into contact with the other "unwashed" basketballs. The "game ball" is stored in the athletic director's office, under lock, and key, until the game is about to begin, and then it comes out of storage and is given to the officials. If it's over inflated, then it's real easy to stick it with a needle. If it's under inflated, which it seldom, if ever, is, then we just pick an "unwashed" ball from the rack.

Does anyone give Coaches enough credit to believe that they deliberatly inflate/deflate the game ball to gain a small advantage for their team?

No, I don't.

I worked with a crew chief who said he did this when he was coaching.

I think I prefer Billy's method.

Not sure I agree with that take. I think people do different things. Officiating is like a lot of things in life, people do different things and that is OK. ;)

Peace

Well I am far from that age and I know many younger than me that do the same. ;)

Not true in my experience, they are usually over-inflated. Kind of why many carry a needle in the first place. ;)

I have not either. Like I said almost never need one.

Peace

I've never carried one, but at times have wished I had one. I'm getting one before my next game. Most of the local big dogs around here do. And I have seen exactly one ball that needed more air.

I'm not real big on being the home team equipment manager. They need to provide a ball that meets the rules. I don't mark or sweep the courts, set up the clock, sell the hot dogs or take tickets either.

It would take you much longer to get another ball or have someone provide one than it takes to let air out of the ball. Probably does not take more than 5 seconds. ;)

Peace

A pissing contest over whether to adjust the air in the ball or get another ball?

"I'm not real big on being the home team equipment manager."

Good grief.

I just know nothing in this thread has convinced me to do anything differently than I'm doing now. ;)