Trouble Bruin in the Pac-12 - & it Ain't UCLA!

[icallfouls]

The PAC 12 has conducted its investigation and Rush has not been fired....yet. Now the story has gone national (ESPN this morning).

[Judtech]

Comments were unacceptable. The cash and trip were hyperbole sure, but the meaning wasn't. It takes officials out of the role off unbiased arbiter to one that is a biased enforcer of a vendetta.

[MD Longhorn]

Someone asked how one can rise to such a position with this kind of arrogance or attitude. It should be noted he did not rise to this position. He was lowered to it.

That said, I have no issue with the "you guys aren't handling your business - you need to handle it if he gets out of line again" approach. I have huge issue with the way THIS issue was handled. After the Doneghy mess, this only puts us all in a worse light.

[Andy]

I heard the ESPN report this morning....first time I had heard about this situation.

Ed Rush came and spoke to my officials group several years ago, when he was supervisor for the NBA. Nice guy, good speaker. He also made some references to players and coaches in the NBA at that time that were considered PITA and how the officials would "handle" them...everybody in the room knew it was in jest and funny. Just something officials do amongst themselves.

What pisses me off is that the "integrity of the officials" is being called into question. We get Sean Miller on TV saying "All I said was "He touched the ball" and I get a T for that..." We don't get to hear the officials side of the story and we won't ever get to.

[icallfouls]

Just heard on Dan Patrick, talking to Wichita State coach. Coach thinks he should be gone.

They are also talking about the targeting of coaches/players by some officials.

This train is picking up speed.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by icallfouls

Just heard on Dan Patrick, talking to Wichita State coach. Coach thinks he should be gone.

They are also talking about the targeting of coaches/players by some officials.

This train is picking up speed.

And everyone who ever had a grudge against Rush, or any other official, is going to come out with their own conspiracy theory about how the officials are out to get them.

For the record, this is why I never buy any conspiracy theory. Someone will always be disgruntled and speak out.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Andy

...What pisses me off is that the "integrity of the officials" is being called into question. We get Sean Miller on TV saying "All I said was "He touched the ball" and I get a T for that..." We don't get to hear the officials side of the story and we won't ever get to.

Miller's T was an irrelevant news story until Rush's comments came out. It's Rush's fault if Pac-12 officials take an intergrity hit.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Miller's T was an irrelevant news story until Rush's comments came out. It's Rush's fault if Pac-12 officials take an intergrity hit.

My point was that we will never know the whole story of why the T was issued. All we have is Miller's comments about what he said....we don't know what he may have left out or what he did or said that earned the T.

This story comes out and now he can play the "they're out to get me" card, when the T may have been rightly deserved.

If this official was one that didn't routinely issue T's, doesn't that make it seem like this T was earned? That's my take and I will support the officials.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by Andy

My point was that we will never know the whole story of why the T was issued. All we have is Miller's comments about what he said....we don't know what he may have left out or what he did or said that earned the T.

This story comes out and now he can play the "they're out to get me" card, when the T may have been rightly deserved.

If this official was one that didn't routinely issue T's, doesn't that make it seem like this T was earned? That's my take and I will support the officials.

Ill support the official too.

[MD Longhorn]

It doesn't surprise me that the majority here support the official or even Rush.

What does surprise me is the lack of understanding that our profession has taken a hit over this. THAT is what is wrong with what Rush said.

[TheOracle]

When one of the top 3 officials in the conference quits citing "personal differences with the direction of the officiating program in the Pac-12" prior to this incident going public, and anonymous sources spilling the beans to the media regarding Rush being a "bully", the organization is in big trouble not from just public perception, but from within as well. Rush tried to change the culture too quickly, and with his general lack of people skills, screwed himself. If an official made that comment? They'd be gone. Even worse from a supervisor. Integrity and character is defined by what you do when nobody is looking. Well, a disgruntled person pulled the curtain back on Ed Rush. So be it.

[johnny d]

Officiating basketball is not a profession for most, if not all, of the posters here. Since we do not make a living doing this it is an avocation. More importantly, this incident will have little to no impact on any of us as officials. The people in the stands already have their minds made up about the overall quality and integrity of officials before they walk into the gym. The people (fans, coaches, adminstrators, and players) involved in the game that are going to be problems to deal were going to be jackasses whether or not this incident ever came to light.

[icallfouls]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

It doesn't surprise me that the majority here support the official or even Rush.

What does surprise me is the lack of understanding that our profession has taken a hit over this. THAT is what is wrong with what Rush said.

My point exactly

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

It doesn't surprise me that the majority here support the official or even Rush.

What does surprise me is the lack of understanding that our profession has taken a hit over this. THAT is what is wrong with what Rush said.

I do not think supporting the officials or not is the point. I just know in experience I have had that things are said behind closed doors and the public would be surprised if they heard those comments.

I also do not think the profession has not taken any more of a hit than anything else. Just go to a fan site and you would see a lot worse said about official for things that are assumed and never public when it comes to an accusation of a conspiracy. There are people in this world that will think everyone is out to get them or has some conspiracy going on and it will involve politicians, the media or officials. I do not think anything has been damaged by this anymore than other things.

Peace

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by Andy

My point was that we will never know the whole story of why the T was issued. All we have is Miller's comments about what he said....we don't know what he may have left out or what he did or said that earned the T.

This story comes out and now he can play the "they're out to get me" card, when the T may have been rightly deserved.

If this official was one that didn't routinely issue T's, doesn't that make it seem like this T was earned? That's my take and I will support the officials.

I think that speaks to BNR's point. Rush's comments make it seem just as likely that the official was compelled to give the T against Miller and it may not have been earned.

I don't really have an issue with Rush's comments in and of themselves but in this day and age you just can't make those comments at a meeting like that with so many ears. And it really does compromise the integrity of the officials in many people's views and, like it or not, that has some consequences. At the end of the day, I don't think Rush will, or necessarily, should survive this.

But the real issue I have is with whatever official leaked what was said in the meeting. As others mentioned it sounds like someone wasn't happy with their schedule or had some other axe to grind. But the comments were made and now that they're out there.......I don't know. I think they will end up costing Rush his job here. It's unfortunate but that's how it goes some times.