Super Bowl Referee

[jimpiano]

Mike Carey will become the first Black to referee a Super Bowl.

[OverAndBack]

Good for him.

He's a good official.

[Reffing Rev.]

Is it really a big deal? I mean imho everything from NY's week 17 nearmiracle against NE to NE "miraculous" season to spygate, to which team the alternate referree's cat picks will be scrutinized in the media over the next 2 weeks, as I'm sure if and when this becomes public media knowledge it probably will as well. But should it? I mean aren't the official's invisible, and shouldn't they be? Shouldn't the "color" of their shirt say something about their "color." I had the privilege of meeting Mike Carey in the locker room at the RCA DOme in Indy a few years ago, great guy, I honestly think if (and when) people make a big deal out of this it will be a sad day. Its about the New York Giants trying to slay Goliath (puns abounding). Its about Eli Manning following in his brother's footsteps, its about Tom Brady being on the cover of SI, it is not about the officials and definately not their color.

My rant, endeth here.

[Sonofanump]

R- Mike Carey (1st SB)
U- Tony Michalek (1st SB)
HL- Gary Slaughter (2nd - XXXIX)
LJ- Carl Johnson (1st SB)
BJ- Scott Helverson (1st SB)
FJ- Boris Cheek (1st SB)
SJ- Larry Rose (1st SB)

Alternates: Walt Coleman, Dan Ferrel, Ed Camp, Carl Cheffers, Greg Steed

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

Its about the New York Giants trying to slay Goliath (puns abounding). Its about Eli Manning following in his brother's footsteps, its about Tom Brady being on the cover of SI, it is not about the officials and definately not their color.

And yet...this forum is about officiating.

Minor plot point to the Super Bowl.

Interesting side note here.

And the identity of the Super Bowl referee is something people here like to talk about. The fact that he's African-American, while somewhat noteworthy, is less so than when Doug Williams broke that particular barrier for quarterbacks 20 years ago. Luckily.

But it's still appropriate here. Though I do see your point in a general sense.

[Ed Hickland]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

Is it really a big deal? I mean imho everything from NY's week 17 nearmiracle against NE to NE "miraculous" season to spygate, to which team the alternate referree's cat picks will be scrutinized in the media over the next 2 weeks, as I'm sure if and when this becomes public media knowledge it probably will as well. But should it? I mean aren't the official's invisible, and shouldn't they be? Shouldn't the "color" of their shirt say something about their "color." I had the privilege of meeting Mike Carey in the locker room at the RCA DOme in Indy a few years ago, great guy, I honestly think if (and when) people make a big deal out of this it will be a sad day. Its about the New York Giants trying to slay Goliath (puns abounding). Its about Eli Manning following in his brother's footsteps, its about Tom Brady being on the cover of SI, it is not about the officials and definately not their color.

My rant, endeth here.

I tend to think each of us on this forum are serious about their officiating and if we have children we will encourage thenm to take it up.

Well, what if you are not of the majority race of this country. You might well not aspire to that position because the thought is you can never make it to the top because you do not see any examples. You have to realize that is the story of Gene Washington QB at Stanford who switched to wide receiver to make it in the NFL. Or, look at the long road of Tony Dungy an outstanding QB at Minnesota who did not get drafted. Doug Williams, Burl Toler, Jackie Robinson, Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith all became examples of achievement in spite of the odds.

Often before these folks there was that adage of intelligence or lack of and their ascending proves it wrong.

All I've heard Mike Carey is an excellent referee who takes the game seriously. He is an excellent example of achievement and worth every bit of ink or pixel expended to mark this achievement. Maybe, just maybe, some youngster out there will see Mike Carey and dream a dream of being there someday.

[Sonofanump]

Luckily the officials do not attend media day so we will be spared of some ignoramus question like “how long have you been a black referee?”

As I stated on the other topic, I think he has some of the best signals and verbal communication in the game.

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by Sonofanump

Luckily the officials do not attend media day so we will be spared of some ignoramus question like “how long have you been a black referee?”

The Doug Williams story is apocryphal.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Sonofanump

Luckily the officials do not attend media day so we will be spared of some ignoramus question like “how long have you been a black referee?”

As I stated on the other topic, I think he has some of the best signals and verbal communication in the game.

This has to be the post of the week for me.

Peace

[jimpiano]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

Is it really a big deal? I mean imho everything from NY's week 17 nearmiracle against NE to NE "miraculous" season to spygate, to which team the alternate referree's cat picks will be scrutinized in the media over the next 2 weeks, as I'm sure if and when this becomes public media knowledge it probably will as well. But should it? I mean aren't the official's invisible, and shouldn't they be? Shouldn't the "color" of their shirt say something about their "color." I had the privilege of meeting Mike Carey in the locker room at the RCA DOme in Indy a few years ago, great guy, I honestly think if (and when) people make a big deal out of this it will be a sad day. Its about the New York Giants trying to slay Goliath (puns abounding). Its about Eli Manning following in his brother's footsteps, its about Tom Brady being on the cover of SI, it is not about the officials and definately not their color.

My rant, endeth here.

It was a simple statement of a fact.
You made it into something far much bigger.

[Forksref]

Being that this is MLK Day, I think it is appropriate to note that Mike Carey has made it to the top. It's the SECOND black to do the game that will cause us to not make a big deal.

As for the names mentioned above, don't forget Emmett Ashford and Larry Doby, 2 of my favorites.

Way to go Mike and have a great game!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

Is it really a big deal? I mean imho everything from NY's week 17 nearmiracle against NE to NE "miraculous" season to spygate, to which team the alternate referree's cat picks will be scrutinized in the media over the next 2 weeks, as I'm sure if and when this becomes public media knowledge it probably will as well. But should it? I mean aren't the official's invisible, and shouldn't they be? Shouldn't the "color" of their shirt say something about their "color." I had the privilege of meeting Mike Carey in the locker room at the RCA DOme in Indy a few years ago, great guy, I honestly think if (and when) people make a big deal out of this it will be a sad day. Its about the New York Giants trying to slay Goliath (puns abounding). Its about Eli Manning following in his brother's footsteps, its about Tom Brady being on the cover of SI, it is not about the officials and definately not their color.

My rant, endeth here.

I read what you posted and this came to mind:
--------------
"One of the really wrong theories about officiating is that a good official is one you never notice. The umpire who made that statement was probably a real poor official who tried to get his paycheck and hide behind his partners and stay out of trouble all his life. Control of the ballgame is the difference between umpires that show up for the players and the managers." -

Umpire Bruce Froemming
---------------

It's a great achievement for them, earning the chance to work the SuperBowl. More people have played in the SuperBowl than have officiated it.

Those that want to show up, work the game, and slither out without being noticed at all -- I have no interest in working with them.

[biz]

Originally Posted by jimpiano

Mike Carey will become the first Black to referee a Super Bowl.

Congrats to Mike Carey!!!

For some reason I always thought Johnny Grier worked a Super Bowl.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by biz

Congrats to Mike Carey!!!

For some reason I always thought Johnny Grier worked a Super Bowl.

I believe he did work the Super Bowl, but it was not as the Referee.

Peace

[biz]

You're right JRut. I looked it up. He was the field judge in Super Bowl XXII.