Yep, that is why I laugh when people from Kentucky, NC, Tennessee, WV, etc. sling those kind of insults at each other... like those states aren't exactly the same. All of them are among the poorest states in the nation. Laughing
UNC @ Duke
- Thread starter lurkeraspect84
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Most red necks only have the one street to get cred on.
Define "defend officials". Could you? I give reasons on why they make a call. Or why they don't. I also call then out when they are bad; including myself. Officiating is a tough gig. I wish some of you would try it some time. It would 100% change your view on officiating.
You guys ask me about calls, no calls, this or that. I cannot help it you don't always like the answer. I mean if that is defending officials, then so be it. But mostly I defend how tough the job is. Opposed to defending the officials.
Give it a try.
I’d rather shovel crap for a living. Refs have every element of the the game around them...against them. Not too mention outside forces such as social media, network desk jockeys, fans, etc... critiquing with overwhelming negativity. A truly thankless job.
I’ve worked with a number of refs in my past life, and I always really admired the job they did. Almost all were sensible good guys who just have a tough job, managing not just the rules but the players too, and most of all keeping everyone safe as best as they were able.
1) You defend officials by responding to almost every poast which says anything about officials. You are the white knight for officials and I can't even believe that you aren't aware of it.
2) I'm not talking about the times where people ask you to explain a call. I have done this very thing myself (ask you about a call) and will probably do so again.
3) Putting up with fans complaining about you when if you are an official is one of the core parts of the job. If someone has thin skin about it, then that person shouldn't be an official.
4) I have no desire to give it a try because, for one (of about 20 reasons), I know I would be biased. But if I did try it, I can promise you that opinions of fans would not concern me in the slightest.
5) I don't complain about officials and my one poast about it in this thread was to make a joke, at your expense, because you aggressively defend officials. If it offends you that I made such a joke, then I apologize.
It is absolutely a thankless job. And I would think that every official, past, present and future, knows this.
Actually- that's an interesting question for Borden. Hey @IUfanBorden Why do people choose to become officials at a high level? What is it that draws people into this?
Totally agree with your post. My best friend officiates in the Big East, he constantly tells me how hard it is.
I'd say it varies. For me it was due to loving the game. I didn't want to coach. But I wanted to remain a part of the game. I played baseball in college. Got hurt as a frosh, and then again as a soph. I was done. I signed up for a sports officiating class, and a Coaching 101 class. Bruce Pearl taught the coaching class, and helped in the Sports officiating class. Anyways, he would have our officiating class work his practices, scrimmages, etc, etc...I worked a few practices and just fell in love with it. It was almost like playing again. The connection with the players, coaches, etc, etc...was a great rush. It was like a drug.......I wanted more. Pearl helped me get into a CBB clinic. Even though I had never even worked a HS game, here I was, an 18 year old kid, at a clinic for CBB officials. I fell in love all over again. I worked HS basketball for about 5 years then some small CBB. But shortly after, enlisted in the Army. When I came home, I immediately got back in the circle. Started working HS ball, but with the connections I had made through Pearl, I quickly began to move up. The rest is history.
I do it because I love the game. I love the atmosphere. The relationships you bukld with players/coaches. And yes----the fans. There is no better rush than walking into an areana with 17,000 folks scraming. Band playing. Man it's awesome.
Oh, and the money. That helps.
Most of the guys I worked with, almost every dude on here would have a beer with them. People judge me for a long, long time because I was an official. Then they would get to know me and be like---"dang, your totally different than what I though you'd be like". I was like---Damn people---I'm not a damn monster.
Funny story: I was fishing one day and this teenage firl and her dad walk by me. She stops, looks and says---"Don't you ref". I said yes. She says--"Yeah, I thought so. You;ve reffed my HS games before". I was like yep. Her dad goes---"Yeah you work some college ball too".
Yep. As they start to walk away the girls says----" You fish"? I was like ---Why yes. Why? No reason...Just didn't know ref's fished.
I just chuckled...."I didn't know refs fished"? Just the life of an official. Apparently some think we are not humans....
Not a flame on you but doesn’t it hurt your chance to be a fan due to having to keep your objectively.I could never get past my prejudices.
No. You think I'm the only CBB official who's also a fan? I know some guys who are die-hard fans. But they are alos professionals. As am I. If there ever comes a time where I feel as if I cannot separate the two, I will walk away. Same with baseball. I've worked many Indiana baseball games. Not once have I ever made a call b/c of my affiliation to IU. Never even crossed my mind. I've worked UK, UL and Purdue as well. Never held any prejudiced toward either school.
Was not trying to insinuate that you were not objective actually the opposite because I do not have that ability.I would face the same problem as an announcer.I would make Johnny Most the old Celtics guy sem like the most level headed broadcaster
Hope Rams vs Forks (again) @ the Dance
Wait, are you saying Duke vs UNC in the dance?
F that. No interest. While the reward would be glorious and historical, the depth of the possible failure would be just too much to bear... and I don’t even live in NC. F that. I don’t know how the Louisville and UK folks have handled actually having to play each other in March.
Don't worry, the only way that could happen would be final four or national championship... That ain't happening this year.
Holy christ, if we EVER had to play UNC in the title game... blech. While a win would literally be remembered FOREVER... so would a loss, and it would be the worst loss in program history
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