From: dpwo_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Dave Wolgast)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college
Subject: Re: Duke-IU--the problem with basketball
Date: 5 Apr 92 20:30:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: galileo.1992Apr5.203022.26079
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <1992Apr5.071235.20569@talon.ucs.orst.edu> navarrer@bionette.CGRB.ORST.EDU (Roy Navarre -- Botany and Plant Pathology) writes:

>which added up in a HUGE way. I  think serious efforts need to be taken 
>to imporve collegiate officiating NOW. The paying fans ought to make it 
>clear that they are finished putting up with crap. Officiating varies 
>so much from game to game it is sickening. This ruins so many excellent games.
>If anyone reading this is pissed off also--BITCH to anyone who will listen. 

OK...Being a referee myself, I have a definite opinion here...

Firstly, I'd like to know what you propose that bitching about it will
do for the cause.  If you bitch to your local referee group, you'll get
a deaf ear, and rightly so.

What you need to do is make constructive suggestions and give them to the
right people.  Now, this will require you to have a lot of officiating
knowlege.  Do you have it (note: this is a simple question, not an
accusation or flame)?  If so, then I suggest that you go out to your
local college and watch several games.  Bring a clipboard and instead
of watching the game, watch the officials.  I do this in soccer, my primary
sport, as a referee assessor.  After you have collected data from several
games, compile it and analyze it.  Make some suggestions regarding
mechanics, positioning, and foul/violation identification.  Basically,
if you have your act together, they'll listen.  But so many people are
content to do just what you propose...BITCH.  As a referee, I've learned
that one must keep a deaf ear to bitching.  When I'm on the field or court,
I don't acknowledge fans, and I mostly ignore players, unless they're 
having an adverse effect on the game, so bitching is useless.

Are you a referee?  You should become one.  You WILL learn something, and
it WILL change your attitude.  I have seen a remarkable turnaround in
coaches and players who have become referees.  It completely changes
their demeanor when they coach or play.  They learn what a nasty and
difficult job we have.

Things are compounded by the fact that IMHO, basketball is THE most
difficult sport to officiate.  There is just too much to miss.  I'd
be willing to bet that on some of the fouls where you thought the 
contact on the arm was minor or non-existant, the call was actually
for something you didn't even see...the other hand pushing down low.
College basketball players are VERY good at getting away with that,
and it's impossible for one referee to see both fouls.

I'll conclude...

Now I can make the statement that I've been wanting to make for awhile.
I generally agree that the standard has been low.  There, I said it.
But I have no basis to bitch, because I can't identify anything
specific that's happening.

So much for that...

Dave
--
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Dave Wolgast                         Internet:  dpwo_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
University of Rochester                  UUCP:  ...!rochester!ur-cc!dpwo_ltd
Rochester, NY			       Class of 1992!!!!!!