Sports officials strive to demonstrate the personal qualities that promote fair play.
Yet the public does seem to have the perception that gambling interests can directly touch individual officials. However, with respect to the overall integrity and well being of sports, an issue such as this demands our attention. With that in mind our board felt it was important we join governing bodies such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Federation of State High School Associations, the United States Olympic Committee and others in saying gambling on amateur sports should be 'hands off' to gambling interests. More than 35 sports organizations have endorsed the legislation. It has been a vocal advocate of legislation at the state level designed to protect sports officials from physical abuse and assaults.