New Britain herald., 1928-03-10
'R|DING' REFEREE
 IS PASIIME HERE
New Britain Fans Difficult to
 Please, Officials Find

When Referee Si Mcdonald threw up his hands in disgust and, with the remark: ''This is New Britain: let's go." refrained from attempting to make himself heard in an an- nouncement, above the din of ''boos" from several hundred lusty pairs of lungs. during a recent game of roller hockey at the Stanley Arena he gave expression to a feeling that many sports followers and officials are known to have. namely. that the Hardware City, althought rated as a good sports towp." is likewise a difficult place for officials to func- ton.
 When New Britain was represent ed in the Connecticut Baseball League. the umpires were kept busy lodging pop bottle when the clubs were making the race torrid as they tore down the home stretch with but q few percentage points sep arating them. and almost any game was an excuse for riding" the um- pire, according to fans who recall the activities of a decade ago. Hugh Rorty. who is now the most popular roller hockey official ever to appear before a New Britain. crowd. was the target for verbal shots from the moment he made his appearance at Electric Field until he left the Plain- vile trolley car at the center. No matter what the players on either team in game thought of his de- cisions, it seemed that the New Britain fans always considered him rotten" and never hesitated to noti- fy him of their opinion, via the shouting route.
 Basketball referees who have of- ftciated at games on local courts have been made 10 realize that the crowds are not easily pleased. Chick" Hayes of Hartford cannot work a game here without being greeted with a chorus Of jeers as he goes about the details of starting the play. A season or two ago he was roughly handled at the conclu- sion of an especially close contest, several fans who were aroused to a high pitch of excitement jostling him and shouting at him as the crowd surged onto the floor. Um- pires at semi-pro and City League baseball games have their hands full and it matters not to the crowd whether the officials are from their home town or out of the state when the game or any particular play seems to call tor an unfayorable 1 reaction 10 decision.
 billion Generally Liked
 One of the outstanding exception, however. is "Dick" billion. Hart ford official who has made fre- quent appearances in this city as basketball referee. New Britain play CTS and fans alike have become so accust omed 10 his officiating that the work of other officials appears to suffer by comparison. yet visiting players, especially those from other states, continually complain that he sounds his whistle too frequently and is otherwise undesirable in his capacity. Seldom has Dillon been jeered in New Britain. He appears to be fully as popular with the hask kethall fans as Eorty is with the hockey followers. and no official in any limo Of sport could roasona bly expect to find higher place in the affections of the bleacherites than the niche occupied hy the fiery matched fellow from Hartford.
 Fans whose patronage of athletic events qualities them beyond ques- tion, to comment on the circum- stances surrounding games and oth- CT sports activities. believing that the personality Of the individual Of ficial has a great deal to do with the impression he makes on the crowds. Eorty, with his ready wit undoubtedly "talked' himself into many controversy in his younger days. whereas the past few years have toned him down consilerablv. He was always respected because Of of his fearlessness and his undisputcI knowledge of the fine points of baseball and roller hockey. and since the fans have been given th. opportunity of observing the other side of his makeup. and have come to like 1t, he is "aces high"
 Hayes. ill some places. gives sat lsfaction, as does Clyde Waters Of Bristol. who also has large num- Der Of admirers in local fandom, but Dillon has been the favorite for years and bids fair to continue so for some time to come. Mcdonald, known in baseball circles twenty years ago when he was catcher on teams in tho Connecticut League. has his good nights and bad ones. in the minds of the roller hockey fans at the Arena. He. in common with many other officials. consider