The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-01-19
SPORTS of TIMES
Haze Whistle.
viii TraUeI
BY LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

One reason the best college basketball player
today-and that of course is Jerry Lucas OF Ohio State
isn't keen about pro ball is that he dislikes the idea
of living out Of a suitcase. The Cincinnati Royals nope
he changes his mind for they've been drooling over
the idea of having him and Oscar Robertson on the
same squad next season.
AT any rate, Big Luke's feelings may have In
spired Tom Grace, the Royals executive weep, to fire
a broadside at the National Basketball Association
last week. Among other things, he blasted the MAS
rigorous travelling schedule.
IF ANYoN KNOWS HOW TOUGH the MAS
travel schedule is, it would be Santo Borgia, better
known as "Sid," who has been a referee in the league
ever since it was formed-16 years ago. In his job as
probasketball arbiter, Borgia travels between 5000
and 5000 miles a week! That's real travelling.
The veteran referee also covers plenty of ground
from five to seven miles-in each of the 80 games
he works each season. Due to the pros race morse pace,
he has to travel at full speed.
Even with these strenuous demands on his energy,
Borgia, the dean and charter member OF the leagues
whistle-tooting corps, has outlasted more than l5O
other referees over the years. How does a guy like
Borgia keep going in pro basketball, especially when
he's As years old?
FIRST OF ALL, THE I65-PoUND whistle-tooter
loves the Job. Then he takes vitamins to keep up with
the well-contitioned athletes who are usually 20 years
younger than he. And he has the right frame of mind.
"The professional referee" Borgia declared,
must have the skin of an alligator, the temperament
Of a pediatrician and must be a psychoanalyst as well
as a diplomat"
Equipment with this philosophy, plus MS experience,
stamina and dedication, it just seems natural that
Borgia this season was named the MAS referee in
chief.
r BAsKETBALL'S mr.. Referee" was born
in West Virginia but spent most of his youth in poverty
on New York's lower East Side. He played basketball
at a boys club and learned to officiate by the time he
was Is.
"They taught me another thing at the boys club
the meaning of character" Borgia said. Il might
have been wearing different kind of stripes on my
shirt if it hadn't been for the club"
Speaking of his trade, Borgia said a basketball
referee must have a 'heart." He explained;
WHEN YOU'RE WoRKING BEFORE A PARTI-
SAN, biased crowd and you know you must make a
call that will bring boos, your character must respond.
The decision may mean a police escort after the game
and it's the kind of thing you sleep Without that's
heart"
The guilty, balding referee says the most diff
cult call-and the one that evokes the most reaction
is the one involving a block and a charge. He adds
that the ire of spectators doesn't concern him be-
cause when the fans quit getting excited, We'll be
finished"
When Borgia does finish his seasons work, he
returns to his comfortable home in New Rochelle,
N. Y, where his wife, whom he met while attending
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, manages things
during the pro campaign. They have five children,
four of them students at Holy Family School in New
Rochelle.
EVEN THOUGH HIS JOB AS CAGE Referee
generally is a thanklesS one and one that takes him
from his home and family for half the year, Borgia
is sold on it. I'm deeply indebted to pro basketball"
is the way he sums it up.