Lisa Loeb 2 weeks ago doing one of her hits (er, her one hit; whatever): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS-Cb8UGay4
Started reading the 2012 Baseball Rules Book today so that I can take the test to become licensed to umpire HS games in that sport too. Still frustrated by the lack of resolution regarding my banning...Anyway, work is killing me and I don't have much to say. Enjoy Lisa Loeb, maybe I will have something to say later...
Bum
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Banned?
Officiated 6 games this weekend. 2 games Saturday at the "Old" Hobart Middle School and 4 games at St. Mary's. Saturday's games were uneventful; keep that in mind as that will come into play later. The 4 games at St. Mary's were all MS girls games (CYO, Catholic Youth Org). These are the scores: 26-9, 18-0, 10-5, 30-10...4th game, the losing team couldn't pass, dribble, shoot or play defense, which left them at a bit of a disadvantage to say the least; so, they resorted to football. Pushing in the back on layups, tripping and slapping on every shot. Legitimately the other team committed and was called for fouls as well. After the game, 2 Moms came across the court to where we were to tell us how terrible we were. Apparently, I'm assuming it was the losing team but they never said, their kids were kicked in the head and punched in the ribs and that was the worst officiated game they had ever witnessed. I kind of chuckled thinking about a variety of responses that I could have said: have you ever watched a Big 10 game? Is this the first game you have ever seen? Where do you work, I would like to come yell at you at your job (ok, maybe that is not fair). My partner said: "Call the CYO office, we are not allowed to give you our names. Have a nice day ma'am." I think "madam" would have been funnier. This is the problem with MS games, the parents don't know their place. They can yell at me from the stands all they want, but don't come into my area, you have no business there.
Anyway, I get to work today and I have an e-mail from my assignor asking if there was something that went on during Saturday's games...Remember? The games that went smoothly. Apparently, me and my partner have been banned from officiating at Hobart ever again...Naturally, I asked why. Well, all he got was that all 4 coaches complained that the games were out of control and one game we only called 5 fouls...OK, well, the games weren't rough at all and I don't keep track of fouls and I didn't know I was supposed to call a certain minimum number of fouls...Seriously? These kids were having their first practice right before the games...some of these kids (5th/6th coed) had never played basketball before...The coaches never said a word to me or my partner and the guy that paid me was very friendly when he handed me my money, which at $23 per game is not worth the drive unless I love what I'm doing, right? Hell, he said, "I gave you some singles in case you go get a lapdance." Does that sound like something you say to someone you are going to ban from ever coming back?
I do this because I love it, I do these particular games just for experience. I work on my mechanics so that someday I can do the varsity games. I am never going to get rich officiating HS or MS basketball as there isn't any money in it. I do it because I love it. Getting banned bothers me, mostly because it is wrong. Sure, I could call 50 fouls, but then I would stop the game every 5 seconds. He wants the games finished in 55 minutes. What would these kids learn from that? You gotta let them play unless it starts to get out of hand at this level. You tighten up the games as they get older and they understand what they are supposed to be doing. Then they learn more. So frustrating....
Bum
Anyway, I get to work today and I have an e-mail from my assignor asking if there was something that went on during Saturday's games...Remember? The games that went smoothly. Apparently, me and my partner have been banned from officiating at Hobart ever again...Naturally, I asked why. Well, all he got was that all 4 coaches complained that the games were out of control and one game we only called 5 fouls...OK, well, the games weren't rough at all and I don't keep track of fouls and I didn't know I was supposed to call a certain minimum number of fouls...Seriously? These kids were having their first practice right before the games...some of these kids (5th/6th coed) had never played basketball before...The coaches never said a word to me or my partner and the guy that paid me was very friendly when he handed me my money, which at $23 per game is not worth the drive unless I love what I'm doing, right? Hell, he said, "I gave you some singles in case you go get a lapdance." Does that sound like something you say to someone you are going to ban from ever coming back?
I do this because I love it, I do these particular games just for experience. I work on my mechanics so that someday I can do the varsity games. I am never going to get rich officiating HS or MS basketball as there isn't any money in it. I do it because I love it. Getting banned bothers me, mostly because it is wrong. Sure, I could call 50 fouls, but then I would stop the game every 5 seconds. He wants the games finished in 55 minutes. What would these kids learn from that? You gotta let them play unless it starts to get out of hand at this level. You tighten up the games as they get older and they understand what they are supposed to be doing. Then they learn more. So frustrating....
Bum
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Uh...I don't know...
Listened to Lisa Loeb today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka9mCmx9Jhs
I also listened to her version of the "Disappointed Pancake." I wouldn't recommend that one unless you are 5 or somehow obsessed with Lisa Loeb...
Refereed 4 games this past Saturday. All Middle School girls. 3rd game: 6th grade...called my first Flagrant 1/Intentional foul...6th grade girls...her idea of defense was to put both hands on the girl's midsection while she was shooting and push her as hard as she could. Later, she hipchecked another girl into the chairs that represented the bench...Her coaches, two women, laughed and complained about the call. Actually, they had been laughing every time one of their girls knocked girls on the other team down...I looked at the coach and said: "are you talking to me?" She said she was talking to one of the girls. I said, "you better be, because I have had it with this crap. Your team is playing like it is a football game. It's ridiculous." She just looked at me like your wives do when you talk indepth about sports that they don't understand. I just walked away. 4th Game: 5th grade girls. I came oh so close to "T-ing" up one of the coaches as he griped about calls the entire game while losing 18-9...how about expending that energy on actual coaching, huh?
Officiating my first Freshman Boys game tomorrow; should be fun! I find this newest "job" of mine to be rewarding. I love it. Even those games above. They get the blood flowing and get me moving and get me back involved in a sport I love. I spent a major potion of my childhood and early adulthood playing basketball. At times when I was a kid, I probably spent upwards of 10 hours a day playing basketball at the park with my friends or even just shooting in my driveway (gravel).
Saturday, I headed to Bowman Academy to see Bowman play Ft Wayne Luers. James Blackmon Jr, son of James Blackmon, is sophomore on Ft Wayne Luers and has already committed to Indiana. Bowman destroyed Luers 101-74. Luers couldn't handle Bowman's height, strength, quickness or their press. They were just outmanned in this one. Blackmon demonstrated a sweet shot. He is also really strong for a 6'2" sophomore and he did a really good job of handling the basketball. He's a better passer than advertised. He doesn't play much defense however; kinda stands around on that end looking bored. 2 1/2 more years to get better; I can't wait to see him play again!
On a side note, I joined the Biggest Loser here at work for the next 90 days. My team consists of me and 5 skinny people...They act like they just won the lottery with me on their team! They will be lucky if I don't eat them!
Bum
I also listened to her version of the "Disappointed Pancake." I wouldn't recommend that one unless you are 5 or somehow obsessed with Lisa Loeb...
Refereed 4 games this past Saturday. All Middle School girls. 3rd game: 6th grade...called my first Flagrant 1/Intentional foul...6th grade girls...her idea of defense was to put both hands on the girl's midsection while she was shooting and push her as hard as she could. Later, she hipchecked another girl into the chairs that represented the bench...Her coaches, two women, laughed and complained about the call. Actually, they had been laughing every time one of their girls knocked girls on the other team down...I looked at the coach and said: "are you talking to me?" She said she was talking to one of the girls. I said, "you better be, because I have had it with this crap. Your team is playing like it is a football game. It's ridiculous." She just looked at me like your wives do when you talk indepth about sports that they don't understand. I just walked away. 4th Game: 5th grade girls. I came oh so close to "T-ing" up one of the coaches as he griped about calls the entire game while losing 18-9...how about expending that energy on actual coaching, huh?
Officiating my first Freshman Boys game tomorrow; should be fun! I find this newest "job" of mine to be rewarding. I love it. Even those games above. They get the blood flowing and get me moving and get me back involved in a sport I love. I spent a major potion of my childhood and early adulthood playing basketball. At times when I was a kid, I probably spent upwards of 10 hours a day playing basketball at the park with my friends or even just shooting in my driveway (gravel).
Saturday, I headed to Bowman Academy to see Bowman play Ft Wayne Luers. James Blackmon Jr, son of James Blackmon, is sophomore on Ft Wayne Luers and has already committed to Indiana. Bowman destroyed Luers 101-74. Luers couldn't handle Bowman's height, strength, quickness or their press. They were just outmanned in this one. Blackmon demonstrated a sweet shot. He is also really strong for a 6'2" sophomore and he did a really good job of handling the basketball. He's a better passer than advertised. He doesn't play much defense however; kinda stands around on that end looking bored. 2 1/2 more years to get better; I can't wait to see him play again!
On a side note, I joined the Biggest Loser here at work for the next 90 days. My team consists of me and 5 skinny people...They act like they just won the lottery with me on their team! They will be lucky if I don't eat them!
Bum
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