Opinions are like Butt holes

Opinions are like Butt holes.
Everyone has one.
I’m always amazed how a referee/ observer/ fan can say that one referee is ‘Great’. And another referee/ observer/ fan can say that same official is ‘Horrible’. I always wonder where people base their opinions. I’ve worked with plenty of officials who were labeled great and I walked away saying, “This greatness should be relabeled loser”. On the flip side I’ve encountered someone labeled, “horrible” and I wondered if this idea of horrible could be bottled and preserved.

The impression you get from working with a referee is totally different from the impression an observer gets from watching someone from the stands. I guess it all depends on your pet peeve. I had a referee who didn’t like working with me because I called in there subs. I had an official hate me because I had a double whistle on a foul. I had a referee label me horrible because I didn’t stand in the proper timeout position. I wonder if these peeves had anything to do with basketball.

I also have this delusional thought that I know what is important and what makes a good referee. I care if a referee has my back. Don’t sell me out to dry to a supervisor. Tell the whole truth. I messed up one play with two seconds remaining in the game and you messed up five plays. I don’t care if you blow in my primary, just be right. Oh yea, be a good person first. See I told you...delusional.

See there’s someone out there who has worked with me and used the words horrible and terrible. The truth is, they’re probably right. That day I probably did something that was there referee pet peeve. Chances are, I likely had a bad game. Or, I had my gas face on. That never goes over well with my partners. I wonder if they were right. Am I horrible? Who’s opinion should you listen to? Should I really care?

This season I had a horrible game. I remember beating myself up about my poor selection of calls and my patience. My fifteen year old daughter who was in attendance turned to me as i kicked myself and said, “Dad, for what its worth, I think you did a great job. I thought it was pretty cool.” Sometimes my daughter can drive me nuts, but her Butt hole opinion is the only one that matters to me.

Safe traveling.