HUBERT TOWNSEND

Perspective

Would you answer the following "help wanted" ad?

"Wanted: entry level workers, moderate pay. Must be able to jog/sprint 3.2 miles per job, be held up to immediate public criticism and insult, job performance vociferously reviewed by graders ignorant of job guidelines. Request applicant be perfect on first assignment and improve thereafter."

Still interested in being a basketball referee? "You have to be nutty to be doing this," said my recent referee partner. "It sure isn't for the money."

We discussed the pay issue. Let's see here: We drive an hour or two to a game, have to get there at least a half-hour early, and then there is the time spent returning. Other monetary and time considerations include reading/studying the five officials' manuals in the packet we pay $40 for, the time taking the 100-question test, the one-to-two-hour officials' meetings on Mondays to study the rules and share game situations, and the cost and upkeep of the required uniforms.

I once attempted to get my daughter to work with me. "But it will be fun, honey. We'll start reffing 5th and 6th grade games until you feel comfortable to move up. And I'll be there to help and support you all the way. The spending money will be nice, too."

"But I don't want to," she said.

"Why? I'll be with you."

And then the real reason came out: "Because people won't like me."

Unfortunately, that is true. Forty-three percent of first- and second-year officials who quit cited the intimidation and insults as the reason for their early departure from the profession. Most officials accept that people have a different point of view and realize that will happen with the best of intentions. We all see things differently and basketball officiating is a game of angles. Closely watch who you consider the good and experienced refs. You'll see them constantly walking back and forth, up and down, always trying to get the best angle between the defense and offense to be able to make the correct call.

And yet, despite their best efforts, players will sometimes cut right in front of them when a foul occurs and they can't call what they can't see. Shoot, I remember myself along with 10,000 UW fans clearly seeing Danny Ainge flatten Tubbs Bradley when he drove the key. Yet all three officials never saw the foul and were forced to call a double foul. In their behalf, though, I never saw any ref miss a free throw or make a bad pass so we really can't blame the final score on them.

Yes, booing the ref is part of the American tradition and is cathartic fun, but insulting and intimidation crosses the line. Personally, I enjoy a thoughtful, cleverly devised modified insult. It breaks up the tension and gets me to work even harder to get position and bear down.

My favorite was, "Hey zebra, one more eye and you'd be a cyclops." But the old, "You suck, ref,"

just shows a total lack of class, education and originality.

So, despite the monetary and time sacrifices for this abused profession, why do we do it? All the refs that I queried said the same thing. It is the love of the game.

Most all of us were players at one level or another. Many of us are or were involved with coaching at different levels. But we all love the game. There is a beauty and a heavenly flow to a good game that is hard to describe. Regardless of our athleticism we all recognize and can feel the sheer joy and zenness of a great play; a perfect pass; the feel of a shot when you know it is going in when it has only just left your hand; diving into the stands after flipping the ball back to a teammate. And, in addition, we're the only ones who get paid to watch the game. Such a deal!

The next game, watch the officials and if you are interested in being behind the whistle, give us a call. We can always use more.

Hubert Townsend has refereed basketball since 1975 and thoroughly loves the game, despite his roundball mediocrity. He welcomes all comments at paxv1@yahoo.com.