Right around before Memorial Day, I found out that my mentor was going to be taking over the assigning to one of the most coveted venues in NYC Street Ball, Pro City. Still coming off a dream season, and still on, working games during the off season, I expressed my interest of officiating some of those games. “Young man, you not ready for those games.” I was taken aback. I wasn’t hurt, because I knew that there was a method to his madness. As maniacal as it may have been to me personally, I knew he was looking for my best interest.
I’m from 101, west to Hund 40th,
this sh*t is live
Fifth-floor, 56,
you know from two-one
That’s on Lennox,
7th ave was news 1.”
– Cam’ Ron, Welcome to New York City
Interests were renewed and understood after experiencing the first game, opening day, at Nike Pro City held at Columbia University. The crowd was live, the DJ and MC even liver. None more live than the situation that was happening on the Basketball Court that day. Pro-am is a different animal. Sure, I’ve done many adult league games which have their own complexities and complications. But pro-am, you are dealing with some top level talent that’s still trying to get to the highest level, looking for alternative means to play at a high level, and of course, playing at a high level.
“Ghettos, them is your hometown,
We can go the whole round
After that, I’m shootings’ downtown
I’m rockin’ hats and your wig is all in tact.”
– Ghostface Killah, Ice Cream.
Officials were no slouches either. All pro caliber refs, that are all pro’s – whether it be the NBA, G League, or WNBA. I thought I was ready to rub shoulders with them. Perhaps I thought too highly of myself at this moment in time. The first play of the game, saw two players jostling for position, only to simultaneously slide past the baseline and into the lobby after falling head first to a door. It was a shock to see the sequence – even more of a shock that there was no whistle on the play, other than out of bounds.
Young man, you not ready for those games.
Looking back, I was out of bounds in thinking that I was ready for this. As good as I’ve gotten, I still have a very long road ahead. It was good to be there as an off duty official however; because now I know what it takes to be ready for those games.
Pro-am is something serious. It’s not the controlled environment as a true pro game would be, since there wouldn’t be a in house DJ, and an in the house MC, name calling everyone from the players, to the officials. What an environment indeed.
Trail. By. Fire.
The officials were professional throughout, both games. All are going somewhere, and already are. Albeit my personal goal is to not make it to the league, I do want to service those games. I saw some of my mentors in real time, in a habitat that you don’t see in a normal school game. I learned many things watching, and Referee Rant will surely take you there, as we plan on going to all the major venues, all summer long. I’ll be sitting on the sidelines, or the scorers table, or on the baseline taking video.
Until I hear, “Young man, you ready for those game.”
Until tomorrow.
