THICK SKIN OF AN ADULT LEAGUE REFEREE –
The Transition from Player Turned Official
By: Herving Armand
1995 Sans Ref, AD – It’s the middle of my childhood, and I’m 11-12 years old. It’s a numbers game, and the end of it is 21. My team has 20, and I have the ball. Point game. If the ball was in my hand, I’m winning the game. Any which way, I’m ending it. Only thing missing in 2019, is the ball.
“But not in 95’
I musta survive as a man on my own
F*ck around with Fatlip,
yes, ya get blown
I’m not tryin’ to show no macho is shown
But when it’s on, if it’s on, then it’s on”
– Fatlip, Phyarcyde, Runnin’
Back then, and the successive years growing up to be an adult, I was a different type of player – my professionalism towards refs never wavered. I would always have respect for them, and whether I disagreed or not, would go with them and their play call.
I would never say that they suck, and where some people were trying to embarrass them. I had to be a little slicker with my rhetoric. I’d have to bide my time, strike while the iron is hot; hide in plain sight when they are around. The referees power is of omnipotence, and they know it. I wanted to be the guy that always seems to make his way at the charity stripe shooting 2. Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Kobe Bryant. They seem to have a knack of getting to the free throw line and when there was a foul called on them they always seem to be in the referee’s ears. Speaking to them, maybe trying to get understanding, but ultimately agreeing to disagree.
“I’m tryna get these ni**as with no stripes to be official
Y’all think small, I think Biggie” – Jay-Z
I’m not saying that I never got into it with them because I did. But it never escalated to the point where I could possibly earn a technical. I remember a game where I had a coach growing up begged me to come to play basketball with his team and I knew I didn’t get any playing time in two weeks. I was on a family trip where I didn’t play ball at all, but thought about it throughout.
“Possession is eleven points in the law, and they say there are but twelve.”
– Scottish Expression
When I got back, the first game I played, I felt like the refs were being unfair; down 20 points at the half, I had 4 points and I couldn’t hit the side of a barn. I felt I wouldn’t get any calls. At the half, I spoke to one of the officials and he said that I was out of control. I adjusted my game and started to get to the line frequently and we came back winning the game by 3. I think I went 10/13 at the free throw line and ended the game with 36 points. Speaking to the officials helped me get my game together, helping the team win.
“Control –
Now I’ve got a lot
Control –
To get what
I want control –
I’m never gonna stop
Control –
Now I’m all grown up.”
– Janet Jackson
Basketball, or so I thought I had the game on lock. But the game is much different on the dark side, the officiating side. I started this new season at this adult league, where I’m comfortable; I just go get a few dollar$ and get my run & reps in as a basketball official. Now my Mentor, Ralph, told me about a certain player that will be a test for me: one of many that I will have as I continue my career. The first week with this guy, he tries to call me out and I handle him accordingly; but of course, the next week was a different story. So last game of the night and it’s a close game. I was in a position to start a 5-second call and when my right hand went up.
YOUR THE WORST. REF. E V E R.
It didn’t bother me as of yet, but when the next 5 second violation was called, all hell broke loose. This man started telling me how he never heard about a 5-second call in the NBA.
“OK your right because its not a rule in the NBA.”
Speaking of time, let’s go back to the morning of that day. I listened to the first 37 minutes and 36 seconds of episode 36 of The Rant, when reality set in. I was at work, and I had a job to do. I paused it at the most opportune time, but if I just pressed play, what happened next, would have never been. Stop.
::WE NOW PRESS PLAY TO THE SITUATION AT HAND::
Now, I didn’t keep my composure because I became a player, with stripes. I started to bad-mouth-back on the lack of knowledge that these guys had. I didn’t think I was wrong because the call was 1000% correct, both times. The players not knowing the rules weren’t my issue, but I made it one; this guy started to get under my skin. He said I working for chump change and how he makes pretty good money with the job he has. I didn’t respond initially, but I totally felt like I really needed to tell him about himself. The game ended in a tie because of time constraints. He was so bothered because I kept talking and he was like “ Come On let’s play 1 on 1.” If I was in my player days I would have no problem getting on the court to really put his tongue back in his mouth.
“This ain’t no f*cking game.
You think I”m playing,
till you laying.
To where? The junkyard decaying’
Mom’s at home praying’
That you coming home. But you not.”
– DMX
Night turns to the next morning. I hear I brought my partner down blah Blah BLAH. I didn’t think I did anything wrong, until I listened to the rest of Bernard Bowen’s episode the next day after talking to Ralph. I went back to listen to the rest of that episode and I pick up when with the first thing that comes out of the speakers:
PROFESSIONALISM.
I wish I heard the pod before last night; but according to my mentor, he told me I needed to have a moment me like that at a low-stakes adult game where no one would even know as opposed to an argument heard around the world.
I hate the fact I allowed him to get under my skin where it took away from future work. I got outside of myself and I made it personal between myself and this guy, where it cost me a night of basketball. I’m happy it’s just a night and not a whole career in working somewhere big where stakes are high whether it be a high school, college, or even a pro-am league. I can not allow someone does that to me ever again. It made me notice that I was always talking back to players and coaches. Never to the effect of what happened that night but, it could bring the worst out, of someone that would bring the worst out of me.
“If you miss a layup, you miss a call, FLUSH IT. It’s like going to the bathroom. Once you flush it, where is it? IT’S GONE.”
– Bernard Bowen Sr.
Until tomorrow.