#RRRR – Reputation

Here at Double R, we decided to run another series that relates to refereeing.  This concerns the  4 r’s, in which 2 of them will be discussed this week, and the latter, later next. These 4 r’s will keep you working til’ Kingdom Come. But reputation, now.

“You can’t buy a good reputation; you must earn it.” – Harvey Mackay

The industry, slow and often unforgiving, does not spare feelings when in the thick of it.  It gets rough before it gets smooth, and worse before it gets better –  the turbulence hits long faces along with the smoke from the fires, here to conflagrate the today’s.  It’s a strange racket this refereeing; no more so than when you start.  

And in that start your rep, is nothing to brag about.  It’s the opposite of opulence; in fact it’s something that everyone and anyone will surely step on.  You’s a mat, and no one gives a rat’s a** if today was your first. Prep to get stepped on. I don’t mean to get religious, but you about to get baptized.  For it to grow, reputation i.e., takes time. And a whole lot of it.

That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough
– Michael Stipe

“It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than with a bad reputation.”
– Friedrich Nietzsche

So you got a taste – your tongue is charred by the burnings of the beginning, and the other other fire’s stoked from the desire to see a FUTURE in this.  It’s hard in its infancy, No Diggity.  But as time goes on, plays get easier to discern, your jury never hung, all while judgments become second nature. At that point, your reputation should be beholden to you and you only.  Look in the mirror – and don’t stop looking until within you, you become completely unflappable & indefatigable.

This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer,  all the stars are closer
– Solana Rowe

“My name rings bells like Sunday’s at 12 O’clock.” – Styles P

The passage of time affords me perspective.  I’ll never forget the day I worked with an official, in Basketball, that changed the course of my career, ad infinitum.  He was tall, about 6’4”.  HIs reputation preceded his height, as he genuinely knew everyone in the gym; parents, coaches, players, table administrators – you-name-it-he-knew-it.  He would refer to everyone as nieces and nephews, and sooner or later, I became just as related to him is everyone up I there.  He was my brother; and that’s coming from an Only Child moi. One thing I couldn’t relate to him, in that moment in time, was his REPUTATION.  

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

As his reputation emanated within the venue, I felt compelled to ask him pointed questions, as he was sharp as a tack, and generous with his information as Alexa is to my first born.  All you had to do was ask. Alexa! 

“Sorry, I don’t know that.” – Sonos One, powered with Alexa

I won’t get into specifics as to the nature of our conversation, but I will say I did ask him how I can get more games outside of the one we was serving.  “Young man,” he said, as his tone masterfully weaved to and fro from being jovial, to stern.  “You want to be a Wyatt Earp,” he urged, or didn’t. Perhaps I couldn’t tell what his tone was, not because I was tone def, but because he was a man multiple studies.

“Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.  In a gun fight, all’s fair in love and war,” – Wyatt Earp

 As he continued, he said, “You don’t want to be calling anyone,” hell bent on not being eager to find work.  “You want to get to the point where they calling you.” Don’t worry, it will come.  There’s that patience again. I never believed for once that anyone was going to call me the way they phoned him.  No. Way.

“The eager beaver could be the collapse of the dam.” – Aubrey Graham

I learned what reputation could be that day.  I saw the equity he had with everyone involved in that contest, that emitted lights so bright, that it could blind a novice official like myself.  But his message was simple.  Put your head down. #SERVETHEGAME.

Reputation is the cornerstone of power.  Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be surely attacked on all sides.  Make your reputation UNASSAILABLE.  Always be woke to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen.  

OFF THE FIELD:

DO WHAT YOU SAY, SAY WHAT YOU DO: Best way to serve the game and others in this game is to be an official of your word.  If you are covering for someone, make sure you are there. And when you’re there, be there – be present in the game you are officiating. Alleviate fears and let them reconfirm that you will be there for them. Avoid being tardy, for that is the easiest controllable within your grasp to show that you mean more business than an LLC. 

“Don’t buy it unless you buy it.” – John Mayer

THE AFTERMATH: After you do a gesture, without asking for anything in return, it often enhances your reputation, many times over.  You see opportunities in other official’s official conflicts, and you serve them by satiating their mind by knowing you have a reputation of handling biz when not being watched.  Next thing you know, you’ll be the referee delegating everyone with the abundance of work you have.

COMMUNICATE SUCCINCTLY: When you can’t do something, be up front.  When you can, be quick to help.  For officials and assignors always need help and support covering games,  BE GENEROUS in dispersing the knowledge and wisdom accrued from this game. Be secure with yourself, for no one is better than you being you.  Your rep will increase, for they know that you are a person to lean on, do battle with, and learn from, in the future, and in perpetuity.  

“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation,
and only one bad one to lose it.” – Benjamin Franklin 

ON THE CLOCK

GO 100% – Bar none, the best way to level up your reputation is to do the damn thing when you are on clock, on site.  Be sharp with your mechanics.  Be present with the game you are officiating.  Be receptive to the level that you are reffing, and treat it like it’s a championship game – AT. ALL. TIMES. YOUR REP AND STEP WILL SURELY EXPAND. Trust.

ADAPTABILITY – Mercurial is the industry we service.  You might doing a back to back to back game and the one in between the outer backs are strike through’d.  Fret not, your reputation isn’t one of a complainer.  You know that everything comes back.  Do what needs to be done, and add a smile on it.

“One day you’re up, next day you’re down, as long as you stay the same, it’ll come back around.” – Jay-Z

Image:
A Mine Full of Diamonds and Rubies.
You dug for it, you found it,
And your wealth is now assured.
Guard it with your life.  Robbers and thieves 
Will appear from all sides.  Never take your wealth
For granted, and constantly renew it – time
Will diminish the jewelers’ luster, 
And bury them from sight.

“Therefore I should wish our courtier to bolster up his inherent worth with skill and cunning, and ensure that whatever he has to go where he is a stranger, he is preceded by a good reputation…Fro the fame which appears to rest on the opinions of many fosters a certain unshakable belief in a man’s worth which is then easily strengthened in minds already thus disposed and prepared.” – Baldassare Castiglione.

“A good reputation is more valuable than money.” – Publilius Syrus

RESPECT. COMING SOON.