One ref’s point of view

Let me begin by saying, from a referee’s point of view, that the majority of fans in Aroostook County and throughout the state of Maine are by far some of the best in the country! In my 26 years of officiating I have seen the best and worst of fans. The reason I am writing this editorial is to bring to attention a growing trend of disrespect of adults toward officials, in all sports, and the effect that it is having on younger fans at ballgames.

It is true that fans pay their way into a game to cheer, and yes at times to boo, the officials, that is all part of the game. But booing is mild compared to irate fans standing up and yelling “hey ref you s-k,” or by name “you are terrible,” or “you are an idiot.” To those who persist in acting this way in public or in front of children, let me say it is only a reflection of their ignorance of the game and the rules.

We as officials are taught not to have “rabbit ears” and to let those comments go in one ear and out the other. We have been taught well by our interpreters to ignore those types of comments. Yet, in small gyms, with smaller crowds, the few unsportsmanlike fans stick out like a sore thumb.

We often hear, “hey ref over the back,” “three seconds,” “traveling” or “let them play,” as some examples. Is over the back really over the back or was the principle of verticality involved; was it three seconds or was it actually two or was the player leaving the bucket on three; was it traveling or did the player just pick up their pivot foot to pass or shoot?

We will let them play as long they play within the guidelines of all the rules.

Which brings me to just that, rules. I take great pride in my 26 years as being a basketball official in Aroostook County and I would not have wanted to referee any other place. The people of Aroostook County and my fellow officials are fantastic. The fact is, all of us officials, on a statewide basis, have trained and worked hard in this profession and we take a great deal of pride in that fact. So rule knowledge is our forte.

Yes we will make mistakes and we are not perfect. So the next time you are at a game and you are one of the individuals who like to stand out and berate us in public, think before you speak. I would like to challenge all the fans who like to doubt our integrity in public and in the papers to take the IAABO test and then and only then will you be able to fairly judge what you see at games.

This profession is struggling to get new people involved and I can understand when I hear them say, “why would I want to become and official and put up with all those insults?” My answer to that would be if you love the game and want to earn an extra income, then give it a try. If we as individuals continue to educate those who really do not know the rules of the game, working basketball games will become much for fun for all involved.

Michael Cote

Ashland

Sportsmanship lacking

It has gotten to the point that I am starting to wonder if there is any sportsmanship left in our schools. Lately, it doesn’t seem to be enough to beat a school, but the score must be high enough to embarrass the team. As a coach of a team that, try as they might, can’t win, I see no reason for some coaches to keep their leading scorer in when they are leading by 25 or more points; nor is it necessary to continue pressing when there is a similar deficit.

Prior to each game there is a meeting with the captains and coaches, during which there is a discussion about our players exhibiting sportsmanship; as coaches, don’t we have the same responsibility? Perhaps it is I who am not competitive enough, but I believe I am very competitive.

At this level I can understand some feel the only reason to play is to win, and others feel the athletes should be having fun, but where is the balance? At the beginning of our season I was determined to help these girls win. They have the talent and know-how, but just couldn’t seem to make it all click. After four or five games, we weren’t winning and NOBODY was having fun. We as a team decided to change things.

Our last game was lost by three points to a team that beat us two weeks ago by more than 30 points. Their coach approached me and couldn’t believe the intensity of the girls and asked what I had done. We didn’t make them run until they collapsed or yell at them until we were hoarse, we simply instructed the girls to have fun and they played like we have never seen.

I am more proud of my girls for showing up every game than if they were to win by 70 points. Our team gets lectured if they don’t walk off the courts with heads high, regardless of the score. If you have given all you have then as a coach that is all I can ask. No amount of yelling or screaming will change that. I cannot force them to give more; I can only encourage them to try harder.

It is not easy to be the school that everyone expects to beat, and maybe this letter is partially because of that. I am proud of our girls, we are a small school and the girls that do play are usually involved in every other activity as well. They show up every day for practice and work as hard as they can, playing sick, injured, and tired. I only wish that they got recognition for that rather than for losing by so many points.

Tracie Hobbs

St. Agatha

Seatbelts save lives

The three of us always believed in wearing our seat belts at all times while traveling together throughout Aroostook County to work basketball games. We believed that this practice could save our lives. Well, on this cold Wednesday night it did save our lives. We took a pro-active approach to our own personal safety by wearing our seat belts and it paid off. We did not expect to run into a moose on this night, but we knew it could happen. By taking the pro-active approach to our personal safety we are alive today to tell the story. How about you? Are you taking the pro-active approach to your own personal safety and well-being? Each time you get in your vehicle to go somewhere, please make sure everyone in your vehicle is wearing their seat belt. It does save lives. We are living proof.

Roger M. Gagnon, Mike Cote, Mike Turner

Ashland

‘Empty’ Auditorium

If you play a game in front of nobody, does anyone win? That is a viable question regarding the recent string of Big East high school games played at the Bangor Auditorium.

I attended the Nokomis vs. Brewer game and read the next day that I was one of approximately 250 people there. I think the approximation might have been high. Bangor played John Bapst Friday night, and a whopping 200 people showed up. Who are these games benefiting? Certainly not the Bangor Auditorium. Certainly not the fans of the teams, because nobody is going. So what’s the rationale for playing?

There is a move afoot to build a new Auditorium, which I support, but what does it say when they attempt to add events that nobody is supporting? That is a losing situation financially. Are the Big East teams merely trying to squeeze in an extra game at the Auditorium to give themselves some advantage over opponents when the tournament rolls around? This is, at best, unfair to other schools who don’t get the opportunity to play extra games at the Auditorium. I think the Big East has made a vain attempt to separate itself form the rest of the basketball world by putting its teams on a lone stage to showcase themselves. Citizens who pay the bills for the Bangor Auditorium should be sadly disappointed that their money is being wasted by the Big East’s selfish actions.

Reg Bamford

Bangor

Editor’s note: The Big East schools playing basketball at the Auditorium split the normal rental fees to use the facility.

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