#good call ref

[bballinspiration]

Finally 😤😤😤

[bballinspiration]

PSA: I am only posting this play cause too many BBall noobs on the internet are screaming this was a charge.

The NBA rule is the defender has to have legal guarding position before the offensive player’s upward shooting motion. That makes this clearly not a charge, one could even argue for a block and an AND1, I like the no call.

Good call Refs 👏

[bballinspiration]

Manu’s “foul” on KD.

[bballinspiration]

Should’ve been a flagrant 😂 

[horriblehistorieschild]

STRAIGHT RED😡😤

[rowdykitty88]

LEAVE NIEMI ALONE!!!!

Kindly please. Thanks.

[barethgale]

Lmao that's not a penalty srry

[lonelystripe]

It's almost like they cheered for me

Now I know the statement above is not true . . . I mean who in their right (or left) minds cheer for the refs. But that's what this feels like. Let me explain.

I worked a bout a couple weeks ago. It was a B-Team of my former league vs another team of about equal level. I found out refs were needed for this away bout desperately so I contacted the HR there and got a spot. Jammer Ref was my assigned position for this bout (surprise surprise). So the bout goes on and I do my role to the best of my abilities. Actually I felt pretty damn good about my performance that night. There was some issues during the bout in regards to officiating but those issues were not directed at me. After the bout I ran into the one coach from my former league . . . of course I ran into this person, they were part of the carpool down for this bout I was in . . . LOL.

Anyways the coach looks ad me and says, "Dammit [Ref], why the hell did you have to be so good tonight!?!"

"I'm sorry, what?" I said dumbfounded.

"The rest of the refs were mediocre to sucky at best which normally isn't a problem if you all suck equally but there you are, calling every single penalty that crossed your field of vision . . . . the other refs weren't even on the same page as you"

"Umm . . . thanks????" I said trying to contain a very large smile.

The coach goes on to tell me that they are really impressed with what I have been doing lately. That all of a sudden I've stepped my game up. That I am making much better calls (even against their team) I am more sure and confident in my calls and I have a different presence about me. The change from where they saw me last year till now is noticeable

I laugh it off but this was just the beginning. I've been recently told that a few people that I really respect . . . . respect me. I'm not trying to toot a horn or anything here but it's friggin awesome when all of your hard work is actually being noticed and commented on. As an official I know I need to earn the respect of other and my peers. I never really expected it but always hoped that one day I would be looked at as a good ref. and this just kind of made my day.

I owe a LOT of this though to the league I have been practicing with. They are a higher level league so I have been exposed to situations and jams that I would have never been exposed to at my old league. They (skaters and officials alike) expect a certain level out of their officials and I have tried my best to rise to that level. There are still may things to learn and I know that every moment I am not always at that level. But they have been very supportive and at the same time critical of me. Its the environment that I've needed to grow as an official.

.Exactly . . . . now what?? I have a meeting soon with my former league. I know some officials want me there. I know some skaters want me there. And then I have some people close to me telling me I shouldn't go back there. That this higher level league is what is best for me. They'll take me in, I know that. And I know I will get opportunities like no other there. But I am also a loyal SOB and I feel that my former league deserves better than what they have. How can I just abandon them? This is the conundrum I am in . . .

But it does feel like I have some people cheering for me now . . .