I played sports much of my life and I can tell you I was hardly easy on an official. I've received technical fouls, I've glared and stared down officials, I've yelled at umps and told them they were wrong, and I've tested refs with as much sarcasm as I could muster throughout a game. In short, I'm sure there were plenty of refs who didn't love me by the end of the game.
I wish I hadn't been that way. It's funny how my view has changed since I've moved to the scorers' table and press box instead of the sidelines. From my seat I can hear and see everything and I am disappointed most nights. I meet the officials before each game and talk with them when they arrive. Most of them are friendly and in a good mood. Depending how the night goes, I can almost watch them gain a few gray hairs and look a year older by the end of the game. The fans are relentless.
If you listen to the common fan you would think that every official had it out for their team, that they were blind or that they are a laundry list of negative qualities such as terrible, horrible and awful. Sometimes fans say they are all of the above. All that abuse for a couple hundred bucks if you work at the college level, but even less money if you work a lower level. What a gig.
How easily we forget that an official is a human too. They are going to make mistakes, but they are doing the best they can. Keep in mind, they are trained to do their job and their best is far better than the job any fan could do, despite what that fan might say. Sure, officials signed up for a highly-scrutinized position and being upset with a call is okay. Yet fans take it too far, too often.
I know very few younger people who aspire to be an official. I have tried it at the youth level and got a taste of some loud parents. A few years was enough for me. One day we will have a shortage of officials and we will have only ourselves to blame. Who would want to sign up for that job? Coaches who scream after every call, parents who think their kid is getting slighted every time down the floor and players who have no respect for officials? Those who do the job have my respect.
Next time you head to a game consider this: every time you make a mistake at work there isn't a large crowd yelling at you and saying how awful you are. Imagine if there was. You would probably leave feeling miserable every day.
Sit back, enjoy the game and cheer on your team. But remember the officials and umpires aren't getting paid full-time salaries and they are out there doing a job that is essential for the game to take place. Show some respect and let's all be better.
