It’s official: I can hold my own on floor

Have you ever thought you could excel at something that you hadn’t tried?

Sure, we all have, right? I can’t remember when this fantasy began for me – it must have been back in my grade school days in the late 1960s and early 1970s when my family lived briefly in three Midwest states and we could pick up New York Knicks games on cable – but I dreamed of being an NBA referee.

Believe it or not, I watched the referees more than the players back then. Guys like Darrell Garretson, Richie Powers, Mendy Rudolph, Jake O’Donnell and Jack Madden are some who come to mind.

As I went through high school and played basketball, I figured I could get my start in a recreation youth league and work my way up. But something got in the way, and a quarter of a century later my career continues.

Obviously, in this capacity, I can’t be a high school referee. It would be a conflict of interest. So I’ve always watched prep games with a critical eye on the folks in stripes. As I’ve said many times in this space, North Idaho officials, not only in basketball but other sports as well, are among the best in the state year in and year out.

Well, I have one of those zebra shirts hanging in my closet now. In an effort to win the daily battle against Donelap disease – as in done lapped over – I started officiating men’s recreation games in Coeur d’Alene.

The youth rec leagues were apparently desperate for referees, so I’ve filled in as a sub from time to time. I added it up the other day, and I’ve done about 50 men’s and youth games so far.

I’ve come to two conclusions. First, I have an even greater respect for our high school referees. Second, I could be a darn good high school referee.

Some of you have seen me on the court. Thanks for giving this rookie some slack!

I’ve officiated games involving a number of local assistant coaches – Mike McLean of Coeur d’Alene, Jack Foster of Post Falls, Royce Johnston of Lake City, Corey Symons of North Idaho College and Marc Allert of Post Falls, to name a few.

I’m learning you must have thick skin while working the men’s games. I have called a pair of technical fouls, but it was to stifle trash talk between players and keep them from fighting.

There’s the normal chirping from the players. I can’t wait for the first “You’re a better writer than a ref” barb. I’d have to take that as a compliment at this point!

I’ll probably do it again next year. It may not be the NBA – or high school ball, for that matter. But I have concluded that even as a rookie I can hold my own with the guys in their late 40s and mid-50s who still think they can play like they did in their glory years but fall well short.

After all, we all get better with age, right?