My 12 minutes of fame…

As a lot of you already know, Kelsey and I were in a commercial for the local cable company, promoting the Winter Olympics.  I don’t condone the company’s decision to not carry NBC, nor am I a fan of the Winter Games, but the opportunity presented itself and we did it.  Little did I know that almost every gym that I went into to referee for a few weeks, someone would mention the commercial…or ask, “Hey, aren’t you the guy in that commercial?”..or  “can I have your autograph?”  (now what would they actually do if I whipped out a pen and was ready to sign my name on whatever it was that they had handy??...LOL

One evening a former vendor of mine was there watching his son play, and gets my attention.  We converse for a bit and he asked me “isn’t that you in that buckeye cable commercial?”  I answered and we chatted for a little more, not thinking anything of it.  So towards the middle of the 2^nd quarter, I go over to the table to ask how many time outs each team has left, and an older gentleman looks at me and says “you’re a better actor than you are a referee!”  I was stunned that he:

a). had the nerve to say it to me out loud

b). thought he was funny

c). didn’t expect me to reply I guess…

I looked him in the eye can calmly asked him “what did I ever do to you?”  I repeated myself again…”what did I ever do to you?”  I could see the expression on his face was one of “hmmm what just happened here”.

Before the start of the 2^nd half, the same gentleman motions me over and says to me, “hey, I was only kidding with you, I thought it would be funny and you’d get a kick out of it”.

 I replied to him, “it was kind of funny actually…lol” and blew my whistle and started the 2^nd half.

After the game the Athletic Director asked me “what did that guy say to you?”  I told him what had transpired, and he looks at me and says…”That is you in that commercial, I thought you looked familiar when I saw it!  I told my wife I know that guy from somewhere”….LOL

Seasons Change!

With the end of one comes another….

With the conclusion of the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Assoc.) basketball season, comes more time to spend with family, friends and working out in the gym (yes really!).   Being gone sometimes 5-6 nights a week is rewarding physically and financially (yes sometimes its grueling also), but it leaves something to be desired when you miss out on time with your family/children.

 I’ve pushed myself to make it to Kelsey’s dance class, swimming classes, etc..but there were a lot of time when I had to tell her that I couldn’t make it. L.  I thank my wife(Kristin G. Brooks) for being so flexible & supportive with my schedule (as she now truly understands by officiating OHSAA & Travel volleyball, the demands of being a good official….lol) enabling me to be available.  I thank all of the partners that I’ve worked with this past season, some make it more enjoyable than others, but nonetheless we are all officials and subject to the same criticisms of the coaches and $5 geniuses (the fans that pay $5 and think they know EVERYTHING..lol).

With the end of that season, comes the beginning of the AAU/Summer camps season. There are LOTS of games between March – August believe it or not, and the opportunity to work on my game (mechanics, conditioning, etc.)  I usually try to select something specific that I want to work on, and make a concerted effort to improve that aspect of my work in order to become even better during the next OHSAA season.  Last year it was conditioning (down over 30 lbs from the previous year) and stopping the clock before signaling a held/jump ball.

 YES, there is plenty of $$ out there on the table during the AAU/Summer camps season, and I’m not opposed to getting my share (No comment Kenneth Penn Sr….LOL), but the comradely between officials during this time of year makes this profession absolutely FUN!  There have been days on the court where I literally have tears in my eyes from laughing at this or that (Reggie Murphy, Kenny Penn, Randy Patterson, Teddy Jenkins, D.Myles, etc.)  We travel near and far blowing the whistle, cementing friendships, making $$ and hopefully helping the players develop their games in the Right way. 

It’s absolutely true that the tolerance level with some of the so called coaches isn’t as lenient as it is during the OHSAA season (there are no suspensions, fines, or paperwork to file for throwing a coach out of the game in AAU), so most officials tighten up the strings with respect to what we will put up with.

Who knows, maybe I’ll see you in a gym this spring or summer J

Ejection Reflection….

 

So last night I had to eject a coach for the first time in a “real”/Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) sanctioned game(I’ve tossed a few during summer leagues/AAU)…and it went a little something like this….HIT IT (Tone Loc..Funky Cold Medina…lol)

 

Me:  Coach, your player is close to getting a Technical if he keeps chirpin

Coach:  Screams…..What the hell did he do? Did he pull a single hair off his head?...Oh you wouldn’t know anything about that!!

Me: Whistle blast…..issuing a technical for disrespecting the game by yelling and cursing, AND for thinking you’re a comedian…funny guy!

I go over to the table and report the incident as I am required to do; I then proceed over to the coach to give him “the speech”.

 

Me: Coach please take a seat on the bench, you must remain seated for the remainder of the contest with the exception of time outs or injury requiring you to check on a player on the floor.

Coach: I’m not sitting down

Me: Coach, please take a seat

Coach:  This is Bull$#!*

Me: blast my whistle even LOUDER now…I issue the 2^nd technical and inform the table and athletic director that the coach is disqualified for the remainder of the contest, and must leave the confines of the gym.

Coach: We’ll TALK after the game

Me: Really coach??, you’re going to threaten me right out here on the floor in front of everyone??  Get off floor please!

Coach: I’ll see you after the game

Me: I see you now…LEAVING the gym…lol ….now who’s laughing??

 

The game concludes, and I proceed off the floor into the official’s locker room.  I hear commotion at the door, and the AD and Varsity coach have to restrain the JV coach from trying to enter…seriously??  I casually turn to them and say “let him in”….LOL   they refused to oblige though!

 

Another official doing the next games says to me, “that was the calmest ejection that I have ever seen in my life”….lol

I am now required to complete and submit and Ejection form online!!….do I get paid extra for this administrative time I have to put in for some hot head that thought he was funny??  Pretty sure he’s not laughing today!!

 

Another Season is upon us

Basketball season is almost upon us, and I can honestly say that I am a happy camper!

Not only do I enjoy the extra $$, the physical workout and the comradely with "most" of my fellow officials, but I also enjoy that aspect of the game where I can/should potentially be able to make a difference in someone’s life.

A lot of officials can be heard stating, “Oh, I don’t do junior high, freshman/JV or CYO games anymore, just strictly varsity games”.  To this I say “to each his/her own”, but it’s bigger than that for me. 

Yes I have my share of upper level/varsity games (and I do enjoy the fast paced, more skilled competition and the challenges that come along with it), but I also make it a point to take my share of the lower level games, in which the kids usually aren’t as skilled at this juncture, but it gives the coaches, AND officials a chance to make a positive difference in possibly getting these young athletes to that upper level one day.

Now only if only some of the parents (that makes these games miserable for others around them, or worse yet, trying to live vicariously through their child) would understand that some kids just aren’t skilled enough to ever be a great player....but that doesn’t mean that child doesn’t enjoy the game, or can’t help his/her team win by consistently having a positive attitude, giving everything that they have and accepting their role on the team (limitations and all). 

 For those parents that get it, and attend the games and are positive win or lose….I applaud you!  For the others….well let’s just say don’t exhibit those traits that make you a $5 genius (pay $5 to get in and feel they know EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING….aka acting a FOOL), because receiving text message score updates out in the parking lot is not nearly as fun as being INSIDE watching!! Hit me one time……..(insert whistle sound - C-YA!!)….LOL   

Thanks for taking the time to read the rhetoric in which I display my opinions.

The Big 5.0 Milestone.....

 

In a little over a month, this guy will be reaching the milestone age of 5.0!

When I was 18, 50 seemed SOOOO old!

When I was 21, I didn’t even think about 50!

When I was 25, I can’t even remember what I was thinking!

When I was 30, 50 began to seem somewhat realistic because 40 was nearing!

When I was 40, 50 became the new 40…LOL

 

Now that I am on the cusp of turning 50, I am so VERY THANKFUL to have been blessed to grace this earth for 50 years!  I can honestly say that physically I am probably in better shape now than I was when I was 25-45.  YES there are days when I feel my age (after working out, then washing and waxing my vehicle…THEN working in the yard for hours)…What am I saying about feeling old…heck I probably couldn’t have even done that in my 30’s to be honest…LOL

They say you are only as old as you feel…well in that case, I certainly don’t feel almost 50!  My workout routine keeps me relatively healthy; having family & friends that loves and supports my efforts (although sometimes they get on me to TRY to RELAX) makes the transition to the big 5.0 much easier.  

I’m sure there are those out there that fret reaching 50....but God has blessed me to be here this long…why would I ever fret that??  Embrace & rejoice!

 

October 27, 2013….Las Vegas for the 50^th Anniversary of the day John L. & Gloria C. Brooks welcomed their 2^nd son.

Make up your mind!

I know it's been awhile since I've been here, but today I just need to vent/rant...lol

One day you are posting all about your workouts, proposed workouts, getting in shape, healthy eating and the whole nine......and the next day you're posting about inhaling an entire deep dish Pizza Pizz....MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

Next day you're posting about how good God is, how humble we should all be, etc.....the next day in your posts you're cussing like the MVP of the ignorant All Star game, and wanting to blast the man standing next to the man, standing next to the Man!!...MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!

One day you're driving the family van.....the next day you wanna be some NASCAR superstar driver, driving some big bright @$$ hot rod....MAKE UP YOUR MIND!!!

One day you're cool with people, the next day you don't speak to the same people...I GUESS you can just take your fickle @$$ on!  Peace...lol

Emotional Rollercoaster kind of day..

Put LOTS of miles on the shoes and the Jeep this weekend…lol

Saturday’s AAU tournament in Michigan (early morning I might add), my officiating partners were kind enough to let me get my games in so that I could hit the road to Sandusky, Ohio to join my family & friends at the indoor waterpark.

Saturday was a strange kind of day on the court….the Ying to my Yang, then the oil to my water water, or whichever cliché that you’d like to/or normally use.

With my one partner, we roll through games seamlessly as we are almost always in synch on the court.  We have a ton of fun out there, but we are on our P’s & Q’s while doing so, and we make the necessary calls to keep the game flowing under control.

 Now my other partner on Saturday….NOT so sure bro was a “real” official (and the red font was no mistake)…lol   I’m pretty certain that he didn’t know some of the rules, had VERY weak mechanics, didn’t make any tough calls, and just seemed to be going through the motions for the most part.  So imagine alternating between the two partners for 8 straight games….I was in need of a few TALL ONES after that!!

After finishing up my last game (and telling my other partner NO on a couple of occasions that I didn’t want to do his last 3 games..NO THANKS BRO, I gotta go!), I hit the road and headed to Sandusky to the water park, sweaty, tired from being up since 6:30am and working in a hot gym, and just ready to relax.  An hour later I arrive at the hotel and check in, etc. and open the door and I’m greeted by my little one, who runs and jumps into my arms…not caring that dad is sweaty, in need of a shower, tired, or whatever…lol  She really doesn’t understand that her dad works hard in order to provide things like this for her, but at the age of 7,  she really doesn’t need too, she just needs to enjoy herself and let dad worry about all that…LOL.  But she said “thanks dad, this is so awesome”

 I was able to get a quick shower and headed down to dinner & drinks with my family and friends.  After dinner I changed and went straight to the waterpark to access the hot tub…lol  WHOA…. talk about sitting back and letting the day pass me by mentally as I held my feet and lower legs against the jets of water..ahhhhh!

 

AAU basketball has been and is still good to me and my fellow officials.  It provides an opportunity to work on our games/mechanics, to have fun, and to make extra $$, sometimes LOTS of extra $$.... Periodically I’ll bypass a day of reffing in order to do things like the waterpark, shopping, etc.  I know some wonder and will ask why I’m giving up a day of making $$....but to see the smiles and excitement on my family’s faces…THAT is reason enough for me!