Author Topic: Asking for autographs  (Read 1601 times)

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Offline southarkumpire

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Asking for autographs
« on: December 16, 2021, 01:18:21 PM »
I read an article this morning about a young man that was being highly recruited by his state university, and he made a joke about having to sign autographs this year for the ref before the game, on several occasions.  Opinions??

Offline Ralph Damren

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #1 on: December 16, 2021, 02:53:19 PM »
We are supposed to be neutral and that ,IMHO, sorta' like a divorce court judge making out with the estranged wife  :!# . Teenagers sometimes embellish and this star player may be guilty of that. If you shake hands with one coach, be sure to also shake hands with the other. The perception by many is that we are biased from the beginning, we don't need to add any fuel to that flame.

Offline HLinNC

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2021, 03:10:19 PM »
Most of the "stars" around here never really pan out so it would be a waste of time.  The only real player contact I have is when the captains come out or with whatever receiver is lined up on my side each play.  I'm too busy before the game or the players have gone back inside until after the NA is played.  I might crack a joke to one to that effect but would probably not think to really do it.

Probably not the best idea if it happened but I wouldn't consider it to the level of chasing down an AD to demand your check or fuming to the staff about the lack of a porta potty near the equipment shed used as a pre-game and halftime officials "room"; both of which happened for real in my region this season.

Offline CalhounLJ

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #3 on: December 16, 2021, 04:12:56 PM »
I read an article this morning about a young man that was being highly recruited by his state university, and he made a joke about having to sign autographs this year for the ref before the game, on several occasions.  Opinions??
No way.  Act like a grownup.


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Offline southarkumpire

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #4 on: December 16, 2021, 05:04:21 PM »
Most of the "stars" around here never really pan out so it would be a waste of time.  The only real player contact I have is when the captains come out or with whatever receiver is lined up on my side each play.  I'm too busy before the game or the players have gone back inside until after the NA is played.  I might crack a joke to one to that effect but would probably not think to really do it.

Probably not the best idea if it happened but I wouldn't consider it to the level of chasing down an AD to demand your check or fuming to the staff about the lack of a porta potty near the equipment shed used as a pre-game and halftime officials "room"; both of which happened for real in my region this season.

I believe it actually happened from the way the article was written. The kid was kind of embarrassed by it and asked his OC if it was OK after the fact.

Offline Ralph Damren

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2021, 10:44:18 AM »
IMHO, there are some situations where the 'human' side of us can prevail. If there is an award or tribute being made in pregame , glance at the coaches & players of the visiting team. If they are applauding, you could too. I was backed into a very awkward situation several years ago and lived to tell about it:

SCENE : Homecoming with home school's athletic hall of fame inductees during halftime. One of the inductees posthumously was a basketball & softball official that I knew him and his wife well. His wife would accept the award and would be escorted to midfield by a crusty ole' basketball ref.

ACT I : Late in 1st half, score, PAT kick into pucker brush;
           Home AD urgently calls me over : "We need help, the widow's escort forgot to show up, and she
           wants to know if you could  ????"
  ME : "Before I can say yes, I need to ask (visiting AD) if he would be bothered  :o "
V-AD: "It wouldn't bother me, but I can't say for our fans ::) !"
 ME:   "I guess I have to chose between being a human and being a  ref ??? "
V-AD: "YOU BE A HUMAN.. I'll take care of our fans  :angel: !"

ACT II: HALFTIME
          Fortunately we were in our current fashion as knickers would have stuck out, hat,flag,beanbag and such were in possession of ump . My black jacket was pulled up as high as possible. :-[ . I met her under the goalpost and set the ground rules.
ME : "I'll be on the home side of the field and the PA will only announce you. Once we get to midfield for the presentation, I'll leave before your acceptance speech.  :-[ "
SHE : "Thank you for your kindness, (deceased husband) is looking down on us and is proud  :) ."

ACT III : 2nd HALF
         I didn't hear a peep from the visiting sidelines or fans until  I  ^flag a hometeam runner for spiking the ball after gaining a first down.
V-FAN: "If you keep making that call, ref, we'll put you in our hall of fame, too  ;D !"
        I don't feel it's a good idea to respond to fans, but I couldn't resist and gave a ;D :thumbup.
        They cheered.

EPILOUGE: A few days later I received a nice letter from the widow ,thanking me for responding to her awkward request. She stated that it was the happiest moment that she has had since her husband passed. I felt humbled that I was able to be part of that.
 

DISCLAIMER : This was performed by a crusty ole' ref, who didn't know better than to say yes. Caution before trying this at home.
                                           tR:oLl
« Last Edit: December 17, 2021, 10:55:48 AM by Ralph Damren »

Online ElvisLives

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2021, 11:17:51 AM »
IMHO, there are some situations where the 'human' side of us can prevail. If there is an award or tribute being made in pregame , glance at the coaches & players of the visiting team. If they are applauding, you could too. I was backed into a very awkward situation several years ago and lived to tell about it:

SCENE : Homecoming with home school's athletic hall of fame inductees during halftime. One of the inductees posthumously was a basketball & softball official that I knew him and his wife well. His wife would accept the award and would be escorted to midfield by a crusty ole' basketball ref.

ACT I : Late in 1st half, score, PAT kick into pucker brush;
           Home AD urgently calls me over : "We need help, the widow's escort forgot to show up, and she
           wants to know if you could  ????"
  ME : "Before I can say yes, I need to ask (visiting AD) if he would be bothered  :o "
V-AD: "It wouldn't bother me, but I can't say for our fans ::) !"
 ME:   "I guess I have to chose between being a human and being a  ref ??? "
V-AD: "YOU BE A HUMAN.. I'll take care of our fans  :angel: !"

ACT II: HALFTIME
          Fortunately we were in our current fashion as knickers would have stuck out, hat,flag,beanbag and such were in possession of ump . My black jacket was pulled up as high as possible. :-[ . I met her under the goalpost and set the ground rules.
ME : "I'll be on the home side of the field and the PA will only announce you. Once we get to midfield for the presentation, I'll leave before your acceptance speech.  :-[ "
SHE : "Thank you for your kindness, (deceased husband) is looking down on us and is proud  :) ."

ACT III : 2nd HALF
         I didn't hear a peep from the visiting sidelines or fans until  I  ^flag a hometeam runner for spiking the ball after gaining a first down.
V-FAN: "If you keep making that call, ref, we'll put you in our hall of fame, too  ;D !"
        I don't feel it's a good idea to respond to fans, but I couldn't resist and gave a ;D :thumbup.
        They cheered.

EPILOUGE: A few days later I received a nice letter from the widow ,thanking me for responding to her awkward request. She stated that it was the happiest moment that she has had since her husband passed. I felt humbled that I was able to be part of that.
 

DISCLAIMER : This was performed by a crusty ole' ref, who didn't know better than to say yes. Caution before trying this at home.
                                           tR:oLl

Sometimes there is the "correct" thing to do, or the "right" thing to do. As we would expect, you chose the "right" thing to do, and found a way to do it that respected everybody.

Not totally unlike that, I had an FBS college game, where the honorary coin toss participants were to include about a half-dozen true war veterans (Viet Nam through Middle-East). I was introduced to them during team warm-ups, and immediately felt compelled to have them meet privately with us, so we could offer heartfelt, sincere thanks for their service and sacrifice. I was able to have them join us in our dressing room, quite discretely, where we shook their hands, thanked them, and wished them well, and hoped they would enjoy the game. I gave each of them a souvenir tossing coin, to enhance the experience and offer them a memory of doing something few folks get to do (talk to officials in their dressing room). Maybe not the 'correct' thing to do, but I felt good about it, and will never forget the privilege to have visited with them.

Offline AlUpstateNY

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2021, 01:22:33 PM »
Good job, a clear example of the difference between "paying DUE respect" than seeking it.

Offline KWH

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Re: Asking for autographs
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2021, 04:36:45 PM »

Elvis and Ralph - Those were great stories, Thank you for sharing them with us.   tiphat:
SEE everything that you CALL, but; Don't CALL everything you SEE!
Never let the Rules Book get in the way of a great ball game!

Respectfully Submitted;
Some guy on a message forum