Those Darn Racist Basketball Referees

Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 3/24/09 @ 8:34 pm - Filed Under Local Politics

I laughed incredulously while reading a guest column in today’s News-Sentinel. It was written by Jonathan Ray, CEO of the Fort Wayne Urban League, who surmises that a lack of diversity among high school basketball officials might be having an adverse effect on the dreams of high school athletes. I’m not kidding:

Year after year, children’s dreams are deferred by questionable calls that appear to be biased. In the spirit of Hoosier Hysteria and fair competition, Blake Ress (commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association), it’s time to require diverse officiating crews. Officials shouldn’t have a rooting interest.
[...]
The officiating crew of Tim Dailey, Dennis Jackson and Greg Bowman had a big impact on the 2009 Wayne Sectional final between Peru and Wayne high schools. Just maybe a lack of diversity caused them to make a no-call with 50 seconds left when a Wayne athlete was fouled and pushed out of bounds.

With three men, you would think the right call could be made. One play earlier, an official overruled an out-of-bounds play where the near official gave Wayne the ball. That play was reversed and the ball given to Peru.
[...]
A dream was deferred for some. Diversifying officiating crews might make every call an easy call, no matter whom it affects.

I certainly believe diversity has it’s place and I’ve written about it before (see comments) when voicing my support for councilman Hines’ outburst against Mayor Henry. But suggesting that racist basketball officials are somehow corrupting the outcome of high school basketball tournaments strikes me as incredibly ridiculous.

This doesn’t quite seem like the kind of hard-hitting issue the CEO of the Urban League should be focusing on…

Comments

7 Responses to “Those Darn Racist Basketball Referees”

  1. Parson on March 24th, 2009 9:12 pm

    Wasn’t someone in the NBA crying about the same thing last year?

  2. J Holly on March 24th, 2009 10:47 pm

    IHSAA officials are independent agents. Mr. Ray should instead be encouraging his friends and colleagues to go into officiating. Maybe he should open an officiating school.

  3. gadfly on March 24th, 2009 11:10 pm

    The truth is here and now. Oriental, brown and black referees would never make calls based upon race . . . and they would never make an incorrect call nor miss a foul.

    On the other hand, racism is two-way street and “diversity” is code for reverse discrimination.

  4. Jack on March 25th, 2009 7:36 am

    J Holly is correct. Mr. Ray should help to recruit more minorities into the officiating craft. I am an IHSAA baskeetball ref. In the 7 years I’ve been involved I have never heard any discussion that would imply racism on the court. I suggest that Mr. Ray attend the officiating camps throughout the year - running up and down the court all day - constantly being evaluated by more experienced refs. Also, do this as a part time job and maintain a full time job also. Travel an hour or more to a game and then get home around midnight on a Friday night - maybe even driving through a snowstorm to get to the game or back home. Yes, sometimes refs make wrong calls. They are human and make mistakes. Spectators expect them to be perfect all the time, while the athletes can make all kinds of mistakes and the fans are patient. Imperfection IS part of the game.

    Go to the games, cheer for the athletes, and have a good time and remember - it’s only a game.

  5. Charles M. Langley on March 25th, 2009 3:24 pm

    I agree with J Holly . . . my baseball officiating certification paid for half of my college bills when I worked in the summers. It’s not hard at all to apply, learn the rules, take the test, and begin this part-time career.

  6. Tutor on March 25th, 2009 10:14 pm

    Mr. Ray should be more concerned that Wayne’s students are ineligible - failing academics - rather than racism! I find it quite interesting the students who once caused me grave problems from my days of subbing are now the latest victims of crimes.

  7. Jon Ray on July 16th, 2009 1:48 pm

    I would be happy to show anyone who is interested the video tape. I can’t imagine how you can base an opinion sight unseen. I never said the referees were racist. I don’t know what was in their minds. I do know that they did not call an even game. Also I am concerned about all aspects of student life at Wayne High School – success in the classroom and on the court. I did not get the note that said you could only want one thing.

    Again for anyone interested I will make the video available for your review. I will meet you anywhaere. I guarantee you after watching the tape you will say it was more then a lot of blown calls.

    Try walking in the other guys shoes or at least consider both sides of an issue before commenting.

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