"LONG COOL WOMAN"

(Disclaimer:  My apologies to the readers who are not from my generation.  I realize the post may have references to some pop-culture ideas that the young among you will have trouble with.  But, to those of us who are "young at heart", it hopefully will make more sense!"

Those of us from or from shortly after the generation of Buddy Holly, will remember the tune.  Even today, when this comes on the radio, I use the volume button on my steering wheel and turn it up.  Its just one of those tunes that lifts the spirit no matter what the situation.  So how is it relevant to getting the calls right on the floor?

Here is a question-"What color was the dress the Long Cool Woman wore?"  Have an answer?  I know what color it is, but does it really matter?  I mean I have heard bands cover the song in person, on the TV, and even on radio.  In many of those cases, the color changed.  It seemed to be changed to make the song relevant to an issue or event the singer wanted to highlight. I remember one year, after the Duke Men won a national basketball championship, and on TV I heard that she wore a "blue" dress.  In other cases, more than one, I heard the woman wore a "red" dress.

The point in looking at this highlights the fact that, in some cases an "artists' prerogative/interpretation" was taken with the song.  It was done for effect, and illustrates what we as humans do on occasion, to make ourselves seem, feel, appear sensitive to our circumstance/s.

Recently, I have been reading a string of posts on an international social networking site, that are written by basketball referees.  Referees of all levels of work and experience are commenting on the site.  One string was of particular note when a few people addressed "flopping."  In regards to violation, technical foul, or just no call.  If you are reading this post, you have seen a flop.  And, you have chosen a reaction to it (probably more than once, and maybe more than one reaction).  The rule and its interpretation/application is not the point of this post.

What I want to address is, "Why do officials react to a flop the way they do?" When you read the string, you see that there is no particular misunderstanding of the rule.  BUT, there is a wide range of response how to react to it.  You, the reader, probably have no particular problem with the rule.

So, why then do we see such an apparent "ignorance" of the rule and its application/penalty, on the floor?  How many times, this season in any of your games, did you see a "flop" penalized in any way?  Or, have you heard a statement in the post-game discussion where a partner of yours complimented you on the "good no-call on that flop?"  You know we just didn't want to stop the game for that "interrupter."

Oh, I see, you usually like to give them a warning.  You want to keep the game moving (obviously important, no argument here), but you let them know if you see it again you will have to address it.  Let me ask you something, "Have you ever given a warning to a player for traveling?"  "Hey there young man, next time you forget which pivot foot you used I'm gonna have to get it!" Yes well the flop did not cause an advantage.  Of course, you're right.  And we call advantage disadvantage.

I would argue, that in this job we call officiating, just because we step on the floor with a funny looking shirt and whistle-doesn't mean we stop being human.  We take that part with us wherever we go.  And, on the floor we use judgment.  Part of the human condition that will just never be eliminated from the game.  Nor, should it be.  We should always admit to ourselves, and others, that we are first human, and all our decisions about enforcing a rule or not fall within that human condition.  The "flop" rule is not the only one that gives us occasion to think about whether or not we enforce it.  Ever heard of the three second rule?  What IS of importance is that the crew be consistent in any given game, such that the players/coaches can adjust to the "ideas" they see on the floor.  We need to take care that our "human condition" does not itself cause an advantage or disadvantage.

By the way, the "LONG COOL WOMAN" first wore a black dress!  Question:  How tall was she?