t has been an interesting and contemplative week in my little corner of the officiating world. I have had serious conversations with a couple of other officials. You know the kind of conversations I mean — no stories about how you gave the Marysvale bench seven technicals in one game or ejected the Mimes’ mascot because he wouldn’t keep his mouth shut. I'm talking serious conversations.

Both conversations revolved around the same question: Should I referee high school basketball this year? If your knee-jerk reaction to the question is:

• "Of course, I should, what an absurd question!" or
• "I can’t imagine why anybody would be crazy enough to referee high school basketball!" or
• something in-between ...

... then let’s you and me have a serious conversation, too. Let’s count the rewards, the blessings — and the costs of working that level.

Continued...