Columnist Steve Carp: Too many games hurts WAC refs

Steve Carp

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998 | 12:03 p.m.

DAVE HALL arguably is the best referee in the Western Athletic Conference.

Before you pooh-pooh that notion, keep in mind that in every endeavor, someone is going to be considered the best. However, the WAC, in its attempt to showcase its best official, may be wearing him out.

Hall worked last Saturday's UNLV-UTEP game at the Thomas & Mack Center. The next morning, he was on ESPN, calling the Fresno State-Tulsa game from the Tulsa Convention Center.

That's two games in less than 24 hours. And I'd be willing to bet that Hall probably worked a game somewhere Thursday night. That's a lot of running and a lot of running around, considering a referee runs an average of six miles in a single game. And it's not that simple to get from Las Vegas to Tulsa, especially on short notice.

So the question is, by having its best referee work back-to-back weekend games, is the WAC doing its teams a disservice?

The WAC already has come under considerable fire from fans, coaches and the media this season for the quality of its officiating. More than one coach has had to bite his tongue rather than risk being reprimanded by commissioner Karl Benson.

Of course, UTEP coach Don Haskins probably thought it was better for his mental health to say what he really thought. Benson grounded The Bear for last week's game against Air Force after he lambasted the officiating.

But if they could speak their minds frankly, you can bet the coaches would not endorse having refs working back-to-back games.

Officiating basketball at this level is physically demanding and mentally draining. You are constantly under duress with coaches from both teams working you verbally and fans questioning your every move. The media compounds the already-rough situation by taking you to task when you miss a call or make the perceived wrong call.

So why risk exasperating the situation by putting officials in a position where their very presence will draw criticism?

The UNLV-UTEP game was a tough one for Hall. It was a physical, highly emotional game. The next day's contest between Tulsa and Fresno was a track meet with players sprinting up and down the court.

Overall, Hall handled himself well, especially at Tulsa. But as good as he is, wasn't there someone else who could have worked that game and given Hall the day off?

The majority of referees are independent contractors, which means they sell their services to anyone who wants them. It's not uncommon to see these guys working two or three different leagues and working 70 games a year. It is, after all, a big part of an official's livelihood, and no one wants to take the bread out of his family's mouth.

At the same time, the teams competing deserve officials who are at their physical and mental optimum. Asking a ref to work back-to-back games flying halfway across the country in less than 24 hours doesn't seem to meet that standard.

The WAC should do something about it.