Weekly News & Tid Bits

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We will update this WEB page weekly on the weekends with the latest News and Tid Bits  from the Booking Office and the Association.

 

Sunday, Aug 24 – Saturday, Aug 30, 2008

 

 

Last Week to Register at Regular Fee;

Registrations;

Register for Golf;

Michael Phelps Comments;

News Article, Wilmington Paper;

Decided to Check the ARBITER

 

 

 

 

Last Week to Register at Regular Price –  As we publish this web page on August 23, you have just 8 days to register at the regular fee.  We ask you to register on time in order to get a solid roster in which I can run many worksheet copies for various uses.  One copy is used to record Registration; another copy is used to keep attendance at the association meeting.  I need a copy of the roster for every week in the basketball season in order to list closed dates in which you can not work.  I need a copy for every week of the season to record your games so that I can keep the games basically even.  If you know me,  I am not one to try to do all this the first week in November.  I do it as early as possible so I can treat the official the way I would want to be treated.  Please send your registration in this week if you have not already done so.

 

How to  Register w/ EOA –  EOA stands for the name of our association, EASTERN OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION.  We register the officials during the month of August.  The deadline to register at the normal rate is August 31.  After that date,

a late fee of  $ 25

 is charged if you were a member of the association last season.   Go to the above link at the top of this web page, Forms, and print out an Application.

 

If You know that You Are Not Going to Register, Please Tell Me –If you are not coming back and you know it, please send me a courtesy notification so that I do not wonder about you. 

 

Need Both the Check and the Application – I had several officials who sent a check and told me their information  was the same as last year.  That does not matter;  I still need a new application with your signature on the Declaration at the bottom.  You are not registered until I receive both the check and the application. 

 

EOA Registrations Received This Past Week (Aug 10 – Aug 16) – Check here each week; if your name is listed; I received your registration this past week.  Names will only be listed for one week:

 

Andre Bryant (Pikeville), Darrin Chestnut (Jacksonville), David Dimenstien ( Arapahoe), Robert Farley (Jacksonville),  James Harper (Maysville), Dave Lemnah (Jacksonville), Gerald Marks (Jacksonville), Dwight Morrisey (Goldsboro), Virgil Taylor (Wilmington), Jean Wagnac (Jacksonville), Bobby Williams (Snow Hill), Alonza Windley (New Bern)

 

Edit Info in ARBITER – If you moved or if you have changed phone numbers since last season, please edit your information in the ARBITER.

 

September Golf Tournament – September 13 at Longmeadow Country Club between Pink Hill and Beaulaville.  It is about 5 miles out of Pink Hill.  We usually tee off between 11:30 and 12:00 noon.  You must be registered by September 5 to play in this tournament as we make up the teams a week ahead of the tournament and list them on this web page.  Registration for the golf tournament is under way now.

 

Two Weeks Left to Register for Golf -  There is no late fee to register for golf.  If you do not register by Sept 5, you simply get left out.  The teams will be made up and the trash talking and the predicting will begin.

 

Golf Tournament Fees Received – I will leave these registrations on line until I post the teams which is one week before the Tournament.  I must receive your golf fee by Friday, September 5.:

 

Brian Ahmad, Richard Costner, Harry Edwards, Robert Farley, Peter Julo, Harold Lail, Dave Lemnah,  Gerald Marks, Tommy Mattocks, Mike Montford, David Morris, Shorty Robinson, Laine Turner

 

25 is the Golf Tournament Record – We are almost ½  way there, but I really thought we would have 20 by now.  Still have 2 weeks left to register so maybe we can break that record..

 

Golf Saying of the Week -  I will post a couple golf sayings here each week until our tournament to get you in the mood..

 

  1. - “A golf match is a test of your skill against an opponent’s luck”
  2. – “ Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts”
  3. – “If you are afraid a full shot might reach the green while the foresome ahead of you is still putting out, you have two options:  A) You can immediately shank a lay-up  or B) You can wait until the green is clear  and top a ball halfway there”

 

 

Probably Won’t Watch the Olympics – I remember saying about two weeks ago that I would probably not watch the Olympics.  I was not interested in that stuff. Not !  My wife started me on them and I don’t remember missing a night.  Yep, Watched them every night they been on.

 

Wow, Did You See the Men’s 100 Meter Dash in the Olympics – If you  had asked me; when you race the supposedly 8 fasted men in the world for the short distance of 100 meters;  I would have predicted a photo finish.  That did not happen.  The winner, Usain Bolt,  was a clear cut winner with a gap between second place of what looked to me like 2 yards.  Wow, that runner from Jamaica was fast.  

 

Wow, Wow, Wow, Did You See the Men’s 200 Meter Dash in the OlympicsIf you  had asked me; when you race the supposedly 8 fasted men in the world for the  distance of 200 meters;  I would have predicted a close finish.  Even the announcers were saying anyone could win (How wrong they were).   Wow, wow, wow.  Again, Usain Bolt,  was a clear cut winner (He broke the world record and set a new one at 19.30 seconds) with a gap between second place of what looked to me like 9 to 10 feet.  Wow, that runner from Jamaica is a lightning bolt and a class all by himself..  

 

Another Wow, Undefeated – Holy Smokes, that Women’s American Beach Volleyball Team just won the Gold tonight (Wednesday) in fascinating style.  They did not lose a match last year or this year.  May and Walsh were perfect, but had their hands full as the finals were played in the rain. I believe both games were tied at 18 and yet the Americans won 21 – 18 in both games.  Congratulations girls. 

 

Let Me Play the Devil’s Advocate -  I am always sitting around and thinking of weird things; so Just for the sake of writing an item on a web page and to stir some interest; Let me pose a question.  Do you think those full body Speedo Bathing suits should be legal in the Olympic Swimming Competitions ?  Let me continue.  All the records in the past Olympics, other than the last one four years ago, were set with just the swimming trunks.  So it is like comparing a record that Hank Aaron set years ago to a record set by Barry Bonds.  You constantly hear the argument that the suits glide through the water better than the body does, so should they be illegal.  In High School Basketball, the rules are clear that a player can not wear equipment that would increase his height or gain an advantage.  Is this bathing suit helping today’s swimmers gain an advantage the swimmers of yesteryear did not have? In my opinion, they must help in some way or everyone would not be wearing them. You would expect that a World’s Record or two would fall; but in this Olympics, nearly every time they entered the pool, a record fell.  Are these swimmers just that much better than previous swimmers or is that suit giving an undue advantage. I said last week that I thought the pool must be too short, I am sticking to that theory.  If you have an opinion on the full body Speedo Bathing suit, send it in.  It would be fun to read. 

 

Disappointed in Michael Phelps Conduct on Medal Stand –  Last week, I wrote an article about Michael Phelps conduct on the Medal Stand while the National Anthem was being played.  He was laughing and talking with a fellow team mate, not once but three times, while everyone else around was at attention and paying respect to the Nation’s flag ceremony. To make matters worse, the camera was zeroed in on Phelps so if you were watching, you couldn’t miss it.  I asked after the article if anyone wanted to comment.  Here are your comments: 

 

Earnest Cave Wrote:

I see what you saw from Phelps at high school sporting events all the time.
Over time, reverence for country and flag has eroded.  However, Phelps has been
diagnosed with ADHD and I think that has something to do with his situation.

Love and respect of country is a personal thing and some have more than others.
I happen to love my country and respect my flag and anthem.  I know others that
don't.  The ironic thing is that in some parts of the world, this type of
disrespect will cost you your life.  I guess that is what makes America great.

Earnest

 

News Article from Wilmington Paper – Richard Gerrish sent me an article this week from the Wilmington Star Newspaper.  I have not received any schedules from any schools in Wilmington so I can not substantiate this story but it sounds credible. According to sources at the paper, they have talked to the Athletic Directors at the Wilmington schools who have expressed concerns about the high gas prices and the bearing it has on school bus transportation costs for athletic contests.  Last year the two Varsity teams (Girls and Boys) and a JV would travel while the other JV Girls team would play at opposite sites.  This situation meant that three school buses were on the road when any two of the schools played. The athletic departments felt the gas crunch was too huge to continue this schedule.  In an effort to cut out one bus and only use two buses per game day, the schools have decided this season in the Mideastern Conference for the two Varsity teams to travel on one bus  away while the two JV teams will play at home requiring only one bus for that visitor.  Using only two buses instead of three is a tremendous savings to the schools.  Repeating,  I have not received a schedule so I have no idea if this is true, however I expect that it is.   

 

My Comments – As a Booking Agent, I have no say in the way the schools play their games.  I am required to furnish officials for whatever schedule they decide.  I have pushed for this method of play and suggested it anytime a school asked my opinion.  I like this format for several reasons.  (A) -The Varsity Girls contest should always start on time now.  No over time in the JV game will put the varsity contests behind.  (B) – More than likely, the JV contests will now start at 5:00 or even 6:00 which is helpful to the JV officials scrambling from work. (C) – But the best reason of all is that this JV crew will get two games instead of one, thus the trip to the school will carry a greater reward or monetary value.   I wish all the conferences would adopt this format.

 

Thanks to Richard Gerrish – I wish to express my thanks to Richard Gerrish  for taking the time to cut this article out and send it to me. (A) - If he had not done that, we would not be enlightened on this situation.  (B) – This is typically the type item I love to publish on the web page since this article is of interest to all readers. 

 

Decided To Check the ARBITER – It was a slow day last Monday so I decided to log on the ARBITER and look around.  Courious, I decided to see if any of the officials had checked the ARBITER.  Wow, you are as eager to get going as I am.  Amazingly ,  I counted 89 officials that had signed in since August 1.  I am sorry to report there was nothing there.  I only have one school schedule but I hope to get some schedules by the middle of September.  Thanks to all the officials for checking that site.  I have since put a couple of announcements on your START PAGE just so there is something to read.

 

Hit Counter –  284

 

Tid Bits

 

Major Basketball Clinics in our Area:

Oct 21, State Meeting – East Duplin HS, Beaulaville – 6:30

Oct 22, State Meeting – Rose HS, Greenville – 6:30

(You only have to attend one State Meeting.  The majority of EOA officicials will be at the East Duplin meeting)

Nov 2, Association Meeting – Lenoir Community College, Kinston – 7:00

 

Eastern Officials Registration During the Month of August – At the top of this web page is a link  FORMS.  Click on that link, read about registering with both the State and the Eastern Association.  Print out that Application and mail it in during the month of August.

 

My Email Address  -  eoa1@suddenlink.net    (That is a # 1 behind the eoa, not an “L”)

Home Phone – 252 522 2373

Cell Phone -  -  252 559 0493

Mailing Address :  3000 Graham Dr,  Kinston, N C 28504

 

 

 

EDITION # 536

 

Disclaimer, Fine Print -  This web page is not an official site or endorsed by any organization such as the NCHSAA or the National Federation of High Schools.  Except for the Opinion Poll Results, all items are the opinion, philosophy or belief of Tommy Mattocks. It's sole purpose is to provide information and entertainment for the EOA members, former EOA members and any other interested readers. We apologize for any inaccuracies or misspellings that may slip through the cracks.  Read at your own risk.

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