First things first people, happy Fourth of July!
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend with family and friends.
I had a tremendous weekend up on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire with friends from college and came back home with some fresh new material for this blog, so stayed tuned.
Anyway, getting down to business, after the Braves' unfortunate 5-4 loss to the Orioles on Sunday night, my good 'ole buddy Chipper Jones spewed off at the mouth and ripped the umpire that blew a couple ball/strike calls. He even went on to call the umping in the Major Leagues "substandard" and said he didn't care if he gets fined for his critical comments.
But this post isn't about Chipper Jones or whether or not Major League umping is poor for that matter. Chipper's comments are really just an excuse for me to introduce one of the most unique sports fans out there -- my good friend Sam.
For the readers who don't know who Sam is, here's a brief, anecdotal introduction into the mind of the guy we call "Rogahs" before I unveil his inaugural Referee Power Rankings:
After his first trip to New Meadowlands Stadium for a Giants preseason game last year, I asked Sam what he thought of the new, state of the art stadium, to which he responded:
"Honestly, to tell you the truth, I'm not a fan of it," Sam said defiantly. "But I do respect all of the condiment bars around the stadium, 'cause they all have those dirty hot onions."
How about when he went to Citi Field for the first time last April, it took Sam about 10 minutes to develop an extensive itinerary of which food locales he'd hit up and during what inning.
But my personal favorite came last summer when Sam attended a corporate fantasy football draft in New York City, where he was helping his coworkers draft a squad for their company. At the event was former New York Giant Michael Strahan and Jets great Curtis Martin. As most of his teammates nervously and halfheartedly asked Strahan for advice on which players to draft for their fantasy team, Sam decided to take his conversation with the all-time sack leader in a different direction.
"Eh yo Strahan, on that real tip -- who has biggeh biceps, Thomas Jones or Michael Pittman?"
As Sam's coworkers looked on in shock (asking themselves, "Did he really just ask Michael Strahan that question?"), a short and tense pause ensued, as Strahan took a step away from the group.
"I'd have to say Pittman," Strahan then emphatically responded, with a playful grin on his face.
My question is who in their right might would think to ask a future Hall of Famer that question?
But the point to all of this is that Sam isn't some cookie cutter, meathead sports fan. His sporting interests don't lie in teams or individual athletes or scores -- it's all about the details that no one ever pays any mind. Thus it comes as no surprise that Sam is the most passionate and ardent fan of refereeing out there.
Sam's interest in stadium concessions or bicep comparisons are nothing compared to his passion for the officiating methodology of different sports. That's right, referees.
For a guy who's as passionate about the craft of officiating as Sam is, I recently had him go on record and tell the world how he feels about refs from the four major professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). So in Sam Rogers' debut on I'd Rather Be Playing, here are his inaugural Referee Power Rankings, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Thus I only felt it was my duty to share them with the rest of the world (or at least the three people that actually read this blog). Without furthur adieu:
As you can see, Sam gives it up for NFL officials, but has no love for the gray-clad NBA refs. It's pretty difficult to argue with him on any of these rankings, being that he provides an in-depth explanation for each. I have to say that my favorite line from this diatribe is his reasoning for putting MLB umps in the No. 2 hole. "You can get up in people's face and throw them out. I'd love to throw somebody out."
I have to tip my hat to Sam for this one. I love your passion for the craft of officiating. Hope to see you in the stripes one day, making over the top false start calls and stealing the show in NFL stadiums.
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend with family and friends.
I had a tremendous weekend up on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire with friends from college and came back home with some fresh new material for this blog, so stayed tuned.
Anyway, getting down to business, after the Braves' unfortunate 5-4 loss to the Orioles on Sunday night, my good 'ole buddy Chipper Jones spewed off at the mouth and ripped the umpire that blew a couple ball/strike calls. He even went on to call the umping in the Major Leagues "substandard" and said he didn't care if he gets fined for his critical comments.
But this post isn't about Chipper Jones or whether or not Major League umping is poor for that matter. Chipper's comments are really just an excuse for me to introduce one of the most unique sports fans out there -- my good friend Sam.
For the readers who don't know who Sam is, here's a brief, anecdotal introduction into the mind of the guy we call "Rogahs" before I unveil his inaugural Referee Power Rankings:
After his first trip to New Meadowlands Stadium for a Giants preseason game last year, I asked Sam what he thought of the new, state of the art stadium, to which he responded:
"Honestly, to tell you the truth, I'm not a fan of it," Sam said defiantly. "But I do respect all of the condiment bars around the stadium, 'cause they all have those dirty hot onions."
How about when he went to Citi Field for the first time last April, it took Sam about 10 minutes to develop an extensive itinerary of which food locales he'd hit up and during what inning.
 |
Yes, that's President George W. Bush checkin' out former NFL running back Michael Pittman's biceps. |
"Eh yo Strahan, on that real tip -- who has biggeh biceps, Thomas Jones or Michael Pittman?"
As Sam's coworkers looked on in shock (asking themselves, "Did he really just ask Michael Strahan that question?"), a short and tense pause ensued, as Strahan took a step away from the group.
"I'd have to say Pittman," Strahan then emphatically responded, with a playful grin on his face.
My question is who in their right might would think to ask a future Hall of Famer that question?
But the point to all of this is that Sam isn't some cookie cutter, meathead sports fan. His sporting interests don't lie in teams or individual athletes or scores -- it's all about the details that no one ever pays any mind. Thus it comes as no surprise that Sam is the most passionate and ardent fan of refereeing out there.
Sam's interest in stadium concessions or bicep comparisons are nothing compared to his passion for the officiating methodology of different sports. That's right, referees.
 |
| Ed Hochuli has nothing on Sam's boy Mike Carey, who's pictured above |
In fact, when asked who his favorite NFL team was, Sam said the referee union. When asked who his favorite athlete was, he responded, "Mike Carey." Who is Mike Carey you may ask? That NFL referee with the diesel mustache who, when making a call, points in the opposite direction before signaling which team the infraction is actually on, like so:
For a guy who's as passionate about the craft of officiating as Sam is, I recently had him go on record and tell the world how he feels about refs from the four major professional sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL). So in Sam Rogers' debut on I'd Rather Be Playing, here are his inaugural Referee Power Rankings, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Thus I only felt it was my duty to share them with the rest of the world (or at least the three people that actually read this blog). Without furthur adieu:
As you can see, Sam gives it up for NFL officials, but has no love for the gray-clad NBA refs. It's pretty difficult to argue with him on any of these rankings, being that he provides an in-depth explanation for each. I have to say that my favorite line from this diatribe is his reasoning for putting MLB umps in the No. 2 hole. "You can get up in people's face and throw them out. I'd love to throw somebody out."
I have to tip my hat to Sam for this one. I love your passion for the craft of officiating. Hope to see you in the stripes one day, making over the top false start calls and stealing the show in NFL stadiums.
