25 Great Officials On 25 Great Officials

How do you define "greatness"?

Players and coaches can be stacked up by their playing stats or win-loss records. For officials it’s not that simple. Sure, you could take a look and see how many championship games an official has worked, but how much of a measuring stick is that?

For officials, our greatest impact comes when we earn the respect and admiration of our peers, when it’s clear we’ve had a lasting impact on the industry of officiating through our mentoring, training and the examples we set.

There are a lot of great officials in the world. Most were great locally and never received the national recognition they probably deserved. Some were so great they transcended their chosen sport and are admired throughout the community of officials.

In honor of NASO’s 25th anniversary this year, Referee chose 25 referees and umpires from the past 25 years who we absolutely think fall into the "great" category, and we asked them to choose one other official – any sport, any level – whom they admire and respect, someone each of them would consider a great official, and tell us why.

MLB umpire Jerry Crawford on Joe Crawford

My brother (NBA referee Joe Crawford) has worked the Finals the past 20-plus years. To have that kind of record is phenomenal. Joe’s a great all-around official. As far as I’m concerned, my brother is the greatest official that sport has ever seen.

Big 12 Conference football referee Randy Christal on Red Cashion

I have a fan’s approach when it comes to (retired NFL referee) Red Cashion. When you think big game, the first name that comes to mind is "Cashion." He was like your dad – you knew everything was going to be OK. I don’t recall ever seeing Red screw up. I know he tells the story about how he went to the wrong end for the opening kickoff at the start of Super Bowl XX. He figured it out when he talked to Tony Franklin, the New England kicker, then went to his position. But even with the slightest burp, he made it appear that was how you’re supposed to do it and that he meant to do it all along.

NHL referee Kerry Fraser on Doug Harvey

On the baseball field, they called him "God." I believe there is but one God, however (retired MLB umpire) Doug Harvey was so revered that the label fits in a mythological sense! I admired his work greatly. The ultimate gentleman, Doug stood tall and carried himself on and off the field with grace. Doug made a profound impact on my ability and method of dealing with aggressive players and coaches in the heat of the battle by simply watching an unedited video of how he handled an "out-of-control" manager. The confrontation took place after just the first batter in a game and the incident was captured by a fan’s video camera along the first-base line. Mr. Harvey took control of the situation with dignified calm, yet a firmness that was in no way inciting. Ultimately, the manager was ejected for his behavior, but throughout the tirade it was obvious that Mr. Harvey was part of the solution and not the problem. It was from that five-minute video that I watched in the early 1980s that I adopted the adage, "Meet disrespect with respect." By doing that, I have found you have a much better chance of being part of the solution. I owe that to Doug Harvey, along with my deepest admiration and respect. In the end, that is what we all aspire to.

Retiring NCAA National Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials Marcy Weston on June Courteau

(WNBA and NCAA Division I women’s basketball referee) June Courteau brings a varied skill set to the game of collegiate women’s basketball. She is a talented official, a rules aficionado, was a Division I coordinator of officials, has owned and operated highly successful officiating teaching camps, has refereed five NCAA Division I women’s championship games, worked the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, worked all nine WNBA Finals, and above all else, has been a teacher and mentor to a cadre of both aspiring and veteran officials.

June stays on task, keeps others on task and has the ability to bring less-experienced officials into a pregame, demonstrating the skill of a veteran facilitator and then nurtures individuals in the heat of the game. June doesn’t let anyone, at any level, off the hook, demanding excellence every step of the way, from everyone she works with – most of all, from herself.

Retired ASA Deputy Director of Umpires Henry Pollard on Tom Mason

If I had to choose one particular person who’s more responsible for the development of softball umpires, it would be (former ASA national umpire-in-chief) Tom Mason. That’s an awfully big statement to make, but when you’ve had the impact that Mason did on the world of ASA, it’s not a stretch. Mason started the umpire training programs that are still in use today, as well as the umpiring manual. All of the training that is used today is a result of what he started as the ASA umpire-in-chief. Having those training tools at your disposal doesn’t do any good unless you can relay the information to the local level, and Mason could deliver. He’s the best clinician and instructor I’ve ever heard.

Retired NCAA Division I men’s basketball referee Irv Brown on John Overby

(Retired NCAA Division I football and basketball official) John Overby taught me how to officiate and handle people. He was a little guy molded in his Marine mentality who was greatly respected by players, coaches and officials. He was always reliable and never let a partner or fellow official down. His complete knowledge of the game eventually led to him being named a supervisor of officials. That gave him the chance to pass on his knowledge to other officials. When the Missouri Valley Conference was the toughest conference to work in the country, John was the man.

NCAA Division I women’s basketball official Sally Bell on Charlie Bloodworth

(Former Division I men’s basketball official and supervisor) Charlie Bloodworth was my mentor and continues to be the first person I call after receiving my tournament assignments. He was really the official who got me started and continued to serve as a mentor and evaluator from that point on.

Retired NFL referee Red Cashion on Stan Javie

The late (NFL referee) Stan Javie understood the rules, but more important understood the meaning behind the rules. Stan saw more on a football field than anyone I ever knew. But most of all he loved to train new officials, and he absolutely loved the game for what it was.

WNBA and NCAA Division I women’s basketball official Lisa Mattingly on Patty Broderick

With five NCAA national championship games, the Olympics and the WNBA on her resumé, it’s easy to see that (supervisor of women’s basketball officials for multiple conferences) Patty Broderick has been a successful official. Put on top of that her success as a supervisor of officials for nearly 20 years and you can see she is a special individual. What she’s doing right now with the conferences she’s assigning and the education she’s offering is great. She’s trying to better women’s officiating. It’s become more sophisticated. It’s not just going out and picking up a paycheck anymore. She gets my vote, hands down.

NBA referee Dick Bavetta on Darell Garretson

(Former NBA referee and director of NBA officials) Darell Garretson is one of the greatest officials because of his numerous contributions to the game of basketball as both a referee and a supervisor. Many of his innovative mechanics and techniques are still in use today in the NBA, WNBA and college basketball.

Retired MLB umpire Doug Harvey on Jim Tunney

One of the great officials in my lifetime is (retired NFL referee) Jim Tunney. He and I worked basketball together in what used to be called the Pac-8 when Johnny Wooden was coaching UCLA in the early ’60s. Jim became one of the greatest football referees the NFL has ever seen, but other than my brother, Nolan, he was the best basketball referee I ever worked with. I copied some of my timing in baseball from Jim; we used that timing when we worked basketball together. He ought to be the first referee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the way he represented that league. It’s asinine there are no officials in that hall. Jim meant something to me. We’ve been friends for almost 50 years.

NBA referee Joe Crawford on Shag Crawford

I gave this a ton of thought on a six-hour drive to New York, but my choice would be my father (retired MLB umpire) Shag Crawford. He was as good as (Hall of Fame umpires) Nestor Chylak or Al Barlick. He taught me and my brother (MLB umpire Jerry Crawford) to do your job to the best of your ability and go the hell home. He impacted me by his teaching. He would say, "Hustle your ass off and people will recognize you as an official. If you hustle and work hard, they will notice." Without sounding too braggadocios, my father taught and trained two officials who ended up working two different seventh games in two different professional sports as crew chiefs – the NBA and MLB. That in itself is unheard of and probably never will be duplicated again in sports.

Southeastern Conference football referee Steve Shaw on Dick Burleson

I have seen so many guys who have inspired me. (Retired Southeastern Conference football referee) Dick Burleson was a super role model and a great official. Not only was he well-known and well-respected, but he took the time to mentor me. I was a young official who was working in high school and NCAA Division II. That’s a debt I can never repay.

Retired FIFA referee Esse Baharmast on Gino D’ippolito

For me (former FIFA referee) Gino D’ippolito, or "Papa Gino," as he is affectionately known by all who have been blessed to know him, is the greatest referee. Gino was a FIFA soccer referee who was famous for his down-to-earth style and excellent feel for reading the game and defusing difficult situations. He was a players’ referee, and all of us who worked with him learned how to handle players with respect and affection and keep control of the game by being firm and yet fair. Gino was the ultimate pro referee and we are lucky to have him as one of our coach mentors now at U.S. Soccer.

NBA referee Steve Javie on Stan Javie

My dad (the late NFL referee Stan Javie) stood for everything an official should stand for. He was a man with great integrity and conviction. He was one of the greatest teachers of officiating I have ever come across. It did not matter that he and I officiated different sports; he knew what was important to gain the respect of the coaches, players and especially your fellow officials. Dad once told me that what the players and coaches felt about you was not important. What mattered most was what your fellow officials thought of you. They were the ones who were on the court with you and were completely objective, unlike the players and coaches.

In this age of being critical and getting ahead in our career at another’s expense, my father taught me to always be supportive of my fellow officials. He never once criticized another official, no matter what the sport. When he saw a replay and it looked like the official blew the call, Dad would always say no one had the angle on the play that the official did. He was right. We can only call the play with the angle we have at that moment.

Stan Javie was an official’s official. He was one you would always want as your partner. He would go into battle with you and have your back. Without his input into my career, I would not be where I am today as an official or as a man. Stan Javie was the best!

Retired MLB umpire Harry Wendelstedt on Augie Donatelli

I got to work with a lot of the so-called greats, but one who stood out was (the late MLB umpire) Augie Donatelli. He was a great leader, a great crew chief and he had the skills to bring along a young official. I can hear him whispering in my ear right now: "Take your time, kid."

NCAA Division I men’s basketball official Dick Cartmell on Jake O’Donnell

I don’t know him and I never met the man, but I liked to watch (retired NBA official) Jake O’Donnell referee in his day. He had that persona, presence and feel for the game that gave the players and coaches involved the confidence that the game was in good hands. As I was coming up through the ranks and feeling a little insecure out there during a game, I would pretend to officiate like Jake. I would try to take on his presence and persona to give myself the confidence and control to handle any situation involved in the game.

NFL referee Ed Hochuli on Jerry Markbreit

Although there have been other great referees, I don’t believe there were any who were better than (retired NFL referee) Jerry Markbreit. Before I was selected by the NFL, Jerry was the guy who stood out most to me, the guy I loved to watch, the guy who made me feel the game was always under control, the guy who defined for me excellence, fairness and professionalism. There is no one who has had more effect on my career and whatever success I’ve attained in the NFL. From my very first days as a referee, right up to the present, Jerry has always been there to offer encouragement, criticism and advice. He set the standard for wearing the white hat in the NFL; he lived that standard; and now as a trainer for the league, he continues to teach that standard. As an official, as a teacher, as a person and as a friend, Jerry Markbreit defines the term "Great."

Southeastern Conference Supervisor of Baseball Umpires Tony Thompson on Doug Harvey

As a 16-year-old youth umpire, I was invited into a major league umpires room by (now retired MLB umpire) Doug Harvey. He acted with such class, gave me advice for my goals and today is still doing the same after 31 years. The advice and qualities he has passed down to other officials and me are still being practiced today. I am proud to call him my friend.

NCAA Division I men’s basketball official Ted Valentine on Jim Burr

(NCAA Division I men’s basketball referee) Jim Burr is the greatest official of his time for a number of reasons. He’s a stand-up type individual who is constantly concerned with doing the right thing for the game. He is not intimidated by coaches or players and brings a tremendous amount of integrity to the profession and the game. I learned to referee from Jim Burr and was a pupil of his in the beginning. He has helped me become the official I am today.

Boxing referee Richard Steele on Larry Rozadilla

I met (the late World Boxing Hall of Fame referee) Larry Rozadilla for the first time when I was 15 years old. He was my driver’s ed teacher. Larry was only 5’10" but he always dressed well and stood tall; he moved like an athlete. And his walk was just like this glide across the room. You knew not to mess with him. I finished school, joined the Marines and became a boxer. After I got out, I came to find out that Larry had also been a boxer and was then a referee. So I called him up and he started teaching me how to referee. He did about 75 world title fights. The same things I saw in the classroom when I was 15 were the same things I learned in the ring with him. He never cared about anything other than doing the right thing. All the time. No excuses.

Retired FIFA and MLS official Paul Tamberino on Rich Tamberrino

This is going to sound like I am just voting for one of my family members, but it is the furthest from the truth. For me, one of the top officials in this country is Rich Tamberrino. (Note: Paul and Rich are cousins, but spell their last names differently.) Rich broke me into the refereeing ranks back in the ’70s. He taught me quite a bit. Rich has been a lacrosse referee for 30 years. He has worked in the NCAA lacrosse Final Four 10 times. He has worked in the National Lacrosse League, where he officiated in the finals 13 consecutive years. I do not know many referees in any sport who have had such an illustrious career.

Retired NFL referee Jim Tunney on Jim Tunney Sr.

My father, (the late college football referee) Jim Tunney Sr. officiated from 1929-47. The last game he worked was the Rose Bowl. He had a great style. What I most remember is his attentiveness during a play. He was always on top of things. I used to go to games with him. One time he came to me at halftime and said, "Watch this running back. He’s good." It was Jackie Robinson. He didn’t really encourage me to go into officiating, but he didn’t discourage me. But I moved along more quickly because he was so well respected.

Retired MLB umpire Rich Garcia on Nestor Chylak

I always complain that the word "great" is used too loosely, but I think (the late Hall-of-Fame umpire) Nestor Chylak was the greatest umpire – his love of the game, his understanding of the game; he was the whole package. He was my crew chief in the late 1970s and I worked with him during his last game. He had a stroke before the game and we knew something was wrong with him, but he wouldn’t let us call a doctor until after the game. He loved the game with a capital "L."

Retired NFL referee Jerry Markbreit on Steve Javie

I’ve known (NBA referee) Steve Javie since he was little boy. I officiated with his father (Stan), who was a great NFL official. It appears to me Steve is the strongest of the NBA officials. I watch him on TV all of the time; he’s always working the playoffs or the big games. In the interview Referee did with (NBA referee) Joey Crawford, he said if there was somebody he wanted to work a tough game with, it was Steve Javie. That’s good enough for me.