TRUTH HURTS. WHAT’S WORSE: PART 2

The sequel to my last entry is simple. My athletic director received an email from the California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.) liaison the morning after I encouraged parents to express their disdain with the quality of officiating in our section of high school basketball. I can hear the collective sighs of people who would say I was wrong for that. But remember part I of this post. I emphasized that I went this route because accountability is a piece that even the lower levels of high school basketball needs. Wait, accountability is a fundamental in every sphere, for every person at any moment in time. With that digression behind me, it was merely for contextual reference, my athletic director was able to have a quality conversation with the assignor who appointed the referees about whom I complained. And here is the resolution of the plot progression: The assignor plans to have a conversation with those referees and he admitted that the situation, referring to the game in question, could have been handled more effectively.

If there was a mission from my end, it was fulfilled. I just wanted to get somebody’s attention. It’s a justice issue man. Is that pseudo piety? Because to tell you the truth, I don’t care that much about basketball anymore. Sports is a variable in and of itself with the countless human dynamics in play. So I’ve learned to stomach the bad and appreciate the good. In the case of working behind the scenes to poke C.I.F., it wasn’t personal. And I’m pleased by the gracious response and attention to detail by the organization that governs the sports your sons and daughters find so enjoyable. 6ixth Man is not so hard to explain to people when they ask and it’s actually even plainer when I have a visual like this. If it’s one thing I’ve learned from not playing basketball, one thing I’ve committed to as a proverbial rule of thumb it’s that you have to live some parts of life like a prophet. That is, you have to be willing to engage the juggernaut and foster healthy confrontation while maintaining a sense of respect. Be forthright and intentional in your attempts to let truth reign in our world. Nothing is too small and no situation so inconsequential that it doesn’t require this rubric. Raise ya glasses to truth, accountability and the best you have when others are impacted by what you do. Thanks C.I.F. for being real prime time on this one. What you guys do matters.