For over five decades, I’ve had the privilege of officiating countless games across various sports, including baseball, softball, volleyball, and basketball. With around 2,500 games under my belt, I’ve encountered a range of emotions in my role as an official, referee, and umpire. Unfortunately, one of those emotions is embarrassment, and it’s something that, despite my best efforts, occasionally finds its way into my work.
Reflecting on my career, two particularly memorable incidents of embarrassment stand out, both of which happened at Forestville High School. My father, Mark Hammond, was a respected sports official from the 1930s through the 1970s, and he played a significant role in encouraging me to follow in his footsteps. He took my younger brother, Tom, and me to various games he officiated around Western New York, instilling in us a passion for the role. One night during my first year of officiating girls’ basketball, my dad and I even worked a game together, which was a special experience for both of us.
Dad often shared his wisdom with me, one lesson stemming from an incident early in his own officiating career at Forestville. He advised me to never backpedal while refereeing but instead to run while keeping an eye on the action. This advice was born from a humorous mishap where he backpedaled into a cheerleader and ended up flipping over her, much to the crowd’s delight. Although he suffered a bad back from the fall and was sidelined for a few weeks, the cheerleader was unharmed, and the crowd enjoyed a good laugh at his expense.
My own embarrassing moments at Forestville involved some wardrobe malfunctions. On one occasion, during a game, a Forestville coach held up a black sock that had somehow stuck to my referee pants due to static cling. The sock fell out onto the court, much to the amusement of the players and coaches. I blamed my wife for the mishap, who simply advised me to use dryer sheets in the future.
Another incident occurred after I had officiated a girls’ junior varsity basketball game with veteran referee Judy Mowery. While changing in the locker room, I encountered a rather awkward situation. As I stepped out of the shower to grab my towel, the large window shade in the locker room suddenly flew up, exposing me to the visiting players. In my haste to cover myself, I slammed the door shut, but the players had already noticed my predicament and began teasing me. They had a good laugh as they waited by the window to ensure I couldn’t escape until halftime when the varsity referees finally came to my rescue.
These moments, while embarrassing at the time, have become cherished stories that I share with fellow officials. They serve as humorous reminders of the unpredictable nature of being a sports official. Despite the challenges and occasional mishaps, my long career has been filled with unforgettable experiences and valuable lessons, often highlighted by these memorable moments of humor and humility.