BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
Oct. 15 is one of my favorite days of the year. Basketball practice begins.
I remember the feeling of my nerves picking up. I’d play ball all summer and continue with conditioning in other sports. But when it was time for basketball, it was time to start putting it all together.
I played six sports in high school and gave my absolute all in every single one of them every time I stepped out to play. Still, my heart has always been lured to basketball.
In 2010, I began officiating games around the area. It was a great way to make some money and still be involved. To be honest, though, I’ve gone through some rough patches with the sport because of it.
Playing and reffing are two completely different worlds, and I started seeing another side of people I played with, went to school with or had as mentors.
Sports can bring out the best in people – and the worst.
Getting yelled at by people I’d known for years threw me for a loop. It was interesting to talk to someone and feel like we were buddies. Then hearing them up in the bleachers screaming that I’m horrible or accusing me of cheating was tough. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep because of what fans said to me. I’d lay in bed analyzing every call I might have gotten wrong.
Anyone who knows me knows I love the pureness of sports and the idea of enforcing the rules.
But no official will ever come close to calling the perfect game. My perfectionist self still shutters at that, but I’ve come to terms with it.
When COVID hit, I started to care a little less about what people said to me. It only took 10 years to reach that point.
Don’t get me wrong. Things still get under my skin, but I’ve learned to move on quickly from one call to the next.
Through these past 12 years, I’ve thought about giving it up at times. Every now and then, I’ll take a little break to recover.
Thankfully, though, if you haven’t heard, I’ve got this new job as a sports reporter. It’s bringing back what I’ve loved about basketball all along.
At the end of my day, it isn’t just about winning; it’s about the stories: love, hate, basketball and all the in-betweens.
After playing and officiating, I have plenty of stories.
Until next week, that’s all folks.