"You Must Really Like to Drop the F**king Puck!"

(translation - I'm Miserable and You Make Me Even More Miserable)

This was an exact phrase said to one of our Ultimate Officials Referee Camp guys.  Ver-ba-tim! 

Could you imagine your linesman partner saying this to you when you inform him that he is about to drop the puck in your half of the ice? (non-referee people...you probably don't think it matters who drops what puck.  And there's some referee people who might not care either!)

Well, this is what happened about a month ago.  At first blush, you could say that, "Gee, he must have been crabby," or maybe, "He must have really hated the other guy."  While those certainly could be the truth, or there could be many different reasons why a officiating partner would snap on you,  I am going to go with this hunch -- he doesn't like others around him having fun, doing better, and taking themselves to the next level.

*************

If you could go back in time...and I am only talking about your athletic career (I'm not talking about that Jr. High dance when you should've asked Lori to dance with you, but you chickened out)...and you knew then what you know now, what would you change?

I would have shot more pucks in my driveway.  BTW, does anybody have a street hockey net for sale/FREE?

*************
Mental Tuffness Training (R)

Hey, did you know?  I have a Mental Tuffness Training (R) online course starting May 1, and then starting each and every month thereafter (or at least until I get tired of turning out 'ass-kicking' referees...go ahead...snicker...and then just watch :)


Here's a thought on the subject:

"Few people fully and completely realize that they are in control.  You ARE in control.  If you don't like where you are, there are big green signs above your town's highway telling you the way out of town.  Lift up each foot - check for roots - move.  If you don't like what has transpired in your life, fix it.  Change it.  Even get a do-over...If there is a common thread, a single message through almost everything I've ever written, recorded, taught, it is this: ...that you are in control.  Please don't be waiting around for devine intervention"

I didn't write that.  Dan Kennedy did.  He may have been talking about Mr. Eff-You linesman.  He mayb have been talking about you...


Mental Tuffness Training (R)

Bucci Says It Best for Referees

If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you know that I love to read John Buccigross from ESPN.  His writing is funny, a bit out-of-the-box, and, most improtant to me, very passionate.  The guy loves NHL hockey and gives us just a little different view on the sport than your average "vanilla-plain" NHL sportswriter.

I read this following excerpt from Bucci, and I thought of the life of a hockey referee immediately:

Hello Mr. Buccigross,

I am currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, majoring in communication. I, like many of my fellow freshmen, have asked myself what it is I want to set myself up for when I get out of school. After thinking about it, I realized my dream is to find myself in a similar career as yours. The real reason I wanted to e-mail you today is to ask what you did (as far as schooling and previous jobs) to get to this point in your career. Any tips are more than welcome, as well!

Ryan Anderson

I am asked this question a lot, and it is understandable. If there was e-mail when I was in high school and college, I would have sent Chris Berman an e-mail asking the same question.  

The only advice I can give you is from my path.  

My parents gave me a tape recorder when I was 12, and from that day on, I knew I wanted to be either a professional athlete or broadcaster for those who were playing. This was pre-ESPN, so my dream was play-by-play. I played with my tape recorder as a play-by-play man and disc jockey.

I chose a college, Heidelberg University in Ohio, small enough to compete in NCAA sports and equipped with a campus radio station (DJ), a school newspaper (writing) and a campus television station (broadcasting). I was there for four years.

Then, I was willing to work for free, five days a week, for five months at a small television station on Cape Cod while working part time at Chess King (simultaneously proving my passion for television and lack of long-term fashion trends). Then, I was willing to go to an even smaller cable station in the next town over and work there for more than five years for about $17,000 a year. This was poverty wages considering I had a wife and two kids. I ate pasta most nights and qualified for free baby formula (not for me) and, yes, cheese. Eventually, I increased my small salary by also getting a job at an all-news and talk radio station; I had to get up at 5:45 a.m. to record 60-second sports reports that ran all morning. This paid $6,500 a year, which was like hitting the lottery at the time. I no longer had to put grocery expenses on my credit card.

Later, I got a job at a larger station in Providence, R.I. (44th-biggest market in the United States at the time). This was my first real foray in television news. I was in Providence two years before I somehow wound up working 30 feet from Berman's desk at ESPN. I was 30 years old.

Besides that quick rundown, how did I get here? Again, I'm not really sure. Ryan, all I can give you in terms of advice is my approach, which may not be the best for everyone, I suppose. I didn't call in sick until my 15th year in the business. (Watch. Tomorrow: BUBONIC PLAGUE!) I've tried to write and/or read each word with all I've got, knowing effortless talent has never been my companion in anything except eating mozzarella sticks. So, I'd better write from the heart, and I'd better have decent hair.

I didn't listen to anyone else when I was young and poor because I believed that everyone was wrong and let chance furnish me with what I needed. And when someone like you asks me how I got such a cool job and how I've had the opportunity and honor to write a hockey column for the past 10 years, I tell them "accidental birth year and pure, unadulterated luck." I got lucky, babe. I hope you do, too.

Wow, that sounds a lot like the life of a referee who wants to make it big -- go out, bust your butt, drives 1 zillion miles on your car, go work some Squirt D's at 7:00 a.m. on New Year's Day, give up your Thanksgiving, Christmas Break, Valentine's, and any other social function/holiday that the rest of the 'normal' world thinks you should attend.  Don't forget to bust your butt, working out like a Banshee when no one is watching (did he say he recorded himself in his bedroom when no one was listening?  I know that Clay Matvick did that, too!).  Oh yeah, I also forgot to say that you need to have the MOST extreme Mental Tuffness, carry a MUCH higher level of expectation, and go about your business when those around you just want to slack off.  Oh...don't forget the luck.  Definitely gotta be lucky. 

Mr. Buccigross...thanks for the career advice!

Seen the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This past hockey season has brought me to over 100 games as an evaluator for the hockey referees.  If you were to ask me prior to the season if I would enjoy my time watching the zebras all winter long, I would have said "most definitely."

You can take that level of enjoyment and multiply it 10 X's over...that's how much I love Referee Camp!

I love the game of hockey.  Like the MN Wild slogan says, "it's in my blood." 

I also love teaching/coaching.  I love watching guys grow their potential AND their accomplishments throughout the season.  The success of our Late Season and Early Season Referee Camps have been the best part of it = tons of playoff assignments for our boys in stripes!

So...spending all of this time in the stands allows you the opportunity to see some pretty interesting sights.  Just using the past two weekends, I've gotta relay "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly".

The Good

Over the past few weeks, I have taken in 10 USA Hockey games, 5 High School games, and 5 MJHL games, 75% of which have all been playoff games.  So, do you know what was so good about all that playoff hockey?  It was refereed with officials who busted their butts all year long...guys who did the 8 am "suck wad" games...guys that did the late shift on a Friday night...guys that busted their butts through 12 weeks of SWAT Team Training...guys who skated until they puked (oh ya...there was a couple..I was almost one of them) on a skating treadmill...because it is all about getting to this special time of the year -- the Push for the Playoffs!...the push for Bigger and Better games!

(the really good part?  there are almost 10 hockey referees from the UO Ref Camps who are going to be working MN Youth State Tournaments and USA Hockey Nationals in the next few more weekends = that's beyond 'the Good'!!!).

The Bad

I actually heard, for the first time in my life, about an official "f-bombing" another official.  Well...I have heard guys get upset (heck I even blew a gasket of epic proportions once) at their partners...but...usually...it is provoked.

THIS WAS AN ALL-OUT UNPROVOKED *EFF*YOU OVER WHO IS DROPPING A COUPLE OF FACE OFFS!

This past season, I have taken part in nearly 200 games at all levels.  I have seen all kinds.  I have seen guys who were clueless.  I have seen guys who needed some direction, but didn't know where to turn.  And, unfortunately, I have seen some lazy, no-good-for-nothing guys simply going through the motions to collect a pay check.  I would place the guy who "effed off" his partner in that category.  That guy needs to join a bowling league rather than ref hockey.  Seriously.

The Ugly

Just check out the video link here: disgrace to the game.  'Nuff said.

Three Days after Two Cool Things

I'm single Dad this week.  Whenever that happens during the heart of hockey season I usually end up in this mode:

• wake the kids up earlier than they want
• race them over to in-laws or daycare (break a few traffic laws on the way)
• I teach school
• race to pick the kids up and drop them off somewhere else (a few more laws down the tubes)
• evaluate/ref a hockey game
• race home to bed and repeat the next day

So...I am a couple days behind in reporting "timely" news.  There was two cool events on Sunday -- a hum-dinger of a game on NBC again...and...John Randle gets voted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Let's go with Randle first:



Why is this guy on a blog devoted to hockey referees?  Because he came from nothing (that means literally nothing) and not only made something of himself, he actually revolutionized the game! [listen to interview here].

I love the commitment, the hard work, the sacrifice --- all qualities that should be seen in Championship Level Referees...(Regulators...Let's Ride!)

 

Next, let's look at that great game on Sunday between the Pens and Capitals (just when I thought I was sick-and-tired of seeing the Pens and Caps on NBC, Crosby AND Ovechkin both go out and look like a pair of virtuosos.  Awesome.  Simply awesome.  They are the artists and the rink is their canvas):

0:30 - Crosby gets sick #1 (plus Pierre McGuire makes some dumb comment about the boards...uggh)

1:15 - Crosby gets sick #2 (plus a great pass from MN boy, Goligoski).  This is why the Pens are so good...who do you watch?  Malkin?  Crosby?  Shadow them both?  Staal?  Wow!

2:00 - Ovechkin hit -- I think this is a great example of a check that is delivered shoulder to shoulder and then finishes with the "checkee" getting rolled by the "checker" and ONE A TRUCK LOAD OF PEEWEE B COACHES SCREAM is Checking from Behind.  Take a look.

2:34 - Ovechkin bombs #1 (I think he busted the In-the-Net Cam). #48 Frederick L'Ecuyer has to motor!

3:45 - This is why you don't relax after a goal and lose situational awareness.

5:37 - Great end zone view of all officials, L'Ecuyer, #20 Tim Peel, and the USA lines tandem, #77 Tim Nowak and #93 Brian Murphy (both going to work the Olympics, too!)  doing some text book hockey.

6:55 - Ovechkin with #2

7:22 - Ovechkin ties the game with #3

9:20 - Game Winner in OT (after Ovechkin dings the post) - How's that for finishing at the net?!?

Who's On Your Team? May the Force be With You?

 Go from the Guy on the Left to the Guy on the Right


Have you ever heard the expression, "the officials are the third team on the ice?"  Well, it's true and how you work with that team says A LOT about you.

I am going to talk about my own journey as a "young apprentice" into a "jedi knight", and might just change the identities of some to protect the innocent (and guilty).

• When I first started out in USA Hockey, I was a high school junior.  I reffed for two years in high school to (a) get more ice time and (b) make a few bucks.  That was it.  I enjoyed the game and kind of did my best.  I worked with other high school teammates like myself.  There was no striving for referee excellence going on.

• When I got to college, for a few years, reffing was the best part-time job anyone could offer.  And that's how I viewed it.  I worked with a lot of other "greenhorns" (anyone from my generation remember 'Grizzly Adams' and the Uncle Jesse guy on the show always calling Adams a 'Greenhorn' - that's the only way I knew that saying....some outsider who knew little about nothing..haha).  Working with Greenhorns didn't push me into any level of excellence either.

TO SUM UP MY FIRST FIVE YEARS OF REFFING = You Don't Know what you Don't Know

You may think you are doing all the right things, going through the right actions, 'behaving' like a referee in the right ways, but you don't know how incompetent you really are.  Keep in mind, the majority of the refs out there are average.  If you want to be like the norm...well...that's cool...you will be a normal referee.

•  The next five years of my reffing career had the following circumstances: (1) met Rick Looker, (2) got a serious drive to be the "best referee", (3) went to MHOA camp, (4) worked Bantam A State Tourney, (5) went to Regional Camp, (6) worked MJHL as a ref, USHL as a linesman, (7) went to National and Select Camp, (8) worked USHL as a ref, and (9) worked MSHSL Boy's State Tourney as a linesman, and (10) hired by WCHA.  

TO SUM UP THE NEXT FIVE YEARS = Knowing What I Needed to do to Be The Best

So this all meant that I was associating myself with like-minded guys who all wanted to be the best.  We pushed each other.  We all strove to get the same assignments.  We developed some commaraderie, and even some long-lasting relationships.

However...I would still end up working with some...let's just say..."doozies".

That's going to be the reality.  For example, when I was first doing lines in high school, I was travelling to such exotic locations as Indus, MN (natural ice under a shell, open to the elements), Park Rapids, MN (they actually stored potatoes in the arena during the summer) and Bagley, MN (outdoors, you wear a ski mask,  amongst the pines), and I did games for other guys who...were...doozies.  I had two things to do in those games: (1) keep my high expectations up there and (2) take care of the team.

That means -- you don't get angry with them when they foul up (which they'll do more frequently than you'd like), you never question their advice (keep your mouth shut and work hard), and realize that they have been around awhile and will talk about you.  Hopefully all that talk about you is good.

• The past 11 years of my officiating has brought about lots of things (I am starting year 22 of reffing), and I continue to work with some of the guys I associated myself with in the beginning of my push for excellence.  I also work with some doozies.  And I want to note they are all great guys.  Hockey people are the best, and that goes particularly for hockey officials. 

To SUM UP THE YEARS 11 until I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND STILL REFFING (see Chris Chelios:):  

I Push for Excellence Everytime.  I Love the Game.  I take Pride in Professionalism.  And I am looking for more guys who want that push towards excellence...you know...the guys who "don't know what they don't know"?

"You don't build a reputation on what you are going to do."

Ode to More Tough Guys (esp. from MN!)

Gotta give some props to a northern MN boy (by way of other parts), Dustin Byfuglein:

This Will Mean More to MN Wild Fans

So...the Minnesota Wild are 1-4 and sucking some serious eggs early in the season.  I am not going to pull a "I told you so here", because that is not my point.  I am going to pull a "Jacques Lemaire (and even Risebrough) were smarter than you thought," and do my best effort to stickhandle that into refereeing...

First of all, the starters:

1. Lemaire quits last year, everybody hates the "trap", MN Wild play boring hockey.
2. BTW, the Wild missed the playoffs by 3 points, missing Gaborik for 65 games and Brent Burns for the last month.  Not bad when a team is out its best forward and best defenseman for a long stretch.
3. Still, the Wild fans can't stand Lemaire's boring hockey.  They like the Red Wings and Penguins hockey.
4. A new GM and Coach, who are going to do an "up tempo" play.
5. I say, "Big Whoopie," because the Wild has no talent.  They are all grit, hard work, ham and eggs, a bag of knuckles, bring in some jam, and "Attache le tuque".  Seriously...I went to one game last year where they played Thornton, Marleau, and the San Jose Sharks.  The Wild weren't that good.  But...effective.
6. The "up tempo" has the Wild sucking eggs. They aren't the Wings or Pens.
7. Here is a funny comment on Mike Russo's blog, which was dated September 11, 2009.  I will cut and paste it here...it is a 'spoof' of a Q/A that Russo had with Cliff Fletcher, the Wild GM:

Mister Know it all: The team last year was a healthy Marion Gaborik and Brent Burns away from winning the division.  Now that the team is healthy and have replaced Gaby for Havlat. How do you see your team finishing ?

Fletcher: Blank look on his face. Were changing to a more up beat style because that is how the Pens and Detroit win in the CURRENT nhl. This style of hockey will be very fun to watch.

Mister Know it all: On Russos Blog it has been determined that Winning is more important to fans then playing fun and exciting hockey if you lose doing it

Fletcher: We want to win playing up tempo hockey. We think in the end they will be more happy

Mister Know it all: The previous regime believed that the fans of Minnesota would best like a blue collar hardworking style of hockey that wins consistently year in and year out. They also believed it would be easier to achieve consistency in winning if a focus was put on a strong defensive type system that cut out unnecessary risk taking that clearly and SIMPLY defines every players defensive responsibilities on the ice.

Fletcher: Well Leopold is the owner now and he asked me to bring an up tempo style of hockey to Minnesota because all of the fans were complaining they were getting sick of watching boring hockey. I have success with the Pens with this system

Mister Know it all: How did the Pens get to being able to play the up tempo hockey with success

Fletcher: They finished last for a few years and they were able to land top players like Malkin and Crosby and others which made it easier to win playing the up tempo game

Mister Know it all: Do you think the fans of Minnesota have the patience to wait for the team to win doing your system

Fletcher: I don’t know, we will see

Mister Know it all: Lemaire said you would quickly stop the risk taking once you realize you dont have the scorers to play that way

Fletcher: That is Mr Richards department, ask him

Mister Know it all: Last year Minnesota missed the playoffs by 3 points playing without its top forward and dman all year basically. Simply put the team was destroyed by injuries.  Why did the team have success ?

2nd in the league goals against
2nd in the league on penalty kill
9th in the league on power play
Why they did not win more ?

The team was reliant on Gaby to win the close games it found themselves in. With Gaby out they were the worst 5 on 5 team in the league.  So is it reasonable to say that the fans can expect this team to be in the playoffs given these factors ?

(1) You have Havlat and we did not have Gaby last year
(2) Young players now have one more year of experience which should help Shep, Gillies, Pouliot, Clutterbuck, Cuma
(3)The team is healthy

Fletcher: Well, when you put it that way yes I would expect us to be in the playoffs.
It is quite simple Mister Know it all, We wont be 2nd in goals against this year. Plain and simply put
The trade off to get better in the spirit of the up tempo game is scoring more 5 on 5, Mister Know it all,
We think the ingredients we are looking for to get better is going from worst in the league 5 on 5 to the TOP 12 in the league.  Our GOAL for goals against is no worse then 10th in the league.  We don’t want to be any worse on the penalty kill and power play then the team was last year. We are ok with those stats.


Mister Know it all: Don’t you think its a stretch to say your team is going to go from the worst team 5 on 5 to being in the top 12, or the top 1/3 in the league 5 on 5 ? All you have essentially done is replace Gaby with Havlat for the offense- Yes the young guys will be better but it seems a stretch.

Fletcher: I am going to watch Tony Robbins and Zig Zigler and stay positive.

Mister Know it all: What about Modano as I have suggested numerous times.

Fletcher: Be patient Mister Know it all. He will be here in time. I agree with you that a motivated Modano could be our answer.

To be continued

This is soooo true....

**What does this have to do with referees?**

Confidence is a tricky thing for some guys.  Lemaire put a system forward that gave the Wild the greatest confidence they could have.  I am telling you, the Wild had NO BUSINESS being in the playoffs or in the playoff hunt last year with the talent they had.  The were (to quote R.H. "Bob" Peters), "Common people, doing common things, Uncommonly well."   I will take that any day, and that is what I look for in officials. 

• Do the common things, uncommonly well.
• Bring your pride, grit, and determination every game.
• Stick to a system that will best suit you.  Not everybody is going to be a referee like Kerry Fraser.
• Do the small things that build to small victories that lead to Big victories.
• Always know that you can work harder.
• Preparation + Having Balls (X2) = Good Luck
• Owen Nolan, Andrew Burnette, and Wes Walz can fight with me in a fox hole anytime.  Pattern your game after them, which includes HARD WORK off the ice, the correct mental mindset, and control what you can control (effort and attitude -- everything else is BEYOND your control).

It's going to be a long year for the MN Wild.  However, it will be a GREAT year for our SWAT Team of referees for Ultimate Officials.  Attache le tuque.

Ode to Tough Guys

If you know me, have read this blog for any length of time, or ever played with me, you know that I am waayyy more "lunch bucket" than "Great Gretzky"...so I thought I'd share this one.

** NOTE TO ALL: During the 2006-07 College Hockey Season, I had a goal of 'out-working' EVERY single linesman in the league.  Happy to report, it wasn't a contest.  Bring your lunch bucket! **

Why I Love the C+ Guys with Heart

Infatuation may be too strong of a word when it comes to my admiration of Chris Chelios as a player. Why do I like him so much? Why did I like Wes Walz so much? Why do I like Owen Nolan so much?

Because they have heart.

I get asked by people all the time "who is the type of hockey referee you are looking to work with?" I tell them, it is certainly not the hot-shots. I can't stand those guys. You know who I am talking about...they have ALL the answers, they know-it-all, they are UN-coachable (I saw a lot of those dudes in the JODP -- uggh, just because you're working junior games don't mean jack squat).

I am looking for the guys who are the C+ skill level and play WAYYYY above their talent by using heart. Chris Chelios may have been a "straight A" player at one point in his career, but he has worked his ass off to continue to play well into his 40's.

I seriously doubt Wes Walz scored high on any battery of tests, but there was no one who could touch him when it came to heart power. I see the same in Owen Nolan now.

And, I saw a lot of that this past weekend in the Ultimate Officials Training Camp during the MN Blades tourney. I see that every week in the guys who are busting some serious butt at the treadmill sessions and in the morning skates, and in the training times when NOBODY IS WATCHING (yikes...that's the key to developing more heart power).

Here's my boy:

OK...So, I am NOT this INTO Twitter!

Those on the SWAT Team know that I am all about using Twitter for accountability purposes. The psychological effects of answering to someone that "you are doing what you said you were going to do" is highly effective.

In fact here are some "tweets" I received yesterday (my comments in Blue):

"Had a good weekend at camp, I made the program passed level 4 skating exam so I thought it was a good weekend gotta get back to work"

(This guy is referring to the Jr. Officials Development Program Camp that was held in South St. Paul this past weekend. One step towards his ultimate goal(s). The guy has been busting his butt, wants it bad, and puts his accountability on the line. How about you??).

"Invited to pool party hit chest back and biceps first. Going to stick to the meal plan as best as I can. ps no booze"

(The PGA Championship just wrapped up this past weekend in Minnesota. Even though Tiger Woods lost on the Final Day for the first time in his career at a Major, he definitely impressed the home crowd with his work ethic. This ref is keeping his nose to the grindstone = payoff in the future).

"Seriously my best session of Kenpo yet. True DNA removal. To date, I have an X on every workout on my calendar. BRING IT!"

(An X on everyday. I love it! Who's keeping up with this guy?? That's commitment. That's raising the bar high! That's building a reputation. My favorite quote = 'You don't build a reputation on what you are GOING to do.")

"Hey thanks for everything......i made the junior program....all the hard work is paying off."

(Don't you find it hard to work so hard for something that might not pay off until some time down the road? The problem with immediate gratification is that it takes too long. Another favorite quote: "It takes 15 years to build an overnight success." By the way, this guy is bringing serious heat!)


On the lighter side of sports and twitter, here's Kenny Mayne:

Girls Kick Butt - installment no. 2

From the latest USA Hockey Magazine [Women's Team Climbing Mountains]

I read stuff all the time. The Sport's Page of the newspaper...Sports Illustrated...The Hockey News...all kinds of hockey blogs...OK, OK...

It's not all Sports/Sports/Sports (Dan "The Common Man" Cole reference, for those who know what I'm talking about).

I do read about World War II, the Apollo Space Program, autobiographies of super successful people. The book I am reading right now is "Feel for the Game" by Ben Crenshaw. I bought it at a church fundraiser for $3. I find bits and pieces of motivation there.

You want some good motivation? Go to: www.twitter.com/UND_WIH

Follow Brian Idalski, the women's coach at University of North Dakota Hockey Team, and then make sure you have your twitter account set up to receive "mobile alerts" so the updates are sent by text to your phone. Here are a couple of gems I received over the weekend from Brian:

"Give me 100%. You can't make up for poor effort today by giving 110% tomorrow. U don't have 110% U only have 100% & I want it from U now!"

John Wooden, UCLA Basketball Coach of the Universe

"If you want to take the island, then burn your boats. With absolute commitment come the insights that create real victory"-Robbins

I get an update on my phone (I get updates of those who are participating in the 12 Week Transformation, too, and, funny enough, the ones who are doing the most are the one's who are updating the most.

The guys I never hear from...well, they aren't doing 'jack squat'.

So...I love getting updates from guys via twitter who are kicking butt and taking names. Who would have thunk? Twitter an accountability piece! That's how I use it.

These updates give me motivation to get to work myself.

Social aptitude...you're a part of a great event!

Join in...push yourself...seriously...I have refs kicking butt and taking names.

(Just look at my "tweets" on the right hand side of this blog)

This is About Practicing EXCELLENCE!

July 31 is the deadline to get in on our Fitness Contest. For the past 4 weeks I have been presenting this opportunity for referees and, true to form, the percentages have followed this contest as well.

What percentages???

Life is a Bell Curve. Here's how it goes...

The bottom 50% are just along for the ride, and some of them want a free ride (those people won't even get up off the couch, put down their remote, and do something -- I asked 75 referees to be a part of this...only 30 raised their hand, so that puts the "non-hand raisers" in the bottom 60% = OUCH!!).

Of the top 40% "hand raisers", only 15 have actually TOOK ACTION and stepped forward to get those Bigger and Better games ( so the ACTION people are in the top 20%).

Of the 15 people, I asked them to send in a before and after photo, measurements, and set up a plan. We have now sorted everyone down to 8 people...they are in the top 10%.

Here's the 10% Club = Neil Missling, Kevin Cassidy, Jim Jarvis, Mike Diebold, Phil Stodgell, Nick Bradshaw, Cameron Voss, and Nick Dornfeld (there are two guys in Duluth, MN rocking it, too!)

You know what...these guys are working their butts off. I LOVE IT!!!

Here's what these guys understand about practicing EXCELLENCE...this is a part of an article written by Dan Kennedy, that I have copied for you. Pay close attention to the part about ASSOCIATIONS (not ref associations, but the "crowd" you hang out with):

"EVERY population divides roughly into 1%, 4%, 15%, 40% and 40% groups. Many more at the bottom than at the top...

YOU may choose to move from one group [in life - in our case, a league, level, or playoffs] to another by "moving" your ambition, thinking, acquisition and use of information, initiative, effort. But regardless of your choices, the fact that the majority of your peers are dead-wrong won't change a whit. For the most part, where a particular person gets to in this continuum from the top 1% to the bottom 40% has much less to do with differences in genetics, upbringing, education, opportunity or luck than it does decisions. Associations matter a lot, but they are or can be chosen. The first critical decision for upward movement is ALWAYS distrust the majority. It's not an easy decision to make. It's even harder to stick to. To see a majority stampeding north and stubbornly turn south. Not easy at all. To remember that whatever "everybody" is infatuated with you should spurn, a damnably difficult task."

The top 1% of ALL officials refereeing hockey in the United States are in the NHL, AHL, ECHL and NCAA Div 1 College. That's about 260 refs out of 26,000.

This isn't about getting you to the Pro's or College. This is about practicing EXCELLENCE.



email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

tell me, "I want in!"

Girls Kick Butt! -- The Goals You Have Determine the Work to Get There

You Want Bigger and Better Games...


Right?

That's my assumption. I highly doubt that you are sitting around at your house, or you woke up this morning, and said, "I wish someone would ask me to join a Fitness Contest today!"

I highly doubt that you are that much into physical fitness that would be wanting such a thing. That's my other assumption (you know what they say about people who assume???).

However, permit me the opportunity to work with you and I will help you get those bigger and better games. Here is just a small sampling of what others have said about the programs:

"JB i have started my workout process... I am putting it on the line hear, i will be transformed into a great official... I am going to put forward every effort on this, like i stated in a different email... I will stay in touch and u do the same, Thanks again JB for helping me on this."

Brandon G.

"JB, Thank you so much, that is great news!!! I plan on being apart of the new challenge.

You just made my day!! Thank you so much, I won't disappoint...Thank you for getting my name out
there, now I'll have to do the rest!!"

Shane P.

"I have seen quite a few power skating instructors in my life and JB was by far the most dynamic in his delivery; giving a wide variety of instructional methods and being able to demo them to a tee. You can tell that his passion for the game reflects in his instruction."

Chris Allman

Why do they push themselves? Why do they seek instruction and guidance? For the exact same reason that I choose to push myself = I want to experience the "high" of working in front of 19,500 fans again...I want to experience the satisfaction of receiving the email that you have been selected to work the semi-finals...I want to experience the feeling of "doing my best" and "a job well done."

It's not about the exercise. It's not about the supplements. It's not about the plan. It's about what it can get me. That's the same reason there are (2) girls up at Grand Forks, ND kicking butt on all the guys up there...they want [bigger and better things].


email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

say, "I want In!"

and become a part of something Bigger and Better for you!!!

400-500 Pucks...Mental Toughness...et al

I just got back home yesterday from the Minnesota Hockey Officials Association Referee Development Camp in St. Cloud, MN. For those of you aren't familiar with this camp, it is held in conjunction with the Minnesota Advanced 15 Hockey Festival. 102 of the best 15 years olds in the state practice and play during this festival for the opportunity to be one of the final 22 to participate in the USA Hockey National Advanced 15 Festival in Rochester, NY.

The hockey action was OUTSTANDING this year, and our 12 officials worked hard all week, learned a lot, and set a strong foundation for the future. I am proud of all of them.

During this festival, the teams, coaches, referees, and all staff get together to eat and there is always a guest speaker. The guest speakers this week were: Zach Parise, NJ Devils player (former Advanced 15 member from MN), Cary Eades (Associate Coach, Univ. of North Dakota), Scott Sandelin (Head Coach, Univ. of MN-Duluth), Chris Howe (Head Coach, Concordia College), Tom Serratorre (Head Coach, Bemidji State University) and Mike Hastings (Asst. Coach, Univ. of Minnesota).

THE THING THAT WAS TRUE FOR ALL OF THE SPEAKERS WAS...THEY WORE THEIR HEARTS ON THEIR SLEEVE.

Other things were also common in all of them, but what I saw and heard was their passion for what they do. Their passion for the game. Their passion to be the best.

Here are a few tidbits I took away from each of them...

Zach Parise:

Q: "What was the number one thing you did to prepare for the NHL?"

A: "Shoot pucks. I shot 400-500 per day."

Q: "What was something you did to prepare yourself and get ready for the NHL?"

A: "I surrounded myself with the right people. My two best friends at Shattuck were very important -- Drew Stafford and Brady Murray. We pushed each other to be the best."



Tom Serratorre:

"We have one rule at Bemidji State -- do what's the right thing. That's it."

"How you react to adversity is the most important thing."

Overall, he was my favorite because I could feel his passion more than anything else. He never talked strategy, X's and O's, nor did he talk about shooting pucks, plyos, weight training, or practice. He talked about the skills and mindset it takes to be the best -- the best at anything (husband, father, employee, boss, whatever).


Chris Howe:

Chris talked a lot about character. He talked that there are "characters" and there is character. He was referencing Ted Brill, and I like that a lot, because Ted Brill was a visionary. One of my all time favorite things to do when I was an instructor at the MHOA camp in my "early years" as an instructor was to sit and listen to guys like Ted Brill talk. In fact, just about every morning, after we had our breakfast, we always have a short break to relax, take a nap, clean up, whatever. Well, it was at this time that Bill Leslie would always sit outside the dorms on the "porch" of wherever we were staying at on St. Cloud State University and talk hockey with Ted Brill. In the earlier years a gentleman by the name of Ted Fenske was there, too. The "Legend" Dave Hendrickson was there, too. I just loved listening to all of these guys because they were visionaries. I miss those men a lot.

Cary Eades:

"In a battery of tests on all type of hockey skills, I would have probably tested out at at 5 on a scale from 1-10. However, when it came to desire to win, I would have tested out at a 10. I loved doing things to help the others on my teams be better, guys like Doug Smail, Mark Taylor (both NHL players). I would take pride in digging out the puck and giving it to those guys"

This is a video clip of a very famous fight between University of North Dakota and University of Wisconsin. Someone on the Badger bench squirted Eades with a water bottle and Eades went nuts. So did the rest of the Sioux bench. ( I remember watching that game on TV. My parents had a party with a small group of friends over to watch the game on TV. This was a big deal, because back then, the Sioux weren't on TV -- this was back when we only had 5 channels on TV...no ESPN...no hockey packages...just the big three networks, PBS, and CBC out of Canada, which had Hockey Night in Canada -- Twin Cities- you have no idea what you're missing. This was also a big deal because my Mom and Dad actually put the TV in the living room. We never had the TV in there -- at least it seemed like a big deal to a 2nd grader!). Old time hockey!:

#24 for Detroit - Is He Done???

Chris Chelios is my new idol for one reason and one reason only -- I will be the Chris Chelios of referees. If a writer like John Buccigross can have an obsession with Hakan Loob, then I can have my Chelios and his [Hour of Power] workout! He is still in the league at age 47 (to put that into some kind of referee years - that would be some kind of equivilant like reffing the NHL at age 77). Well...I'm 37, so I have a lot of [butt-kickin'] years to go!

E.J. Radek for espn.com just listed his Top Ten for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2009. Here was number 10:

"Detroit ageless warrior Chris Chelios, playing in what might have been his last NHL game (he didn't dress during the Cup finals, but isn't ready to retire), made an overtime rush in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Blackhawks at the Joe Louis Arena. The 47-year-old American hockey icon moved the puck from his own zone to the far blue line before passing it to a teammate on the right wing. He then continued to the net and nearly batted a rebound past Hawks goalie Cristobal Huet. That would have been quite a way for Chelios to go out. Of course, we're not sure he's done yet."

Lastly, I thank him for being the poster boy for hard work and determination. I love it!

Game 7 - Slump Busters - and Talent

Did you watch game 6 last night? If not, look [here - click on that spinning play button circle]. If so, you saw a heck of a game by the Penguins, Marc-Andre Fleury, and the Wings! Being biased of course, I'd also say that the referees, Bill McCreary and Marc Joannette were great (personally, I like them more than the other tandem - although the other tandem does include an American and Paul Devorski, who is Mr. Big Nuts #2, behind McCreary).

Back to last night's game...The Pens win 2-1 and both of their goals were scored by whom??? Nobody named Crosby or Malkin (I'm not a big fan of Malkin, by the way, read the above link or the Game 5 notes). Who scored? Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy - two 3rd liners. Sweet!

I love lunch bucket guys!

Generally, I really can't stand prima-donnas. Allow the opportunity to explain the difference between a prima-donna and an all-star guy -- Wayne Gretzky was NOT a prima-donna, Mario Lemiux was NOT a prima-donna, and Joe Thornton is NOT a primma-donna. They are all incredibly talented guys who work their butts off. On the flip side, Marian Gaborik is a primma-donna -- not a whole lot of guts in that game...

Why do I love lunch bucket guys so much? Because I am one of them. I have never been overly talented...at anything. I have had to bring a whole lot of piss and vinegar to EVERYTHING I've done. That's why I enjoyed this article so much:

Justin Bourne, former U-Alaska Anchorage star

"I went through stretches of great success in college and pro hockey, tying together point streaks of double digit games on multiple occasions. As you may have guessed, I also went through stretches of great misery, tying together streaks of wall-punching and pulling my hair out at the root for double-digit games…on multiple occasions.

The standard song and dance about slump breaking is, in my opinion, what prolongs them.

“Keep it simple. Shoot from everywhere.”

Garbage.

Nothing twists the knife in your already-stabbed confidence like a goalie casually gloving down your shot from left field that you only took because technically, that spot by the boards at the blueline fell under the category of “everywhere.”

The only known antidote for the slump sickness, of course, is to work so hard Rod Brind’Amour looks lazy.

It takes a couple games of driving the net, hovering around the crease and generally playing violently before a shot from the point redirects off the bridge of your nose and goes in for you to get back to normal."

See the whole blog [here].

I've had the distinct pleaure of working out with some lunch bucket guys at Velocity Hockey Center, doing some gut-busting work on the skating treadmill.

I have had the VERY DISTINCT PLEASURE of working with some guys on some of the BEST and MOST EFFECTIVE and MOST REFEREE-SPECIFIC off-ice workouts out there.

All is sweet when the lunch bucket guy gets his...

p.s. Want any of the lunch bucket action? Contact me: info@ultimateofficials.com

Say, "I've got my lunch bucket"

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Here are the two artcile links mentioned in the video:

1. All-around stars
2. Early Recruiting for Basketball (this is a video)




Got Daily Discipline to Kick Butt and Take Names???

Email me: info@ultimateofficials.com

Superstitious or Not?

This is a link-o-rama to the Penguins Eastern Finals victory. I like the move by Crosby -- gutsy, not afraid, take the bull by the horns kind of attitude.

"We didn't touch the trophy last year, and obviously we didn't have the result we wanted," Crosby said. "We figured we'd touch it this year. Although we haven't accomplished exactly what we want, we still accomplished something here. You know, we can still enjoy it." -- Sidney Crosby on his decision to forget tradition and touch the Prince of Wales Trophy

Do you have superstitions or routines? I wouldn't necessarily say I am superstitious, but I do have a routine that gets my mind "game ready". Over the years I have found this helpful to ALWAYS be "on". That's one of the main differences I see between inexperienced guys and the solid veterans in hockey refereeing = the vets turn it on ALL THE TIME.

The closest I probably came to a superstition was when I played I changed shirts every period...even after warm ups. That's four shirts a game. I used to do that reffing, too. Decided that was too much laundry.

Here's the Kid defying superstition:

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave

Thank you goes out to all who served our country and allow us to remain free and brave...

Another bit of emotion goes out to all of those who had passed on before us. For me, that immediately goes right to thoughts of my mother, who passed nearly 5 years ago from a battle with cancer.

For those of you who may not know, I had my own "min-battle" two years ago. I had a melanoma removed from my right calf, and I took 9 months to recover and feel "human again". We are all getting old (yes, you too, you young bucks in your teens and twenties). Get busy living or get busy dying...

Kind of ties into my title, the land of the free and the home of the brave. We obviously are all free to make the choices we want. You are certainly free to pursue the referee career you want. The only limitation is yourself...doesn't have to do with politics (even though you may think so)...doesn't have to do with no spots available in the league/level you want (even though you may think so)...certainly doesn't have to do with your age, skating ability, or skill (even though you may think so -- those are ALL correctable situations!). It all has to do with how you limit yourselves.

I get sick and tired of hockey referees who cry because they don't "get the breaks." I witnessed a referee this past year actually BREAK his arm. He was in the Junior Program, and he refused to get a cast, because he knew it would limit his potential for assignments the rest of the year. Read that again...go ahead...he refused to get a cast on a broken arm because he didn't want it to be a limitation. Home of the brave, indeed (well, at least for some). The guy went on to do playoffs in all the junior leagues that the JODP covers.

On the flip side, I also watched some guys bitch and moan about working Jr. A Tier III games. They thought they were "better than that". Wondered why they weren't getting the nice USHL gigs. NEW FLASH - IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE A COWARD...YOU ARE NOT BRAVE.

How do you instill courage into someone?

1. Training - be a part of a group that does it over and over and over again - (that's how the US stormed the beaches at Normandy).
2. You get "UNCOMFORTABLE" -- You want to be the one who "conquers a league" -- you're going to have to dig deeper and go beyond your comfort zone.
3. You seek out allies to help you in this quest -- Not one elite hockey referee EVER make it on his or her own. They always had someone to guide them, open doors for them, give them feedback, have them kick them in the ass, etc.

If you don't have "RESOUNDING YES'S" for all three of those points, you are really behind the 8 ball. You also may be leading a cowardly life. Sorry, that's to the point and direct.

Get busy living or get busy dying...
( "Andy crawled to freedom through 500 yards of sh*t-smelling foulness I can't even imagine. Or maybe I just don't want to. 500 yards...that's the length of 5 football fields...just shy of half a mile.")

You've Got To Be Kidding Me!?! (ala Common Man Style)

Sorry, I couldn't find an audio clip from the Common Man Dan Cole's "you've got to be kidding me!" clip (proprietary maybe?...he doesn't want any copy cats?...when you only got so much schtick, youve' got to protect it?).

Anyway...

Flames...extinguished!



Game Preparation:

Never, ever go into a game thinking its going to be a cake walk. Always go into a hockey game with the referee mentality that you are ready to call a major from the first drop of the puck. Thankfully, I learned this lesson vicariously through my Dad (those of you who have asked for homework know what vicariously means).

My dad talks about a game he was going to ref between Bemidji HS and Columbia Heights, way back in the day. His two really good friends were coaching each team, Bryan Grand for Bemidji and Elly Froiland for Columbia Heights. It was a game right before Christmas break, so all were in a good mood. My dad went into the game, thinking, "This is going to be a great game and a lot of fun!" He wasn't prepared for the hockey game that transpired.

The game was a nightmare. He wasn't ready for it, and the game got away from him in a hurry. He left the arena with his tail between his legs, both coaches (and good friends) totally pissed off at him.

NEVER AGAIN.

And...never for me either. Well, 99% never. I have had my head "somewhere else" and it bit me in the ass as I refereed that hockey game.

Kind of like it bit the Calgary Flames in the ass...

(p.s. Sorry for the "inside joke" Comman Man references -- Common Man Talks Hockey --)