The Rundown: 5 Things To Know About Life As An NBA Referee

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and since we’ve been yelling at them from our couch, it has us thinking…what do these refs actually do in their day job besides cause coaches and fans a lot of frustration?

 

We’ve seen better eyes on a potato,

The Last Night’s Game Team

Five Things To Know About Life As An NBA Referee

  1. While you’re going to have to work your way up through the system, the 64 NBA (National Basketball Association) referees on payroll make anywhere between $150,000-$550,000, depending on experience. They receive bonuses for officiating playoff games at the tune of $4,500 - $24,000, depending on the importance of the game (i.e. you make more money working the finals).
  2. Remember Billy Crystal traveling the nation as an NBA referee in the movie Forget Paris? It wasn’t his best flick but like his character, referees travel every two days, working 25 days a month. That equates to calling 65-70 games in an 82 game season, not including playoffs.
  3. Imagine being called out by your boss every time you present in a meeting. That’s what happens to the referees in the NBA’s two minute reports. The report critiques the referees’ calls within the last two minutes of the game and overtime. 
  4. It's not all mental. They have to be physically fit too because they’re running up and down the court for the entire 48 minutes alongside the players. Referees work on their fitness regimen in the off-season like any athlete would.  
  5. Instant replay is a big part of the game. The referees have a centralized replay command center in Secaucus, NJ that provides them with assistance in tough situations. They’re efficient even from afar, averaging a result in a quick 42.1 seconds.

Overtime

Sideline stat

  • There were a whole “lotto” surprises at yesterday’s NBA Draft lottery. Usually the worst teams get the first pick in the NBA Draft but thanks to a massive trade with the New Jersey Nets, the Boston Celtics (who finished with the best record in their conference and are in the playoffs) will receive the #1 pick in the upcoming draft.  Here’s more on the lottery.

Coaches’ Corner

  • Nico Marley, grandson of music legend Bob Marley, signed with the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League). Hopefully the underdog can sing a “Redemption Song” and make the final roster.

The Rundown: Out Into The Real World

What do Oprah, Will Ferrell and President Trump have in common? They all spoke at college graduations this weekend. Even though they inspire our grads, they still need conversation starters just like you and me.

 

That’s why we’re serving up a side of sports,

The Last Night’s Game Team

NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

  • Great balls of fire. NASCAR raced on Saturday night this week and Aric Almirola lit up the night sky. He was involved in a fiery crash with Danica Patrick and Joey Logano. After watching the video you’ll see how incredible it is that he only walked away with fractured vertebra.

NBA (National Basketball Association)

  • We’re getting there. In game one of the Western Conference finals, the Golden State Warriors overcame a huge deficit to pull off a win against the San Antonio Spurs. (This is the semifinal round – the finals start on June 1st).

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

  • Overachiever. The fighter known as the “blue collar champion,” Stipe Miocic, set a record for title defenses by a heavyweight on Saturday. As if that’s not impressive enough, the Cleveland native also a firefighter when he’s not in the octagon. (FYI heavyweight classification is for fighters between 205 and 265 pounds).

Overtime

  • MLB (Major League Baseball) teams proved that real men wear pink. All teams broke out the pink gear yesterday to celebrate Mother’s Day and raise money for the fight against breast cancer. The pink game used items are being auctioned off to benefit the cause, in case you forgot to buy mom a gift.

Sideline stat

Coaches’ corner

  • The NBA (National Basketball Association) Draft lottery is tomorrow. Like your grandma on Tuesdays at 10 am, the NBA uses a bingo-like ping pong ball system to determine the order in which the 14 non-playoff teams will pick in the draft. The worse your team was last season, the higher the odds of receiving a top spot in the draft. Want more? Read on.

 

The Rundown: Team Mom

It’s Friday and that means it’s almost the weekend. It also means you have two days to pick up something for Mother’s Day. We're providing you with weekend conversation starters and life’s reminders.

One stop shop,

The Last Night’s Game Team

MLB (Major League Baseball)

  • Into the rafters. The New York Yankees will retire Derek Jeter’s #2 jersey this Sunday. Jeter penned a heartfelt note thanking fans for their support of a young player who came up through the ranks to win five World Series rings during his 20-year career. It seems fitting that his number will be retired on Mother’s Day as Jeter and his wife, swimsuit model Hannah (Davis) Jeter, are expecting their first child.

PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association)

  • Big year. First he wins the Masters and now this. Sergio Garcia hit a hole-in-one at the famed 17th hole at the Players Championship yesterday.
  • Beer me. Unfortunately for golf fans it wasn’t Brooks Koepka who hit the hole-in-one. Koepka has partnered with Michelob Ultra to give away 95 cases of its beer (95 calories = 95 cases...clever) to fans should he hit a hole-in-one.

Overtime

  • Dedicated fan of Real Housewives and soon-to-be retired NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. is getting a reality TV show of his own. When he retires at the end of the season, he and his wife, Amy, will restore a historic home as part of their own home renovation show.

Sideline stat

  • Mitchell Trubisky, the #2 pick in the NFL (National Football League) draft, reported to his first day of Chicago Bears camp yesterday in his 1997 Toyota Camry with 170,000 miles. He promised the Bears’ general manager that he wouldn’t change and would drive his well-loved car that was passed down from his grandma to camp. Trubisky received a $19 million signing bonus but still stuck by his word.

Coaches’ corner

  • Just in time for Mother’s Day, East Carolina University’s football coach delivered great news to one of their walk-on players. Instead of delivering it to the athlete, he went straight to his mom with the news that her son, Kiante Anderson, is a recipient of a full ride scholarship to play football. Here’s the precious video. 
 

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