Why be an Official? (Grand Rapids Press)

January 25, 2012

The Grand Rapids Press' Jane Bos tells the story of some of the most valuable, yet often-criticized people who help make our games go -- the officials enforcing the rules. 

Consider this interesting point: On a Tuesday or Friday, the O-K Conference must come up with 150 officials to work its basketball games. And it, like most if not all leagues, always is looking for more.

She also explains how another former Press sportswriter, Howie Beardsley, got into the reffing game.

Check it out:

"Why West Michigan high school referees say you should consider wearing stripes"

Today in the MHSAA: 9/19/18

September 19, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

1. Girls Golf: Traverse City West, No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, won the Frank Altmore Invitational in Midland with Anika Dy shooting a course record 63 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

2. Boys soccer: Division 1 No. 3 Portage Central edged rival Portage Northern 2-1 in the latest matchup of their intense rivalry – Kalamazoo Gazette

3. Volleyball: Division 2 No. 8 Spring Lake came back after losing the first set to defeat Comstock Park in four – Grand Haven Tribune

4. Volleyball: Escanaba came back from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Gladstone in five sets – Escanaba Daily Press

5. Boys Soccer: Division 1 top-ranked Troy Athens stayed undefeated with a 4-0 win over rival Athens – Oakland Press

6. Cross Country: McBain’s girls and boys – both ranked No. 8 in LPD3 – swept team first places at the first Highland Conference jamboree of this season – Cadillac News

7. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central improved to 10-3-1 with a key league win, 1-0, over Detroit U-D Jesuit – Observer & Eccentric

8. Cross Country: Grosse Ile took the girls team win and both individual first places at the first Huron League jamboree; the girls team is No. 12 in LPD2 – Southgate News-Herald

9. Boys soccer: Cadillac scored in the final minutes to get past Traverse City Central – MI Sports Now

10. Boys Soccer: Rochester Hills Stoney Creek scored all of its goals during the second half of a 4-0 win over Rochester – Oakland Press