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: 5/9/18

May 9, 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 Soccer: No. 3 Brighton won a matchup of two of the top-ranked teams in Division 1, downing No. 2 Novi 2-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Softball: For the first time in Rapid River history, the Division 4 honorable mention Rockets swept Division 3 No. 5 Gladstone – Escanaba Daily Press

3. Track & Field: Midland swept Saginaw Heritage, the boys team by a point to stay undefeated in the Saginaw Valley League ahead of the LPD1 No. 9 Hawks; the Midland girls are unranked as well and upset the No. 7 Heritage team – Midland Daily News

4. Track & Field: Engadine swept the Mid Peninsula Small School Invitational titles, the boys winning by a point and the girls by two to repeat – Escanaba Daily Press

5. Girls Tennis: Unranked Saline tied Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 5 Ann Arbor Huron – Saline Post

6. Girls Soccer: Nora Uldrys scored with five minutes to play to give Division 1 No. 14 Saline a 1-0 win over Ann Arbor Skyline after her team tied Skyline earlier this spring – Saline Post

7. Baseball: Division 3 No. 11 Reed City swept Remus Chippewa Hills in a matchup of teams that both entered undefeated in league play – Big Rapids News

8. Girls Tennis: Traverse City Central No. 1 doubles player Bailey Swanson became the second on her team this season to go over 100 career wins, doing so in the LPD2 No. 7 Trojans’ 6-2 victory over Petoskey – Traverse City Record-Eagle

9. Softball: Trenton made a run at handing Allen Park its first Downriver League loss, but the Jaguars held on for a 7-6 win – Southgate News Herald

10. Football: Salem coach Kurt Britnell resigned coming off leading the Rocks to their first playoff appearance since 1991 – Observer & Eccentric

Also of note …

Baseball: From Saturday, longtime Livonia Stevenson coach Rick Berryman reached 500 career wins with his team’s victory over Livonia Clarenceville; Stevenson is No. 14 in Division 1 – Observer & Eccentric