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: 11/27/17

November 27, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

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

Today's Top 10 

1. Hockey: Division 3 No. 3 Hancock claimed the Copper Island Classic title with a 12-8 aggregate score after two wins over rival and No. 4-ranked Calumet – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

2. Hockey: Allen Park won its third straight Jaguar Thanksgiving Classic, downing Brownstown Woodhaven 3-2 on Saturday after beating Gibraltar Carlson on Friday – Southgate News Herald

3. Hockey: Cadillac bounced back from a loss to rival Big Rapids with a 4-2 win over Manistee – Cadillac News

4. Hockey: Saline downed Ann Arbor Pioneer 5-3 in their annual Thanksgiving Eve game – Saline Post

5. Hockey: Grand Haven split with Macomb Dakota (losing 4-3 in overtime) and Portage Northern (winning 5-4) over the weekend – Grand Haven Tribune

6. Hockey: Riverview Gabriel Richard got past Alpena 2-1 on Saturday in the second day of the Huron Shores Showcase – Alpena News

7. Hockey: White Lake Lakeland won the Barber’s Cup with a 7-1 victory over Milford – Observer & Eccentric

8. Hockey: Division 1 No. 8 Utica Eisenhower is off to a great start this season, and the Eisenhower hockey family is as well supporting area homeless through Victoria Hall’s Spare Care program – Macomb Daily

9. Football: Canton coach Tim Baechler announced his retirement after leading the Chiefs to a 173-52 record over 20 years – Observer & Eccentric

10. Football: Port Huron assistant coach and longtime athletic director Ken Semelsberger decided this would be his last year on the sidelines, 50 years after coaching his first game – Port Huron Times Herald