Time For The Blog To Take A Rest

During the past few days we have encountered some serious personal medical issues, so it is time for the blog to "take a sabbatical."   Hopefully we will return soon, but right now our focus needs to be on our physical health and well-being.  Thank you all for your friendship and support and I would certainly be appreciative of your prayers during the coming days.

January 22, 2013 UPDATE

Just to let you know that I have made great progress in resolving the medical issues--so its time to start blogging again!  Hope you enjoy...

Big 12 Clothing Items Now Available

 In a contractual agreement with the Big 12 Conference, we will offering the Big 12 officiating clothes this year.  Pictured below are some of the items and their prices.  Additional items are listed at the bottom of the post.

 OFFICIALS SHIRT

The new item this year is the officials shirt in steel gray color (replacing the old cotton shirt.)  The new shirt is dry fit and is identical to the ITA black officials shirt.  Pictured above is the standard officials shirt and a ladies' shirt is offered in the same color but with a v-neck

Cost:  $25

OFFICIALS JACKET

The same officials jacket in black that has been standard issue for Big 12 officials for the past few years.  Comes in black only and in men's and women's sizes. 

Cost:  $55

OFFICIALS WINDSHIRT

Another new item this year and is comparable to the windshirt that was used in past years.  Comes with a hood and in men's and women's sizes.

Cost:  $39

OTHER BIG 12 ITEMS

Black fleece jacket in men's and women's sizes.      Cost:  $35

Ogio black backpack.   Cost:  $40

ALL ITEMS COME EMBROIDERED WITH THE BIG 12 LOGO PICTURED ABOVE.

If you are interested in any items, contact Randy McDonald at 214 796 7402 or email at rmtennis@yahoo.com

Perhaps The Time For An Officials Union Has Come

Now that we have a newly re-elected President that is obviously pro-union and we have a country in which union values seem to supercede all others, perhaps the time has come for us to instill an OFFICIALS UNION.

If we did, here are some of the things we could demand:

*  Immediate cash infusion from the Obama Administration.

*  Power to eject parents from any and all USTA Junior events.

*  Power to demand not only lunch and supper but breakfast and a mid-morning snack.

*  Power to demand an air conditioned tent for officials during the summer months and a heated building during the winter.

*  The return of power to the "common official" so there would be no need for plutocrats in Austin or NYC.

*  Demand health insurance for all officials.

*  Demand long term care for all old officials as well as free eye exams.

*  Demand birth control for all female officials and free prostate exams for the males.

*  Institution of the "Lesbian of the Year", "Gay Guy of the Year", and "White Male Official Over 50"  awards to be given each year.

*  Demand new cars each year for officials with over 20 years experience.

*  Demand that we only have to work 2 hour shifts and be paid with a 8 hour minimum.

*  Demand that no work day begins before 10:00 a.m. and concludes by 3:32 p.m. each day.

*  No night or Sunday work.

*  A free bbq and a guest appearance by Obama or his wife on Martin Luther King Day.

*  Free DART passes for those officials who live and work in Dallas.

*  A new motorcycle given to the "Most Outstanding Official" each year.

*  Free beer and bbq given to those officials who have to work past 2:00 p.m. each day.

*  Retirement program guaranteed for all officials based on Harry Reid's best five years of salary.

*  Health benefits for life paid for by the DNC.

These are just a few thoughts about what we should be receiving in the days to come.  Be sure to share any additional thoughts or ideas that you might have.

John McEnroe: A Piglet Who Will Always Be A Piglet

PIGLET:  an adolescent or teenage pig possessing all the traits of pigdom but retarded in their emotional development.

Just finished watching the 2012 Champions Series final in which Patrick Rafter defeated John McEnroe.  In true form, McEnroe was screaming, berating officials, and throwing his racket everywhere.

Just goes to show you:  once a piglet, always a piglet.

Metroplex School Dates

There will be two officials' schools offered in the Metroplex area this year.  The first will be at National School on January 19 and 20th and then second will be taught in Plano at the Southfork Hotel on May 12th. Both schools will offer the sectional, referee, and ITA schools.

Participants need to preregister and this can be done by clicking on the "Schools Registration Link" on the upper right side of the blog.  You will also access more information about the schools and who needs to attend and when.

You can also access and register for these schools on Nucula.

January 19-20                   National School
May 12                             Plano School

MTOA Elects New Officers

The Metroplex Tennis Officials Association held their annual general membership meeting and board meeting last night at Brookhaven Country Club.  During the general meeting, Terry Gatzki was added to the Board of Directors and during the Board Meeting, Lee Thornburg was elected as the new President.

Following his election, Lee led a discussion about various committees and then appointed enough people to fully staff each committee.

Congratulations to Lee for his election and to Nancy King for serving as President for the past two years.

Lois Goodman Case Dismissed

Not that I personally give one hoot about this case or all the salacious details, but since I have received so many caustic emails from people claiming to be part of the Goodman family, I thought I would post this story:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The arrest of a tennis referee before a match at the U.S. Open in connection with her husband's death was a shocker last summer. On Friday, the case took another surprise twist when prosecutors dropped the murder case against Lois Goodman.

The case was dismissed by Superior Court Judge Jessica Silvers after prosecutors said they received additional information and were unable to proceed because of insufficient evidence.

''I feel I'm being treated fairly now. It was just a terrible accident,'' Goodman, 70, said outside court.

Goodman has refereed matches between some of the greatest tennis players in the world. She was arrested by Los Angeles police in New York in August as she arrived to be a line judge at the U.S. Open and made her first court appearance wearing her uniform.

District attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons declined to elaborate on the new information that led to the dismissal.

However, defense attorney Alison Triessl said she believed private polygraph tests conducted by a former FBI polygraph examiner were pivotal in proving that Goodman did not kill her husband

The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled. But Triessl believes it's over.