The Rant

It's been awhile since I've seen Grace, and I'm happy to see not only her doing her thing and killing! We catch up - talking about her previous pursuits as pro hooper, what she's been up to, and her new passion - helping athletes young and old being the best they can be, as a strength and conditioning coach. All that and more, my conversation with Grace,

The Return - Nassau Girl’s High School Basketball Interpreter, coming in hot with his first officiaitng camp the Empire State Girl’s Basketball Officials Academy.  Been awhile ya’ll, but im here.  Took some time off, reffed a bit, and will get to me, but this one is about Carl and his basketball camp.  A spotlight on th Empire State Girl’s Basketball Officials Academy - how he got involved in camp...

Full Disclosure, this isn’t the first time we recorded the trilogy. Part 3 was worth the wait. Shay pulls up to the chop shop, to bare her soul on what the basketball season of 2023-2024 meant to her. Her journey that started before the season, the start of the season and the mental block, us being able to work together at Lutheran High School, and culminating in the New York State Double A Cathol...

Assistant Coach fot the Boy's Varsity Volleyball team at Kellenberg, and Head Coach for the Girl's Varsity Volleyball team at St. Mary's High School. Right after practice, Brenden visits the chop shop to discuss growing up in sports, finding his passion and love for Volleyball, how he got into coaching, and what the future holds. All that and more, my conversation with Coach Gilroy, now. 

It's been a pandemic since we chopped it up. On a sideways rainy day, we discuss all the changes that has happened to him thus far, since then. On top of still playing himself, he has a much bigger purpose, starting his own training service, eM.V.P. Performance. he talks about his unique methods, his unorthodox way of thinking to get athletes to be the best they can be. All that and more, my conve...

It’s been awhile! I chop it up with long time friend and developing multi sport official, Devin Ellerbe, where they talk about the Basketball season that was, their experience taking the Girl’s Lacrosse Officiating class. Spring has sprung so we also get into Flag Football and the Softball season coming up.  All that and more, my conversation and recap of the season with Devin, coming up right now...

Episode 373, The Rant: Jeremiah Gregory   LIAFO Certified Football Official, NCLOA Certified Lacrosse Official, and IAABO Board 41 Basketball Official. I couldn't be more proud of this man. In mid-september, we were at the chop shop, chopping it up about his summer doing really rough games, growing in Lacrosse, and Glowing in football and flag football. He even got me back to being in my Lacrosse...

Board 127 Boy’s Certified Basketball Official, ready to tackle the basketball world, all the while taking officiating by storm. If there is one word I could describe Evan, it would be: nope - I can’t even do it. He’s eager, ambitious, and wants to sublimate his love of sports, especially basketball, once he found out the bag that comes with putting on the stripes.  We chop it up at the chop shop!...

Malverne High School Legend, 24/7, 265 Basketball Junkie, and Director and Coach of Rare Elite Basketball under the umbrella Remarcable Athletes. As the Summer 2023 wound down, I was able to speak to many pillars of the Basketball and sports community in New York. Enter Marc, who I’ve had the pleasure of officiating in many leagues. But now he’s on a different course. With the sole purpose of gett...

Women’s College Basketball Official and newly minted interpreter for the Nassau Board of Women’s Basketball Officials Association. In this pod, we talk about his experience coaching his kids in baseball, how his perspective has changed during the pandemic, and what the future holds teaching new basketball referees and co-existing with coaches. All that and more, my conversation with Carl, now. 

Ever-present spectator, Girls and Boys Basketball Official, certified Volleyball official, all while finding meaning and happiness in it all.  The year was 2009, and Bob was on top of his game. Then everything - his life, reffing, all took a backseat as he suffered a heart condition during a game. In this pod, he discusses his early life playing, how he got into officiating, his come up, the after...

Head Coach, Boy’s Varsity Basketball Team at East Meadow HS, Nassau Country local bball fiend.   If there was a fancy word to describe Coach Rottkamp when it comes to basketball, it’s omnipresent. In this pod, we decompress the season that was for his Jets of East Meadow, his come up falling in love with sports, his relationship with refs, and how he will build upon the success of last season.  Al...

The Basketball season is over, I’ve moved on to Flag Football and Softball, and backing my voice up with #therant. In this pod we sit with Fabe, going over his ups and downs in life, his season that was, his late night visits and talks at the Chop Shop, and how he is coping with heaviness on his brain. All that and more, we are back on Referee Rant, with Fabian - right now.   

Episode 366, The Rant: Joey Mandarino, Part 2, The Return. * Covid 19 started long ago. 2020 turned into 21’  and now we are in the throws of Summer 2022. We recorded a pod last summer, which never materialized into published. In this pod, we discuss his growth from when we first met, and the evolution of the pandemic, the evolution of him, and the Summer thats about to be. Part 2, Joey, now. 

Certified Basketball Official, in pursuit of being great, attempting to elevate his game to the collegiate level. In the subsequent years that I’ve known him, one thing is clear; Dennis wants to be the best he can be. In this pod, we discuss his early life, moving to Long Island, discovering officiating, and what the summer and future hold.  All that and more, my conversation with Dennis, now. 

First of all, shouts to Devine, as he’s the fastest recurring guest in the history of this pod. In 4 short months, so many things have changed. We rechopped it up with Devine to talk about his breakout summer - his work in the community of Bay Shore and the Township of Islip, his summer Basketball League, his newly minted Flag Football League, Flag-On, and what else he’s up to this summer.  All th...

Certified Basketball Official. Taking Northern California, The Internet, and the World, by Storm. Better late than never! Albeit a few months back, we chop it up with Izzy of his incredible journey comporting to become an elite HS and aspiring Collegiate basketball official. In this pod, we discuss his love of sports, love of officiating, his season that was, and what the future holds.  All that a...

I got alot of names, some people say them to my face. One is a ghost, and Lord knows i’ve been one. The pod is back, I’m back. After a long lay off of ennui, we bring it back to hear stories that we find interesting, compelling, and entertaining. In this pod, we catch up with what I’ve been up, what we’ve been up to, and where we are going.  All that and more. Me, on my own show. *

Impact One, LuHI Boy’s Basketball. Impacting All. The only thing constant the past three years is deep change. In this pod, we reconnect with Jerrel to see what he’s been up to since the passing of JoJo Wright, to the recent passing of Brandon Wilson, his connection in coaching and training the young men on the LuHi Basketball team, and what he’s learned with the passage of time from when we last...

For 20 years you can catch Devine at a sideline or bench near you. In this pod, we discuss him growing up in Harlem, him moving at an early age to Long Island, how he got into coaching, his longevity, and putting his all into the youth with Diverse Skill Training.  All that and more, my conversation with Devine Smith, now. 

It’s only fitting I say this: Happy Birthday Kevin. In this pod, we discuss his upbringing in Chicago, getting transported to Long Island, going after it in Basketball, playing D1, coaching D3, and shining a light on youth Basketball and Women’s Basketball with “She Got Game.”  All that and more, my conversation with Kevin, now.   

As the world, turns, and time passes, I watch my first born son, Mason, Fornoles, grow up before my very eyes. In this pod, we catch up with him, about what he’s learned since the last time he’s been on the podcast, him entering 3rd, grade, learning new things like mirror writing, turning 9, and his pursuit of Sony Playstation 5. All that and more, my conversation, with Mason, now.

Certified Football Official, Certified Softball Official, and Flag Football Staple. It was nearly 10 years apart from when I first reffed with John in Flag Football, until I saw him again, last summer. In this pod, we discuss his early life in the BX, him moving to Long Island and playing Soccer, how he got into officiating, and his key to longevity in officiating as a multi-sport official.   All...

Steady progress has been made all pandemic long for one Carmela Garcia, and it shows. Mentally, physically, the growth has been exponential. In this pod, we chop it up with her, to talk Soccer and Hoops, how she’s taken her craft and cancellations both in strde, and the vast improvement within life and well-being overall, all through finding purpose in officiating. All that and more, Carmela, Part...

Former Head Coach of the Boy’s Varsity Football Team at Kellenberg Memorial High School, basking in retirement, forever a Firebird. Almost since the school's inception, Coach Hanifan has been there. In this pod, we sit down with the newly retired legend to discuss his early life in Hicksville, NY, his love of sports, how he got his foot in the door at Kellenberg, that has led him to his long windi...