The Rant

It’s been a pandemic ago since I’ve seen Shay. In this pod, we catch up in her home to find out what she’s been up to during the Pandemic, how here family stuck together, and got closer, her self-revelations, and coaching and reffing Basketball, any time she can. Part 2 with Shay, now.

2020 has been filled with, for me at least, all sorts of not reffing. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been connected with officiating. As the Holiday’s reach it’s end, and we start anew with a New Year, we take a bit of my Zoom sessions with Bernard Bowen Sr. of Bball Referees and bring to you, attacking the rule book with Al Battista. Happy New Year! Al Battista, attacking the rule book, now.

As a young official, Al was ahead of his time. Now, he’s right on time. In this pod, we delve deep into his roots in officiating, his early life, his pursuit to becoming encyclopedic with the rules, his stint as a collegiate official and rules interpreter, and how he got to the NBA and ties it all together to give back to the officiating community. With my special co-host Bernard Bowen Sr., our co...

We took it back to the old school, as Tab and Nav both chop it up with me on #therant. In this pod, they discuss what they both been up to during the pandemic, what they both been up to since graduating Hofstra University, and their memories playing Basketball with, and against me. All that and more, my conversation with Nav and Tab, now.

Right after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, I pulled up to a studio in Westbury, Long Island. Enter Geo Studios; In this pod, we discuss Geo growing up in Colombia, Carl growing up in the same town that I did, how they met in the Bar Mitzvah Circuit, and there plan to take over the world, and now they pivoted during the pandemic. All that and more, my conversation with Geo and Carl, now.

Right before the pandemic, I spoke to one Cordell on Episode 159. Over a hundred episodes later, things done changed. In this pod we catch up about that change, his experience reffing underground, staying busy owning a new home, and starting his brand, Pay to The Order To. All that and more, Cordell’s return. Now.

You ever recognize a face but don’t know from where? Maybe from a different context? Enter Brandon Freeman. I knew I recognized his voice from him yelling at me when reffing him in Flag Football. In this pod, we discuss his early life, his relationship with Basketball, the game that I reffed, and that he coached, that put me on the map, all on the same day that Joe Biden was elected President. All...

It was only 11 long months ago since when we last were on the court together for the first time. But, the CoronaVirus. In this pod, we pull up to a park in Massapequa, NY to talk of his early life playing sports in Elmont, his legendary LAX team, the technical foul he deserved on court to fuel him to become an official himself, to his ascendency to becoming one of the top basketball refs on Long I...

Scott Berkins is an official’s official. In this pod, we discuss his early life watching his father umpire Baseball, his first experience calling balls and strikes, his brief stint reffing Ice Hockey, his ascension in Collegiate Basketball, and what it’s like having a newborn during the age of Corona Virus. All that and more, my conversation with Scott, in bio, now.

2019-2020 - After a preempted breakout season, Blake set his sights on collegiate camps as a Basketball Official. In this pod, we discuss his season that was, how COVID-19 derailed his goals, pivoting to new goals as a personal trainer, and what the uncertain future holds. All that and more, my catch up in conversation with Blake, in bio now.

It was a Sunday, at Island Garden. Normally, I’d be reffing on a court, and she would be in season with her team. This isn’t normal times. In this pod, we discuss her early life playing Basketball, her success on the Lightning team at the AAU level and what it means to her, her success at Our Lady Of Mercy Academy in high school, and playing at the next level. All that and more, my conversation wi...

Another Day at Susa Sports, another athlete doing Burpees, Squats, and Medicine Ball Work, all under Mike’s watch. In this pod, we discuss his early life playing Basketball, getting into coaching early, and training athletes from the Middle School Level, Collegiate Level, and Pro’s on t

Absolute, Ashlee Good is a Student of the Game. In this pod, we discuss her early life playing sports, in college, to transitioning to become a Varsity Basketball Coach. It came full circle where she took up the stripes, getting the attention of Joey Crawford, which fueled her passion to be at the highest levels of Collegiate Basketball. Further, it propelled her to give back to the ref community...

It’s been over 200 episodes since we sat down with Rob; that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been on his grind. In this pod, we discuss those early moments when the pandemic hit and the rims were taken down, how life is different not having a PSAL season and not having a summer, and using this time wisely to focus on family and himself. All that and more, Part 2 with Rob, now.

On the same historic day Kamala Harris became the Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee, we chop it up with Stephan. In this pod we discuss his early life in, NYC, becoming an official unexpectedly, elevating to the collegiate side, and what it’s like to watch his daughter play basketball as a parent, and not a ref. All that and more, my conversation with Stephen, in bio, now.

Timing is of the essence, and it was perfect timing to speak to a first responder like Christina. Amid a pandemic, we chop it up with Christina to talk about her early life and her love of sports, her officiating mentors that elevated her game to the collegiate level, juggling being a registered nurse as an official, and what it’s like to be one of the most important professions during the age of...

I met Joe on a screen, in a Zoom call. We both long to be on the court once more. In this pod, we discuss his early life playing sports, his start in officiating, his ascendancy doing high level PSAL games and College, and what he’s been up to during the age of CoronaVirus. Along with my co-host Bernard Bowen Sr of B-ball Referees, our conversation with Joe, now.

It was just a short year ago, where Chris came by one of my games, unannounced, to give me insight to improve my game. With no games going on, we sit down to talk about the state of the world, the state of officiating, and sports. We discuss her early life in Brooklyn New York, her relationship with sports serving in a multitude of different capacities, and what officiating means to her. All that...

Riel has a heart of gold. Right before the start of the Division I College Basketball season, we chopped it up at length about his early life in Upstate, NY, his love of sport, his start in officiating, and his long and winding journey, traveling far and wide in reffing, and making a greater impact in the greater Las Vegas area though his camps. All that and more, my conversation with Riel, now.

If anyone has had the pleasure to see Bill on the field or on the court, you know off it he’s no different. In this pod we discuss his early life growing up in NYC, how he discovered officiating in the 1960’s, his come up in the playgrounds, his ascension to the collegiate level, his experience during the age of CoronaVirus, and what he’s learned about himself in the decades of being an official....

From the early days, Jaquam was fixated on the game of Basketball. In this pod, we discuss his early days at UDC, watching the nicest of the nice getting busy on the court, to college getting into journalism, and ultimately reporting it on his website, Hoop Dreams NYC. All that and more, my conversation with Jaquam, now.

A couple years back, I met Ernest doing the same old hustle as me. In this pod we discuss his beginnings playing Sports growing up, how he gravitated towards officiating, and how he does Soccer, Football, Volleyball, and Basketball, all year round and at a high level. All that and more, my conversation with Ernest, now.

Chris and I have similar passions in both Basketball, and Baseball. In this pod, we discuss his early exposure to umpiring, what Baseball means to him, and all the things that he’s accomplished as a Baseball coach, and as a Basketball Official. All that and more, my conversation with Chris, now.

Baseball has always been Derrick’s passion, until he found out about the officiating game. In this pod, we discuss his childhood in Queens, playing Baseball and Coaching at a young age, how he discovered officiating and never looked back. Daily he improves, all in his pursuit to wear the stripes in college. All that and more, my conversation with Derrick, now.

On this special 125th episode, I sit with the other other Ralph, about growing up in Baldwin, playing Sports, playing video games, and the bond that we share to this day. All that and more, my conversation with Ralph, now.