Umpire's Heart Healed, Back in the Game
April 4, 2017
By Mike Spencer
Special for Second Half
Ken Allen can’t wait to say the words “Play Ball!’ today.
Weather permitting, the Traverse City softball umpire is expected to be behind the plate at Kingsley this afternoon after missing all of the spring season last year due to a heart double by-pass surgery.
“I’m sure It’s going to be exciting,” said Allen, a 32-year MHSAA umpire, basketball and football referee. “Especially after taking a year off from softball.
“But once the game gets started and you make that first call, it’s going to be right back to the old business.”
Allen, who has hardly missed a game since Dick Simon recruited him to officiate in 1985, was glad he went to his primary care physician after he noticed he was slowing down at the end of the 2015-16 boys and girls basketball season.
Allen’s doctor did an EKG and referred him to a heart surgeon, where he underwent a cardiac catheterization. Before the visit with the heart specialist was over, Allen was wheeled up to the second floor for heart surgery.
“It changed things, but I keep telling everybody that the man above gave me a second chance and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” said Allen, who was told he’d need at least three months to recuperate. “It was hard to be idle.”
“Ken is an ‘old school’ die hard,” said Barb Beckett, a charter member of the Northern Sports Officials Association, former officiating partner and assignor. “He is an assignor’s dream because he will go anywhere, work any level, and anytime.
“It was tough on him missing the last part of the basketball season and entire softball season. He makes a difference every time he steps on the court or the field."
Allen, who has officiated two MHSAA Finals in softball and another in football, never thought about retiring after his double by-pass on March 3, 2016.
“I never had a thought about quitting, and I don’t have a plan to retire,” Allen said. “I’m going to go as long as I can.
“When I can’t give the kids a full 100 percent, it’ll be time to get out.”
Allen had a clean bill of health to officiate football last fall, but he missed two weeks of the season after having his gall bladder removed. He then went on to work the entire boys and girls basketball season, which ended last month.
“Ken has always been a very hard-working official, and it’s no surprise to anyone that he has worked so hard to get back on the field and court,” said MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl, the association’s coordinator of officiating. “Ken always had a true passion for officiating, and this passion has helped him recover and has been a source of motivation to get healthy and rehab so he can return to the competitive arena.”
Uyl said life-threatening illnesses and injuries often send veteran officials into early retirement.
“For many other officials, what Ken endured would have meant retirement or the end of their career, certainly in a sport like basketball,” Uyl said. “It shows how important working with the kids and schools is to Ken that he’s persevered so hard to get back.”
Allen also officiated baseball until the day he lost a coin flip and had to leave his softball game because no one showed up at the baseball field. His softball partner Tom Post tooted his horn departing after two quick softball games and Allen was still in the bottom half of his opener.
Although Allen has officiated two MHSAA softball championship games, football is his No. 1 sport. He worked a 2003 MHSAA Final as the umpire.
“When I first started out, I was on the chains,” said Allen, who played freshman football at Clio High and ran track and cross country. “Then I decided that I wanted to get in the middle where the action is. I really love it.”
Allen’s taken a few knocks in the middle of the football field, even suffered a couple of concussions. But until the heart double by-pass, he was always able to get back up on his feet without hardly missing a down.
“Ken is a great official because he’s got such good people skills,” Uyl said. “The officiating business is a ‘people business’ first and foremost, and this is why this has been such a great fit for Ken for the past 30-plus years. The MHSAA and all member schools are thrilled to have Ken back!”
Author Mike Spencer is a MHSAA registered official in boys and girls basketball and soccer. He spent more than three decades as a newspaperman before becoming a marketing communications specialist two years ago.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ken Allen, a 32-year veteran official from Traverse City, shows off his most memorable moment in high school officiating with photos and items he received after doing a 2003 MHSAA Finals assignment. (Middle) Allen kneels behind the plate; today he’ll return to action for the first time after heart surgery.
The Official View: Don't Make it Personal
By
Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
January 15, 2019
By Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
Statistics tell us poor sportsmanship is a leading factor in officials leaving officiating and a major impediment to recruiting new officials. The official catching flak is not new.
This week’s “It’s Official” discusses work being done to bring civility to high-intensity situations where criticism of officials has frequently turned personal.
It’s Official!
Poor Sportsmanship and the Official
As long as there have been officials, there has been dissatisfaction with officials by players and coaches. It’s not that instances of poor sportsmanship are becoming more frequent – it’s that these instances are becoming more personal. And in part because of the accessibility of social media, they are more sensationalized.
The great Major League Baseball veteran umpire Harry Wendelstedt regularly used to say, “You may yell at the uniform, but you can’t yell at me.” His point recognizes not everyone will agree with the calls officials make, but that criticism and disapproval should be directed about the call and not about the person.
Some sports have ejectable offenses specific to that sport. Others – think soccer, volleyball, basketball or football – have a progressive system of fouls that lead to an automatic ejection. This doesn’t mean, though, that coaches and players receive a one-time free pass to say whatever they want. Personal attacks are not permitted and are grounds for immediate disqualification. Personal attacks include:
• Offensive or derogatory remarks about an official’s (real or perceived) gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, religion or disability.
• Threats or intimidation of physical violence, withdrawing games or a downgrade of ratings.
• Personal insults that disparage an individual or openly question an official’s integrity, impartiality, honesty or character.
For example, instead of using the personal insult “You’re terrible!” that would result in an immediate ejection, players and coaches could substitute the impersonal “That’s terrible!” The use of “you” or “you’re” personalizes the attack, and anything that follows those words in a disparaging manner almost always will result in a disqualification.
While the onus of ensuring good sportsmanship is primarily the responsibility of administrators, coaches and players, the officials also play a significant role by enforcing behavior and conduct rules through penalization. Officials are being instructed to strictly enforce this policy moving forward. To emphasize the importance of avoiding personal attacks on officials, the MHSAA will be starting the new campaign “Get Personal … Get Ejected!” We are looking for help from coaches, players and spectators in showing respect and appreciation for the hardworking men and women who officiate MHSAA contests by keeping criticisms brief and absent of personal attacks.
Sports Officials Appreciation
The MHSAA is seeking ways we can show appreciation for the contribution Registered officials provide to the MHSAA and its member schools. This will soon include the introduction of an “Official Thanks” campaign and providing schools a framework to institute “Officials Appreciation” events.
To further express our gratitude, the MHSAA has partnered with the Detroit Red Wings to host a Sports Officials Night on Sunday, March 31 beginning at 7:30pm. The package includes a specially-priced Red Wings ticket, souvenir cooling towel and access to a pre-game speaking engagement with former professional officials. Additional benefits also are being worked on. Details are posted on the Officials page of the MHSAA website and will be delivered to all officials via email.
Rule of the Week
GIRLS COMPETITIVE CHEER As Team A attempts a swinging stunt during Round 3, the flyer is propelled into an almost-vertical position with her feet in the air and head near the floor.
Ruling: This is an illegal stunt and an 8-point deduction per infraction.
It’s Your Call
BASKETBALL This week’s clip shows Team A in white attempting to move the ball up court against Team B’s press. A pass is made to #11 near the division line. What’s the call?
Last IYC Ruling: In the last “It’s Your Call” clip, the attacking wrestler picks up his opponent and slams him to the mat. This is a dangerous act, and a flagrant misconduct should have been assessed. (Click to see video.)
Official View: Giving Back
Every year, the Macomb County Coaches Association and area officials come together to host a Christmas Tournament where funds are raised for educational scholarship opportunities. This year’s event was another huge success.
For officials, it’s a great time to give back and enjoy the sport they love. Tradition has been that custom uniform shirts are purchased for the officials, who also wear their best (or worst) pair of Christmas socks.
Pictured above are: (Back row) Phil Lieblang, Lenny Gino, Chad Davinich, Dave Hall, Bryan Legree, Josh Orzechowski, Mike Billiu, Matt Stabley, Brandon Orzechowski. (Front row) Eugene English, Gary Kowalewski, Jerry Angelo, Ron Minoletti, Rob Peltier, Eric Siefert, Jim Niemiec.