By Khadijah Torbert
Four Decades is a long time. But it might not seem as long of a time when you're doing something you love!
Hal Lusk from Florence, Mississippi, started in the world of sports as an Athletic Director for the Jackson Public Schools for 18 & ½ years and was the Assistant AD five years before that. He retired in 2008 to referee before becoming the Basketball Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials for the ACCC, GCAC, MACJC, SSAC.
Hal said not much has changed about officiating in 42 years except one key thing.
"Nowadays in college basketball, I go back to 1978 where I was making $5 a game, to when I retired three years ago, just about all the checks were $3,000-$3,5000 a night so that's a pretty big gap in there," said Hal.
People may wonder what it's like being an official or what their day-to-day looks like.
"You get on an airplane and fly everyday and you get home Sunday, regroup and then you leave Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or whatever the schedule calls for and you leave again," said Hal. "And I tell people that four months out of the year I was on an airplane about 150 times."
One way or another, if you've been at a sports event, a person either loves the referee or has a strong dislike for them depending on the calls for the team you're rooting for. But Hal says he's always fair no matter if it's a spectator, player, or even a coach that doesn't agree with a play call.
"You know the games tonight at the Alabama Community College Conference are just as important to those coaches and kids as the one on ESPN tonight," said Hal. "They really aren't mad at me, but the striped shirt. Doesn't matter if I had it on or if you had it on, just that particular night it's me. For the coaches, this is their living, sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't."
If 2020 taught us anything, it would be to remain flexible and make adjustments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering effects of the virus still in 2021, adjustments especially from an officials standpoint.
Hal said, "We had about 23 guys opt out this year because of it. Some of them were of the older age bracket and didn't feel safe. I actually had some younger guys opt out due to having small children and the chance of bringing it back to their home with a small child."
"But the guys have been wonderful and cooperative. I've had guys step up and drive a little further than what they normally do because I'm down officials. And coaches have been overall very cooperative and been good about keeping us abreast of game time changes."
One big adjustment for Hal during this pandemic was, like many Americans, not being able to reach out and touch loved ones near or far.
"My wife and I are both taking this very seriously and I actually went two months without touching my grandchildren and I was not a happy camper", said Hal. "I'm crazy about the five of them and we would ride by and wave, but the little ones didn't understand why we couldn't get out."
Hal says COVID-19 put a damper on those seeking an interest in refereeing due to not holding camps last year.
When Hal is not on the hardwood or supervising those in charge of keeping the game fair, you'll find him spending time in the woods or out on the waters.
"I'm a big time deer hunter. I really am. I've hunted all my life. My kids and grandchildren come up and play. They don't hunt as much as I'd like for them to, but they come. From April-September, I'm a charter captain down on the coast and I take people fishing," said Hal.
After over 42 years Hal says he's come a long way from his officiating days. And now being a coordinator and supervisor---being fair still remains at the forefront.
"I've always said you treat people the way you want to be treated. I'm not going to ask an official to do something that I wouldn't do or hadn't already done and I took that perspective and I've always wanted to be fair but I wanted to be fair on both sides. Fair to the coach and to the official," said Hal.