How much does he know?

ne of the great films of the 1960s was In the Heat of the Night starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Poitier, "Mr. Tibbs," is pushed around by redneck police officers in Mississippi. Then, they find out he is a homicide detective from Philadelphia, and Police Chief Gillepsie asks him to take a look at a dead body. Tibbs snaps: "Why don’t you look at it yourself/" The Chief replies: "Because I ain’t no expert."

In a nutsheel, that’s why it’s difficult to take up a new sport late in life after you’ve "made your bones" in other sports. Referee magazine published my articles in baseball and basketball in the 80s and 90s. I was clinician/trainer and rules interpreter in both associations for over 20 years.

Now I’m starting my third year in volleyball.

How much do I know?

Continued...