The Whistleblower

January 1, 2015

A referee's life can be difficult. When they perform well they are invisible. And when they make a decisive call, they can become the most-hated person in the arena. One "mistake" can be talked about for years, yet they never have the opportunity to defend their decisions. Sportswriter Katz (Third and Long), a lifelong college basketball fan, spent a season shadowing Ed Hightower, a notable college basketball referee within the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, in order to understand how referees do their jobs. Katz watched the games Hightower officiated and spoke candidly with him and other referees about what it takes to officiate in the high-stakes world of college basketball. Along the way, Katz tells Hightower's life story, from his hardscrabble upbringing in rural Missouri to becoming the superintendent of an Illinois school district. This book provides a rare, intimate glimpse into the lives, thoughts, and actions of referees: how they see the game and why they make or do not make a call. The author finds that a superlative referee is impartial, decisive, and most of all must possess an "x-factor" that is almost impossible to describe. VERDICT Recommended for college basketball fans and sports fan in general.--Jason Martin, Stetson Univ. Lib., DeLand, FL

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