Look The Part

I had an old crotchety teacher in New Jersey named Culpepper, who had a thick Boston brogue, spit when he yacked at us, and actually stroked out during school, getting carried out on a stretcher, never to be the same again. One of his favorite sayings, being the dinosaur he was, was "Jackson, you'ah the no-arth end of a southbound mule." While that was stupid, another of his sayings was not: "How you dress is an external expression of your internal attitude."

Ever see Michael Jordan look like a slob? Nope. Almost always in suit and tie, or some other put together outfit. Always looks like a million bucks. I read once that he was asked about it, and his answer was that he was aware that when people saw him, it was a moment for them, and he wanted to live up to their image of him as a superman. See Jordan with bad breath or shabby clothes? No way. He wouldn't let it happen.

Which brings me to my point. When you show up to a gym, especially for a Varsity HS game or higher, dress the part. I try and wear a coat and tie to every game. Does it make a difference on how I perform on the floor? No. But despite the fact that some would call it a brownnose move, think about these things:

1. You use good mechanics on the floor to look good and sell yourself. It helps with credibility. Think it might help your credibility to look good walking into the gym?

2. Show up in a coat and tie. What does that tell everyone? Cynics call you an ass kisser. Do it consistently, and I think it tells everyone that doing your job that night and being professional is very important to you.

3. Think about the guys with perfectly fitted uniforms on the floor. It makes an impression. So does how you look when you arrive and leave, just like Michael Jordan. Not many folks in a gym are dressed to the nines. It does make an impression.

4. You will get treated better by everyone at the gym, period. They will want to take care of you with respect to your locker room, water, etc. because they'll perceive how important you're taking your job as an official. Trust me.

5. Your wife/girlfriend will like how you look when you leave and get home. ZZ Top is never wrong: "Every girl's crazy about a sharp-dressed man." If you are unattached, you may even get numbers/e-mails from women. Not saying they'll be hot or anything, but it happens.

Act the part, be the part. Always give maximum effort during games. It doesn't take much effort to show maximum effort in how you dress, either. Think about it.