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Ref Union Comics

As seen in Referee Magazine, this is the complete collection of Ref Union original comic strips. Updated monthly or whenever we get a fresh idea!
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  • I once dated a girl that worked at a pharmaceutical company. She studied biology at UCLA. One time I opened up one of her organic chemistry textbooks and I couldn't even get past the first page. It was so dense and complicated; I didn't know what half the terms meant. Even the pictures didn't provide much help. Safe to say that most people wouldn't be able to get past that first page, let alone the entire book, the entire course, and the entire path of education that it takes to become an actual medical professional. Yet many of those same people, including some referees, are happy to share their "medical opinion," much of which goes against what the professionals are saying — including our surgeon general, NIAID director, and countless of the world's top doctors. Congratulations, I tell them. You now share the same ignorance as that parent yelling out why he thinks you're wrong from the top of the stands. You are now the same as the rec. league player who tries to tell us what a foul is despite never having opened a rule book. Don't be that guy. Heed to actual medical and scientific advice so that we can all get back to normal. Enough's enough; we want to get back to work. #science #medicine #dontbestupid #unionstrong
  • Yep. This actually happened at one of our tournaments...
  • ...so did this....
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  • The same comic, just notice the cash box is open and full of money.
  • It's getting really disheartening how some Division 1 referees are losing touch with the struggles of the grassroots official. Yesteryear, even NBA legends like Joey Crawford would talk about how they used to work 10+ games in a day to get experience and to see as many plays as possible. They also understood that for younger officials, recreational basketball can be an important source of income. These days, some prominent NCAA "mentors" are discouraging and even shaming referees for working too much club basketball. We get it. If you overwork yourself at the recreational level, you could develop some bad habits. But at the same time, it's easy to talk when you're making $3,000 per game in the winter season and when you're not helping pay these young officials' bills. Furthermore, a lot of these young guys are working 10+ games per day to be able to afford the obnoxious camp fees to go see you, get critiqued, get better, and hopefully stop having to work YMCA basketball to make ends meet. Ref Union challenges our Division 1 colleagues to step down from their ivory towers back to the club basketball level to help make it better for younger officials. Throw some of your weight behind our collective bargaining process. Cast your shade at the assignors that pay the horrible rates causing grassroots referees to have to work dozens of games just to pick up a decent paycheck. Don't look down upon young officials’ struggles working a level of basketball that you now consider beneath you.
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  • Remember when Manny Machado went bonkers against an umpire about balls and strikes, threw a fit, got suspended for one game, and MLB and its umpires feuded about whether it was appropriate for one to comment about the other’s disciplinary actions? Our view has always been that the court, field, stadium, arena, etc. is the players’ and officials’ place of business. Therefore while human emotion/intensity is part of the allure of sports, Machado’s actions went way over the line. The umpire’s union was right to compare the situation to ordinary workplace violence. Sports can be an escape and an outlet for weekend warriors to blow off steam at the park on a Sunday. But for professional athletes and referees it is a job and a business. They should conduct themselves accordingly.
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  • Winning negotiations can be hard. However, starting negotiations is rather easy. It’s a matter of NOT taking the first offer on the table. It means challenging a tournament director's ‘take it or leave it’ approach. It's about working together towards a mutually beneficial business agreement. Unfortunately most assignors have no backbone to ever say “no” or to speak earnestly on behalf of their crews. Ref Union has dedicated assignors that will actually negotiate for your rates and fair treatment. We have no problem saying “no” to tournaments that don’t meet our standards. We want to make it so that referees can actually ENJOY officiating our events and make good money working them. Please share this with an assignor that you wish would step up their game.
  • I kid you not…this actually happened in a high school unit out of Southern California. Referees were mandated to work recreational 3rd grade basketball WITHOUT PAY towards their “ratings.” It would have been a humorous situation if it didn't completely reek of corruption. Having to work unpaid scrimmages is a practice that has to end. Do Work, Get Paid — it is one of Ref Union’s signature policies. Check out our stance on other issues in grassroots officiating at refunion.net/battles.
  • Half-price if we should be so lucky. 😂 Some of you offer yourselves up for as low as a quarter. And why?? In the spirit of the holiday, let's finally practice some SELF-love to go along with our love for the game. This off-season, lets demand FAIR pay — at least 50% of our usual Winter rate —for any games played under the same high school format (stop clock). Happy Valentine's Day!
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  • Sports directors just do not understand inflation...
  • In case you haven’t noticed, we’re not big fans of political correctness. Not even at camp. We love the game, we love our jobs, and we want to get better, just like coaches and players. But just like them, we aspire to be paid well for what we do. We don’t understand why referees are the only group conditioned to be ashamed of saying that we want to make money. Or that we want to be hired. Or that we go to camp to get as high up the referee ladder as our talents may allow. In fact, this comic was inspired by one of our own followers who a few weeks ago shamed us for having such motivations. To all referees going to camp this summer: Good luck, have fun, learn all you can, and work your butt off so that you can move up to whatever level you desire!! #NoShame #GetPaid
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