I hate Ed Hightower

Born2Kill · 01-31-2008, 03:17 PM

Announcers rant and rave about him because hes been around forever, but seriously this guy is the worst ref in the country. Also, a pretty credible source told me Big Ten refs make $1100 a game, with travel expenses and hotel accomodations paid for. That is like $550/hr...they don't deserve that.

JMSparty08 · 01-31-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born2Kill

Announcers rant and rave about him because hes been around forever, but seriously this guy is the worst ref in the country. Also, a pretty credible source told me Big Ten refs make $1100 a game, with travel expenses and hotel accomodations paid for. That is like $550/hr...they don't deserve that.

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

Coach Ks bad back · 01-31-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

So because he supports public education, that makes him a good ref? Ticky-tack fouls, inconsistent calls and home-team bias does not make a good ref, sorry.

Born2Kill · 01-31-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

This is exactly my point

Announcers praise him for all the credentials you listed, but this guy is a terrible ref just watch him!! The awards he has won are obviously all politics, and they don't make him a good ref. He craves attention out there, slows down games by rushing up to coaches and players and having "talks" with them for no apparent reason, he is infamous for making calls from completely across the floor. I can't wait for the day this guy retires.

Sparticane · 01-31-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

Please explain to me how ANY of the things you listed makes/ensures that Hightower isn't an absolutely craptacular referee? What you've assured me of is that he's a good person. Plenty of good people suck at their job. Ed is one of them.

JMSparty08 · 01-31-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eliot Draisen

So because he supports public education, that makes him a good ref? Ticky-tack fouls, inconsistent calls and home-team bias does not make a good ref, sorry.

No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying the guy has won awards for being a ref. Those come from the association as well as the coaches, so obviously some thinks he's doing something right. All the Ed Hightower bashing on here is ridiculous since there are SO many other refs that don't even come close to being as good as Ed Hightower. Does he make mistakes? YES absolutely he does, who doesn't? At least his mistakes are very few when compared to other referees and he calls a pretty consistent game for the most part. Watch a MSU game when Ed Hightower is working it and see how many times Izzo complains about one of his call and then watch another game with a different ref (like last night for instance), you'll see that for the most part Izzo is happy with Hightower or Welmer, but can get quite frustrated with the other refs like Jim Burr or the crew that worked last night.

Born2Kill · 01-31-2008, 03:36 PM

I hate how any big games, or nationally televised games, you can expect to see TV Eddie reffing, he loves his precious face time.

Some other pitiful refs: Jim Burr, Ted Hillary, Phil Bova

Senator Blutarsky · 01-31-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born2Kill

I hate how any big games, or nationally televised games, you can expect to see TV Eddie reffing, he loves his precious face time.

Some other pitiful refs: Jim Burr, Ted Hillary, Phil Bova

You can add Donee Gray and Zelton Sneed to that pathetic list.

Gary in Bradenton · 01-31-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

Well then he should make that his full time job and dump the side gig masquerading as a ref, because despite what you want to believe and despite past accolades the guy is beyond horrible as a ref.

I also could really give two ****s about how brilliant he is. It doesn't take a ****ing rocket scientist to call a consistent game and leave the bias out of it.

Sparticane · 01-31-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying the guy has won awards for being a ref. Those come from the association as well as the coaches, so obviously some thinks he's doing something right. All the Ed Hightower bashing on here is ridiculous since there are SO many other refs that don't even come close to being as good as Ed Hightower. Does he make mistakes? YES absolutely he does, who doesn't? At least his mistakes are very few when compared to other referees and he calls a pretty consistent game for the most part. Watch a MSU game when Ed Hightower is working it and see how many times Izzo complains about one of his call and then watch another game with a different ref (like last night for instance), you'll see that for the most part Izzo is happy with Hightower or Welmer, but can get quite frustrated with the other refs like Jim Burr or the crew that worked last night.

Very few bad calls? Consistent? Are you ****ing serious? Your posts in this thread are a friggin' laugh riot.

Keep that **** coming!

AUAlum06 · 01-31-2008, 03:45 PM

Ed Hightower hates MSU basketball much like Valentine or whoever hated Bob Knight

Put Dahlman in!! · 01-31-2008, 03:45 PM

**** Hightower, I hope he loses his legs in a car accident. Then he can spend all the time he wants with the kids.

Spartan94 · 01-31-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Ed Hightower.... Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District...

Dude has control issues...

T.C.O.B. · 01-31-2008, 03:53 PM

I would love to know what these guys get paid a game. $1100 per sounds AWFULLY high to me. Maybe your source is right. Take a guy like Steve Welmer. That guy is reffing about 6 days a week. Every night but Friday it seems. He is always on TV in the B10 or Big 12. A guy like him would be making $100K plus reffing per year. I know that the best leagues in the MHSAA pay about $72 per game. I know you are comparing apples and oranges at this point, but that still seems way high at this point.

Loki · 01-31-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparticane

Very few bad calls? Consistent? Are you ****ing serious? Your posts in this thread are a friggin' laugh riot.

Keep that **** coming!

This reminded me of a time when I was umpiring a third grade baseball game. It was coaches pitch. The game ended and the losing coach went off on me. "You cost us the game. You were so inconsistent! Every call you made was in favor of their team!"

My response: "Sounds like I was pretty consistent then."

Sorry- you may now return to bashing Ed Hightower.

Bob in Houston · 01-31-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born2Kill

Announcers rant and rave about him because hes been around forever, but seriously this guy is the worst ref in the country. Also, a pretty credible source told me Big Ten refs make $1100 a game, with travel expenses and hotel accomodations paid for. That is like $550/hr...they don't deserve that.

I dunno... a job that has to be done and everyone hates you? Seems like it should be worth quite a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.C.O.B.

I would love to know what these guys get paid a game. $1100 per sounds AWFULLY high to me. Maybe your source is right. Take a guy like Steve Welmer. That guy is reffing about 6 days a week. Every night but Friday it seems. He is always on TV in the B10 or Big 12. A guy like him would be making $100K plus reffing per year.

I believe that's about right.

Llyod Christmas · 01-31-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born2Kill

I hate how any big games, or nationally televised games, you can expect to see TV Eddie reffing, he loves his precious face time.

Some other pitiful refs: Jim Burr, Ted Hillary, Phil Bova

Ted Hilary is not that bad.....the most awful ref I have ever seen in my life was Tom Rucker. I do miss him though, he was fun to berate cause he didnt care

SpartanStu · 01-31-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

Hogwash! I have continually bitched about him and his calls for over a decade.

sincerely,

MSU fans EVERYWHERE

Naggs · 01-31-2008, 05:11 PM

A thread where someone defends Ed Hightower and Ted Hillary. I'm done for the day.

howard · 01-31-2008, 05:17 PM

Born2 kill you are close, they get $1,500 a game, plus expenses, per a relative that also officiates college ball, not the Big 10 though.

hoopster67 · 01-31-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMSparty08

Honestly, he's not the worst ref in the country. Do a google search on him and you'll find that he's won many awards and accolades. Also, the guy is really a great supporter of public education and because of this, turned down an NBA job so he could remain the Superintendent of of the Edwardsville School District in Illinois. He might have some Illinois bias since he's from there, but seriously, Ed Hightower is one of the better refs out there.

He's got a master's and specialist degree from SIU and a doctorate from St. Louis.

Let me guess....he's observing kids playing on the playground. Johnny tackles Jimmy while playing tag right in front of him. So he blows his whistle and gives Danny (who is going down the slide) a two day suspension.

Quonset Hut · 01-31-2008, 06:21 PM

When I was living in Chicago, my U of Illinois co-worker said "That's Ed Hightower, the best ref in the Big Ten." The problem was this happened in the 78-79 season!! Hightower, while still making some calls correctly, has ruined the flow of many games in the last ten years. He has generally been horrible for at least five years. He's doing it on memory and arrogance. He should be fired.

The Matador · 01-31-2008, 08:08 PM

I have it on good authority that refs make $1100-$1300 per game (depending on conferences), but are independent contractors, so they pay their own travel expenses.

SlingBlade · 01-31-2008, 08:24 PM

Officiating in the Big Ten stinks. Period. They need to clean house. Period.

Spartan_Will · 01-31-2008, 08:34 PM

Everyone realizes that Hightower runs the group that flies refs all over the country and arranges their transportation and lodging? He's getting rich doing this. Along with being one of the worst refs in all of college bball.

I've always told people that when he had the hair transplant several years ago, they planted it too deep and it caused his brain to shrink