Jim Burr retiring

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Ding Dong, the witch is dead.

http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/index.ssf/2015/08/college_basketball_referee_jim_burr_decides_to_hang_up_the_whistle.html

[ChicosBailBonds]

Who's the next ref we can say is "out to get us"?

[brewcity77]

Who's the next ref we can say is "out to get us"?

I don't think the issue with Jim Burr was him being out to get us, it was that he was obsessed with being the main attraction. He constantly tried to take control of the game instead of letting the players play. He also had a tendency to favor the visitors. That both harmed and benefited us, but he seemed to like getting the home crowd against him. He was also fat, old, and out of shape, which meant he was unable to keep up with the pace of play and often made calls that either (a) he was not in position to make or (b) were not his calls to make in the first place.

One of the worst refs in the game and all of college basketball will be better for him leaving the game.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Who's the next ref we can say is "out to get us"?

Yea, I don't think he was ever put to get Marquette, he was just a bad referee. For any and all teams.

[MUchamp22]

Yea, I don't think he was ever put to get Marquette, he was just a bad referee. For any and all teams.

Jim Burr was consistently rated in the top five of refs every year. He was not a bad ref by any stretch of the imagination. People may have disliked the way he acted on the court or how he made the calls, but he was not a bad referee at all.

[jsglow]

I remember being at a game last year when we had some 5th team stiff as a ref and I exclaimed loudly 'Can't believe I'd ever wish Jim Burr was here!' Entire section laughed audibly.  It was a loooong year boys. 

Godspeed.  I'm told that off the court he's a very nice guy that cares deeply about the game.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Jim Burr was consistently rated in the top five of refs every year. He was not a bad ref by any stretch of the imagination. People may have disliked the way he acted on the court or how he made the calls, but he was not a bad referee at all.

Wait, what games were you watching? My general rule is if I know your name as a ref, it's not a good thing.

[mu_hilltopper]

Jim Burr was consistently rated in the top five of refs every year. He was not a bad ref by any stretch of the imagination. People may have disliked the way he acted on the court or how he made the calls, but he was not a bad referee at all.

Curious .. link to the rankings?

[MUchamp22]

Wait, what games were you watching? My general rule is if I know your name as a ref, it's not a good thing.

Jim Burr in his entire career only missed reffing one NCAA tournament and that because of a paperwork issue. He reffed 16 Final Fours and 7 National Title games, they award those based on merit. He's a good ref

[Galway Eagle]

Didn't cracked sidewalks or Painttouches do a post a few years ago about which ref is actually out to get us?

[bilsu]

Wait, what games were you watching? My general rule is if I know your name as a ref, it's not a good thing.

All that means is he is making calls you do not like. That does not mean he is a bad ref. I usually try to tape the games. When there is a call I think was wrong in the game, I watch for it in the taped game. Usually, after seeing it there I agree with the call. What you see is definitely affected by where your seats are in the arena.

It seem s to me that with a three man ref crew that it is usually one ref that makes the majority of calls. This is the ref that the fans do not like, but the refs that do not make calls are the worst refs.

[MUchamp22]

All that means is he is making calls you do not like. That does not mean he is a bad ref. I usually try to tape the games. When there is a call I think was wrong in the game, I watch for it in the taped game. Usually, after seeing it there I agree with the call. What you see is definitely affected by where your seats are in the arena.

It seem s to me that with a three man ref crew that it is usually one ref that makes the majority of calls. This is the ref that the fans do not like, but the refs that do not make calls are the worst refs.

What he said haha

[brewcity77]

All that means is he is making calls you do not like. That does not mean he is a bad ref.

If I only watched Marquette, I'd agree with you. But Jim Burr is terrible across the board. Once upon a time, he may have been a very good ref. He isn't anymore and while he continues to be selected for the tournament, I definitely feel that is largely on history. He hasn't reffed a Final Four since 2006.

Burr is fat and out of shape. He can't keep up with the speed of the game and he cares more about being demonstrative than he does getting it right. He frequently makes calls he isn't in position to make and does so with as much gusto as he can muster to remind people he is relevant. Again, this isn't just in Marquette games, it's in games around the league and the country. Was Jim Burr a good ref? Maybe a decade ago, but not anymore, and not for a long time now.

[mu03eng]

He frequently makes calls he isn't in position to make and does so with as much gusto as he can muster to remind people he is relevant.

This is my biggest issue with him.  He also had a propensity to override another officials call even though they had a better look at the play.


It'll be interesting to see if the pace of play picks up, if that will drive some of the more "robust" officials from the games.  Really should have a fitness requirement for all sporting officials.

[MUchamp22]

Obviously, we differ in opinion which is fine. Refs are controversial figures and everyone has a different view of them. The coaches respect him as a good official and I agree. Even Jim Boeheim said good things about him and Burr and Boeheim would go at it every game I can remember. Overall, have to respect a man who has done is so well for so long. Even if he did drop off a bit in the last couple years.

[rocky_warrior]

Curious .. link to the rankings?

http://statsheet.com used to have them - and I just found out they're no longer doing basketball stats (RIP).  But here was an article written based on their stats.

http://colinwilliamweaver.com/2014/01/22/the-10-worst-referees-in-ncaa-mens-division-i-basketball-as-well-as-the-best/

No mention of Burr.  Maybe he was 11th

[The Equalizer]

Who's the next ref we can say is "out to get us"?

Maybe Ed Hightower will come back from retirement.

[rocky_warrior]

Who's the next ref we can say is "out to get us"?

Based on the data, Doug Shows, John Gaffney, or Les Jones

[MU86NC]

Good riddance ....

[seakm4]

Who's the next ref we can say is "out to get us"?

Pat Driscoll

[#UnleashSean]

My name sake is gone? Oh god =(

[Pakuni]

Jim Burr in his entire career only missed reffing one NCAA tournament and that because of a paperwork issue. He reffed 16 Final Fours and 7 National Title games, they award those based on merit. He's a good ref

And Joey Crawford  has worked many NBA Finals. More than an y other active ref in the league, in fact.
I think people dislike Burr not just because he made the occasional bad call - all refs make the occasional bad call - but because, like Crawford, he had a habit of making himself a part of the game.
The best refs are the ones you don't notice, right? Burr made sure he was noticed.

[chapman]

Pat Driscoll

He would have fit right in with the T-happy refs over the past week.

[Oldgym]

Maybe Ed Hightower will come back from retirement.

I'd get behind this just for the photoshops.

[vogue65]

The most difficult decision I have had to make in my life has been the decision to retire.....I don't know why that is, probably because when we get old the mind is not as quick at making decisions.

Many professions have cut off dates, pilots and military officers have to hang it up at an age of at a number of years serving.

It would be a good idea to do the same with refs. and umps.

I have a friend who umpires little league and A.L. baseball and he is ready to die.  I hope the kids don't have to witness it.

Anyway, I can't believe Mr. Burr is retiring, he may take back his papers, ha.  I liked the refs. on the Italy trip, calls or non-calls notwithstanding.  They were fit, enthusiastic, and could keep up with the action, the way a game should be officiated.

Bye-bye Mr. Burr.....

[Smokin' Jae]

Jim Burr sucked. This is all the evidence you ever need. Good riddance to him and Higgins
http://youtu.be/HmZEbe3Q2ps

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

The most difficult decision I have had to make in my life has been the decision to retire.....I don't know why that is, probably because when we get old the mind is not as quick at making decisions.

Many professions have cut off dates, pilots and military officers have to hang it up at an age of at a number of years serving.

It would be a good idea to do the same with refs. and umps.

I have a friend who umpires little league and A.L. baseball and he is ready to die.  I hope the kids don't have to witness it.

Anyway, I can't believe Mr. Burr is retiring, he may take back his papers, ha.  I liked the refs. on the Italy trip, calls or non-calls notwithstanding.  They were fit, enthusiastic, and could keep up with the action, the way a game should be officiated.

Bye-bye Mr. Burr.....

I don't know what it is with refs and umps, thy never retire. There's this guy who umpires my softball games. I've had him since grade school and he umped my dad's games when he was way younger. Old as dirt and can't see but still does it. His name is Maury if any of you resident Chicagoans have ever ran into him on a softball diamond or basketball court.

[MU B2002]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrEwCa8nSA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVrEwCa8nSA</a>

[barfolomew]

I'm sure Jim Burr and Bo Ryan plan to share their retirement years taking turns stabbing each other with wooden stakes.
At least they'll be keeping active.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

And there was much rejoicing

[MUsoxfan]

Over the last few years I got to be rather friendly with a seasoned ref through mutual acquaintances. Every year I would give him grief about BS calls and pace of play. He always said there were so many ever evolving points of emphasis coming from above that at the end of the day, nobody knew what right calls were.

Burr liked being a sideshow, but he's only a symptom of the problem

[mileskishnish72]

This means that the current reigning jerk who thinks he has to be the center of attention is Hess.

[Mods, Delete me please. 8/26/2020]

I know 4 refs by name. 

Burr
Hightower
Higgins
Pat Driscoll

Only 1 left, and in my opinion the thinnest-skinned crybaby p*ssy ever to step on the hardwood.   

[cschor]

Burr would make Homer crazy on the radio, isn't he the guy, "he sees things that no one else can see."  It seemed like the guy thought he was bigger then the game, he sort of was. Still, he had a great run and I wish him well in retirement, not that he cares.

[Dawson Rental]

Jim Burr was consistently rated in the top five of refs every year. He was not a bad ref by any stretch of the imagination. People may have disliked the way he acted on the court or how he made the calls, but he was not a bad referee at all.

If he only would have skipped Marquette games, he would have been damn near perfect.

[BM1090]

I know 4 refs by name. 

Burr
Hightower
Higgins
Pat Driscoll

Only 1 left, and in my opinion the thinnest-skinned crybaby p*ssy ever to step on the hardwood.

These 4 plus Breeding for me.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I know 4 refs by name. 

Burr
Hightower
Higgins
Pat Driscoll

Only 1 left, and in my opinion the thinnest-skinned crybaby p*ssy ever to step on the hardwood.

In fairness to Driscoll I don't think he's a bad ref but he is the quickest to call a technical. Which may be a problem for Wojo this year.

[Anti-Dentite]

Over the last few years I got to be rather friendly with a seasoned ref through mutual acquaintances. Every year I would give him grief about BS calls and pace of play. He always said there were so many ever evolving points of emphasis coming from above that at the end of the day, nobody knew what right calls were.

Burr liked being a sideshow, but he's only a symptom of the problem

No, he truly sucked, he was a disease not a symptom.

[Mods, Delete me please. 8/26/2020]

In fairness to Driscoll I don't think he's a bad ref but he is the quickest to call a technical. Which may be a problem for Wojo this year.

I can't remember the exact details, but it was Syracuse at MSG where Driscoll stopped the game in the second half for 10 mins to have security boot out a heckling fan 10 rows back.   If I were the other refs in that crew I would've been embarrassed and ashamed.    That's just one incident off the top of my head.   There are many others.   

[hdog1017]

There is no sport that is as poorly officiated than men's college basketball. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

There is no sport that is as poorly officiated than men's college basketball.

FIFA on line one....FIFA on line one

[BubbaWilliams]

I'm going to miss that big tub blowing a whistle for a charge while hopping on one leg at a 45 degree angle.

[mileskishnish72]

There is no sport that is as poorly officiated than men's college basketball.

Seen any NBA lately?

[MUfan12]

Seen any NBA lately?

NBA refs are better and more consistent than college refs.

[mileskishnish72]

NBA refs are completely into the Star syndrome. Occasionally, you'll see a college big name in foul trouble, but only once in a blue moon in the pros.