Karl Hess fired by ACC
- Thread starter CatGrad89
- Start date
So
The decision directly follows an incident where Hess allegedly made a racist remark to a spectator, when he remarked to (Indian-American) Mit Shah, a Wake Forest booster, "When I'm older, I want to sit in your seat & watch your Egyptian ass ref a game."
"Blind Karl Hess" was fired? Outstanding. Surely he won't get to do NCAA games now. That's a stupid comment for just about anyone to publicly make in today's world.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Mit Shah posted to Twitter that Atlantic Coast Conference referee Karl Hess targeted him during last Sunday's game between Wake Forest and Louisville. Shah, who is of Indian descent, was born in New Jersey and grew up in Winston-Salem.
Hess declined to comment to The Associated Press. The conference said Hess decided not to work the ACC tournament the next month, but the three officials who worked the opening game of that tournament wrote the letters "KH" on a small piece of tape attached to the side of their shoes. No other referees took such an action.
Ref Karl Hess accused of using slur
Hess declined to comment to The Associated Press. The conference said Hess decided not to work the ACC tournament the next month, but the three officials who worked the opening game of that tournament wrote the letters "KH" on a small piece of tape attached to the side of their shoes. No other referees took such an action.
Ref Karl Hess accused of using slur
No major conference will hire him to do their games. Not with a racist issue being the reason. Bad PR, opening an opportunity for another failure. He's done, poor guy.
Now if we can only catch the rest of the officials we love to hate saying crap like that, we're looking good !
Last month, Hess worked an NC State game in Raleigh for the first time since he ejected Gugliotta and Corchiani. Fans booed him every time he made a call, and he further invited their ire when he called a technical foul on NC State coach Mark Gottfried barely 4 minutes into the game against Wofford.
The game came down to a last-second shot that counted for Wofford and one that came just after the buzzer for the Wolfpack. Fans threw trash at Hess as he left the court.
The game came down to a last-second shot that counted for Wofford and one that came just after the buzzer for the Wolfpack. Fans threw trash at Hess as he left the court.
Maybe he can take up the piano and do the Charge song, since that was his favorite call during games, whether wrong or really wrong.
Not sure what the issue is. The guy is Egyptian. So doen't he have an Egyptian ass?
And how is that worse than "....I played an Egyptian and 4 white guys..."
And he's blind, so cut him some slack.
And how is that worse than "....I played an Egyptian and 4 white guys..."
And he's blind, so cut him some slack.
He's not Egyptian, read the thread...Originally posted by ukbob:
Not sure what the issue is. The guy is Egyptian. So doen't he have an Egyptian ass?
And how is that worse than "....I played an Egyptian and 4 white guys..."
And he's blind, so cut him some slack.
This post was edited on 1/9 11:12 AM by wildcatsboston1984
Given how terrible he is at seeing pretty much everything, I'm actually a little impressed he could tell the guy wasn't black.
Learn sarcasmOriginally posted by wildcatsboston1984:
He's not Egyptian, read the thread...Originally posted by ukbob:
Not sure what the issue is. The guy is Egyptian. So doen't he have an Egyptian ass?
And how is that worse than "....I played an Egyptian and 4 white guys..."
And he's blind, so cut him some slack.
This post was edited on 1/9 11:12 AM by wildcatsboston1984
It would be difficult to believe that Mr. Hess would be allowed to officiate any more games in any league. He obviously is not capable of handling the situations he is confronted with so he needs to find some other way of occupying is time.
He should be. More for the reason because he got into it with a fan again. Why are you listening to fans?
I can see a suspension of some sort but I can also see him doing some lower tier games until this is all forgotten. But if I were him, I would have another second job lines up.
Guys, this one incident didn't get him fired. It was just the straw that broke the camel's back. He's been building the case against himself for years. I'm glad he's being called out for it now, good for the acc. Now for the sec and ncaa in general to blackball him.
Wishful thinking. With the complete incompetence that exists within SEC basketball officiating, I'm sure they have offered him a contract with a raise.
But it wasn't one comment with Hess. This just put the cherry on the proverbial sundae. Refs can't interact with fans, period. If there is a security issue, the ref notifies the local authorities at the game.
Not an apologist for Karl Hess. I would definitely agree this comment demonstrates a lack of judgment and gives rise to maybe even a hint of a pompous attitude; however, there is the "what this guy said to him" part of the story, and it is that part that referees on all levels must constantly put up with and endure without their response. In this case, he obviously responded, and it was stupid to say what he did--were it me, I would have already thought out some things to say but of a much less provocative (and sans ethnicity involved for sure!) nature.
This unreasonable expectation of referees and their near constant criticism "night in and night out" would turn an otherwise fun and rewarding career into heading for Eastern State Hospital. This is a reason I did not pursue further any idea about being a referee, but held it to just thoughts about my desire to be a basketball referee. This, despite the fact that, when I did it on a small scale, I was good at it and enjoyed it. But even on that small scale, it taught me that I did not want to go any further with it than that--it taught me that people would hate me (for almost no good reason) even when I did a great job. What these refs endure is nearly impossible. To use a Calipari-ism, they also are "not robots."
What is surprising to me, as a college basketball and UK fan, is that they are not protected more from in-game ridicule. Coaches, fans, and in some cases, players continue to cross lines of acceptable behavior. They should all act better and be more appreciative that there is someone who cares enough about the game and the kids to do their best job possible. I'm confident most referees do this daily and nightly--to do their best--and yet they still get tons of unadulterated BS. In many respects, it's a sad commentary about who we are.
Karl Hess would not be on TV a lot or doing tons of games if he were not a very good referee. He obviously had a breaking point, caused probably by the cascade of negativity over the course of an entire career. He and others should be better insulated, protected, and prepared to carry out their important task--a task necessary so we all can be entertained with great college basketball.
This unreasonable expectation of referees and their near constant criticism "night in and night out" would turn an otherwise fun and rewarding career into heading for Eastern State Hospital. This is a reason I did not pursue further any idea about being a referee, but held it to just thoughts about my desire to be a basketball referee. This, despite the fact that, when I did it on a small scale, I was good at it and enjoyed it. But even on that small scale, it taught me that I did not want to go any further with it than that--it taught me that people would hate me (for almost no good reason) even when I did a great job. What these refs endure is nearly impossible. To use a Calipari-ism, they also are "not robots."
What is surprising to me, as a college basketball and UK fan, is that they are not protected more from in-game ridicule. Coaches, fans, and in some cases, players continue to cross lines of acceptable behavior. They should all act better and be more appreciative that there is someone who cares enough about the game and the kids to do their best job possible. I'm confident most referees do this daily and nightly--to do their best--and yet they still get tons of unadulterated BS. In many respects, it's a sad commentary about who we are.
Karl Hess would not be on TV a lot or doing tons of games if he were not a very good referee. He obviously had a breaking point, caused probably by the cascade of negativity over the course of an entire career. He and others should be better insulated, protected, and prepared to carry out their important task--a task necessary so we all can be entertained with great college basketball.
Sad part is he should've been fired for simply being shitty at his job, not just for making a politically incorrect comment. For years and years Hess was one of most most ego-driven hyper-sensitive refs out there, but never got the punishment he deserved for that.
Seems to impossible for these refs to get demoted or fired simply for being bad at their jobs. The worst ones hang around forever and keep getting promoted. But make a racially insensitive politically incorrect remark and you're finished,
Seems to impossible for these refs to get demoted or fired simply for being bad at their jobs. The worst ones hang around forever and keep getting promoted. But make a racially insensitive politically incorrect remark and you're finished,
There is much truth in what you say. I too think officials are disrespected far more than they should be. However, in the case of Mr. Hess, it is a bit more complicated. At some point in his career he very likely was a competent basketball referee. He may still do a good job in some instances. However, I watch a lot of college basketball, not just Kentucky basketball and I have seen Mr. Hess officiate many games over the last few years. And, to me as a casual observer, it is very obvious that Mr. Hess has gone over the line in trying to make himself the focal point instead of just doing his job. He no longer has the ability to do the job objectively. For that reason alone he should be fired. Now that he has proven beyond any doubt that he can no longer handle the pressures involved, he should simply go away quietly. If he will not do so voluntarily then there is no option except to remove him forcibly.
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