Well, let me tell ya ’bout this fella, Tom Hill, the referee. Folks keep askin’ ’bout him, so I figured I’d spill what I know. Now, I ain’t no fancy expert or nothin’, just a regular person watchin’ the games, ya know?
Tom Hill, the Football Official
First off, this Tom Hill, he’s one of them fellas in stripes, the ones runnin’ ’round durin’ them football games. They call ’em referees, or officials, or somethin’ fancy like that. Seems like Tom’s been doin’ this for a good while, seein’ as how there’s talk about his “record” and all. He ain’t just started yesterday, that’s for sure.
I heard tell he’s been on different “crews” too. Like, they got these groups of refs workin’ together, ya know? He’s been with a fella named Paganelli, and another one, Howey…lots of names I can’t rightly remember. They say he’s been a “field judge,” a “side judge,” even a “down judge” at one point. Seems like he’s done a bit of everything out there on that field. He’s like them fellas that can fix anythin’ around the house, jack-of-all-trades, ya know?
Tom Hill and the Big Games
Now, some refs, they just do the regular games. But Tom, he’s been in some big ones, they say. Super Bowl, even! Can ya believe it? That’s the biggest game of ’em all, and Tom was right there, makin’ the calls. I reckon that means he’s pretty good at what he does, else they wouldn’t let him near such an important game. They was sayin’ somethin’ ’bout him and another fella, Perlman, retirin’ after that Super Bowl. End of an era, I guess, like when they closed down the old hardware store downtown.
- Tom Hill worked with different officiating crews.
- He has experience as a field judge, side judge, and down judge.
- Tom Hill officiated in the Super Bowl.
- He retired along with another official, Mark Perlman, after a Super Bowl.
What Them Referees Do
I used to think them refs just blew whistles and threw flags, but it’s more than that, I tell ya. They gotta watch everythin’, every little move them players make. They gotta know all them rules, and there’s a whole lot of ’em, more than you can shake a stick at. And they gotta make decisions quick, right then and there, with thousands of people watchin’ and yellin’. That ain’t easy, let me tell ya. I get flustered just tryin’ to decide what to make for supper!
They say good refs, like this Tom Hill, they gotta be calm and cool-headed, even when things get crazy. They gotta be able to talk to them players and coaches, explain what’s goin’ on. And they gotta be fair, gotta call it like they see it, no matter which team it is. It’s like bein’ a judge in a court, only instead of gavels, they got whistles.
Those Letters and Numbers on the Refs
You ever notice them letters on the refs’ uniforms? They ain’t just for show, ya know. They tell ya what each fella’s job is. The one with the “R” on his hat, he’s the head honcho, the one in charge. Like the foreman on a construction crew. And them numbers, they’re important too. When they throw a flag, they announce the number, so everyone knows who made the call. It’s like when you’re callin’ bingo numbers, gotta be clear so folks know what’s what.
Tom Hill’s Legacy
So, this Tom Hill, he seems like a fella who’s been doin’ his job, and doin’ it well, for a long time. He’s been part of big games, worked with lots of different crews, and seen it all, I reckon. They talk about some other ref, Collina, bein’ real good, a real “benchmark,” they say. Maybe Tom Hill’s like that too, a good example for other refs to follow. He ain’t flashy or nothin’, just a steady, reliable fella doin’ his job. And that’s somethin’ to be said for, in this crazy world we live in.
In Conclusion
So that’s the story of Tom Hill, the referee, as best as I can tell it. He’s a fella who’s been around the football block a few times, seen the highs and lows, and made his mark on the game. He ain’t a player or a coach, but he’s an important part of it all, just like the fella who paints the lines on the field or the lady who sells hotdogs in the stands. Everyone’s got a job to do, and Tom Hill, he did his, and he did it well. And that’s all there is to it, plain and simple, just like I like it.
