By: Al Covino
As a high school coach, I did all I could to help my boys win their games. I rooted as hard for victory as they did. A dramatic incident, however, following a game in which I officiated as a referee, changed my perspective on victories and defeats. I was refereeing a league championship basketball game in New Rochelle, New York, between New Rochelle and Yonkers High. New Rochelle was coached by Dan'O Brian, Yonkers by Les Beck.
The gym was crowded to capacity, and the volume of noise made it impossible to hear. The game was well played and closely contested. Yonkers was leading by one point as I glanced at the clock and discovered there were but 30 seconds left to play. Yonkers, in possession of the ball, passed off-shot- missed. New Rochelle recovered-pushed the ball up court-shot. The ball rolled tantalizingly around the rim and off. The fans shrieked. New Rochelle, the home team, recovered the ball, and tapped it in for what looked like victory. The tumult was deafening. I glanced at the clock and saw that the game was over. I hadn't heard the final buzzer because of the noise. I checked with the other official, but he could not help me. Still seeking help in this bedlam, I approached the time keeper, a young man of 17 or so. He said, "Mr. Covino, the buzzer went off as the ball rolled off the rim, before the final tap-in was made."I was in the unenviable position of having to tell Coach O' Brien the sad news. "Dan," I said, "time ran out before the final basket was tapped in. Yonkers won the game." His face clouded over. The young timekeeper came up. He said, "I'm sorry, Dad. The time ran out before the final basket."
Suddenly, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, Coach O' Brian face lit up. He said, "That's okay, Joe. You did what you had to do. "I'm proud of you."
Turning to me, he said, "Al, I want you to meet my son, Joe." The two of them then walked off the court together, the coach's arm around his son's shoulder.
Daily Scriptures
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:5-6 KJV
Psalm 25:21
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Psalm 26:1
Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.Job 31:6
Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.
Psalm 4:1
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Psalm 7:8
The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Psalm 18:20
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
Psalm 24:5
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Psalm 35:28
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 40:9
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Daily Sound of Oil
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