The Rant

The Rant

By RefereeRantSociety & CultureSportsEducation
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The Rant episodes

  • Episode 369, The Rant: Bob Wotruba.

    Ever-present spectator, Girls and Boys Basketball Official, certified Volleyball official, all while finding meaning and happiness in it all. 

    The year was 2009, and Bob was on top of his game. Then everything - his life, reffing, all took a backseat as he suffered a heart condition during a game. In this pod, he discusses his early life playing, how he got into officiating, his come up, the aftermath of the incident, and how he is thankful in a much more meaningful way. Dedicated to his good friend Tom Merle,  my conversation with Bob, now.
    58 min
  • Episode 368, The Rant: Tom Rottkamp
    Head Coach, Boy’s Varsity Basketball Team at East Meadow HS, Nassau Country local bball fiend.
     
    If there was a fancy word to describe Coach Rottkamp when it comes to basketball, it’s omnipresent. In this pod, we decompress the season that was for his Jets of East Meadow, his come up falling in love with sports, his relationship with refs, and how he will build upon the success of last season.  All that and more, my conversation with Coach Rottkamp, now.; 
    56 min
  • Episode 367 - Fabian Jara - Part 3, The Rebirth.

    The Basketball season is over, I’ve moved on to Flag Football and Softball, and backing my voice up with #therant. In this pod we sit with Fabe, going over his ups and downs in life, his season that was, his late night visits and talks at the Chop Shop, and how he is coping with heaviness on his brain. All that and more, we are back on Referee Rant, with Fabian - right now. 

     

    52 min
  • Episode 366, The Rant: Joey Mandarino, Part 2, The Return.

    Episode 366, The Rant: Joey Mandarino, Part 2, The Return.

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    Covid 19 started long ago. 2020 turned into 21’  and now we are in the throws of Summer 2022. We recorded a pod last summer, which never materialized into published. In this pod, we discuss his growth from when we first met, and the evolution of the pandemic, the evolution of him, and the Summer thats about to be. Part 2, Joey, now. 
    28 min
  • Episode 365, The Rant: Dennis Dioud Jr.

    Certified Basketball Official, in pursuit of being great, attempting to elevate his game to the collegiate level. In the subsequent years that I’ve known him, one thing is clear; Dennis wants to be the best he can be. In this pod, we discuss his early life, moving to Long Island, discovering officiating, and what the summer and future hold.  All that and more, my conversation with Dennis, now. 

    41 min
  • Episode 364, The Rant: Devine Smith - Part 2, Things Done Changed - The Return.
    First of all, shouts to Devine, as he’s the fastest recurring guest in the history of this pod. In 4 short months, so many things have changed. We rechopped it up with Devine to talk about his breakout summer - his work in the community of Bay Shore and the Township of Islip, his summer Basketball League, his newly minted Flag Football League, Flag-On, and what else he’s up to this summer.  All that and more, Devine, Part 2, now. 
    34 min
  • Episode 363, The Rant: Izzy Serrano

    Certified Basketball Official. Taking Northern California, The Internet, and the World, by Storm.

    Better late than never! Albeit a few months back, we chop it up with Izzy of his incredible journey comporting to become an elite HS and aspiring Collegiate basketball official. In this pod, we discuss his love of sports, love of officiating, his season that was, and what the future holds.  All that and more, my conversation with Izzy, now. 
    1 hr 43 min
  • Episode 362, The Rant: Ralph the Ref! The Return.

    I got alot of names, some people say them to my face. One is a ghost, and Lord knows i’ve been one. The pod is back, I’m back. After a long lay off of ennui, we bring it back to hear stories that we find interesting, compelling, and entertaining. In this pod, we catch up with what I’ve been up, what we’ve been up to, and where we are going.  All that and more. Me, on my own show.

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    13 min
  • Episode 361, The Rant: Jerrel  Harris - Texas, Part 2, The Return.

    Impact One, LuHI Boy’s Basketball. Impacting All.

    The only thing constant the past three years is deep change. In this pod, we reconnect with Jerrel to see what he’s been up to since the passing of JoJo Wright, to the recent passing of Brandon Wilson, his connection in coaching and training the young men on the LuHi Basketball team, and what he’s learned with the passage of time from when we last spoke. All that and more, part 2 with Texas, now.

    43 min

About The Rant

From the publisher's feed

Referee's have a voice. We are always on the defensive. This is our avenue to be on the offensive. For, we have something to say.