thedrifter
03-07-06, 10:48 AM
Payback time for Eddie Gutierrez is wearing stripes on the court
By GARY HERRON/OBSERVER SPORTS EDITOR
They come from all walks of life, although sometimes, by the way they're treated by fans and coaches, you'd think they were merely out of jail for a while to do some community services.
Of course, being a high school basketball official isn't a full-time job, and these guys wearing the stripes by night are educators, Sandia Labs and Los Alamos National Labs employees, and city, county and state employees by day. Some own their own businesses -- there's even a taxidermist among them; and one of them is the Sandoval County Bureau of Elections director, Eddie Gutierrez.
Gutierrez says he ran cross country and track and played basketball for Bernalillo High School, but "basketball was my whole life."
"I think I was one of those athletes my peers looked up to," he said, proud of his heritage. Along the way, he found a few other diversions, but hoops was never far away.
When his playing days ended, Gutierrez said he couldn't go on without giving back to the sport he loves, recalling all the support he received when he was a Spartan, earning All-State recognition as a junior and again as a senior, and playing for legendary coach Henry Sanchez.
Ironically, his high school career ended when he was ejected from a state championship game by a referee. The memory still leaves a foul taste in Gutierrez's mouth.
His Spartans were playing St. Michael's for the Class A championship game 38 years ago when Gutierrez said he out-jumped a Horseman for a rebound, came down with the ball - and with the St. Mike's player on his back.
"I sprang up to clear him off my back," which he did, and found himself thrown out of the game.
"It's one of my saddest moments," he said. It came a mere three minutes into the game and Sanchez and the Spartans found themselves without Gutierrez and his average of 20-some points. St. Mike's went on to win the game, 75-51.
Gutierrez received a scholarship to play basketball at New Mexico Highlands but didn't stay long; he wasn't the only Cowboys recruit to leave. "Of the 12 who got scholarships, only three remained," he said.
Before his hoops career continued, Gutierrez went to his draft board in Albuquerque one day, with his mother expecting him home for dinner. It didn't happen, as Gutierrez was whisked away to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he began a three-year stint with the U.S. Marines, which included a stretch in Vietnam.
Back home, he entered the University of New Mexico and played a season with the Lobos freshman team; among his teammates were Rich Pokorski and Pat King.
"I was with the Wolfpups in 1971-72 and played in The Pit," he said.
In 1972, he began what turned out to be a three-year stint with the state officials association; that ended when he married Dolores Sena.
"I started another chapter in my life," he said.
But he couldn't stay away from the game of basketball, so he volunteered to help Sanchez with the Spartans, and then helped Sanchez's successor, Clarence Griego for a few seasons. Two of those Griego seasons found the Spartans back in The Pit, where they lost both times to Grants (in 1986 and '87).
Coaching was the most enjoyable, Gutierrez said, "Watching the kids' faces glow when they've done something good. Winning and losing aren't as important as teaching them the game of basketball. Obviously, winning is easier to accept than losing."
In 1989, Gutierrez was wearing the stripes again and he hasn't stopped since. You'll have to rip that shirt off his back, because he doesn't plan on quitting.
After all, it not only keeps him in the game he loves but gives him a great way to stay fit while running up and down the court.
"One of the benefits that I get from officiating (is) it takes all the pressure away from you for that particular day," he said. "It relaxes me, once I get on the court, putting everything behind me and starting the basketball game. It really is a stress reliever and forces us to stay in condition."
When basketball season ends, Gutierrez has other ways of staying fit, including countless hours he puts in during the town's annual San Lorenzo Fiesta.
Gutierrez still appreciates the way the game is played, although he thinks today's cagers are better than those he played with and against at old Spartan Alley. "Kids are a lot faster today, jumping higher, and they play smoother," he said.
One bad rap officials get is being blamed as the reason for the losing team's loss. And, true, one team wins and one team loses, but it's not the officials' fault.
"It's up to the coaches and the players to win that game," he said. "We deal with that (complaint) season in, season out."
His best advice to rookie referees or referee wannabes: "Call what you see and don't call what you don't see," he said. "Don't blow your whistle unless you can justify the call."
He said the New Mexico Activities Association's "Pursuing Victory with Honor" campaign is a good thing. He still sees poor fan behavior - "It really starts with the adults," he pointed out - but it's been more than a decade since his officiating crew had to be escorted out of Cuba by the State Police.
"He's very professional," Rio Rancho boys basketball coach Brian Smith said. "He's very cordial during the game."
Of course, cordial isn't a word usually associated with a basketball referee; probably more so with a Bureau of Elections head. Gutierrez has headed the Bureau of Elections, under the auspices of the county clerk's office, since its inception 31 years ago.
Gutierrez isn't working this year's state tournament, but he'll keep up with the action. After all, his Spartans are the two-time defending Class AAA state champs, and Gutierrez will always be a Spartan.
And, just maybe, always a referee. "I feel young enough to do my job; I feel good about how I keep up with these kids on the court," he said. "I want to do it as long as it takes, as long as it is rewarding."
And that's rewarding, as in mentally and physically rewarding, not financially, because Gutierrez, who works 45 or so games each season, makes less than $50 a game and he donates more than half of that back to area charities.
That's all it takes: a love for the game and the ability to know what you're doing.
Ellie
By GARY HERRON/OBSERVER SPORTS EDITOR
They come from all walks of life, although sometimes, by the way they're treated by fans and coaches, you'd think they were merely out of jail for a while to do some community services.
Of course, being a high school basketball official isn't a full-time job, and these guys wearing the stripes by night are educators, Sandia Labs and Los Alamos National Labs employees, and city, county and state employees by day. Some own their own businesses -- there's even a taxidermist among them; and one of them is the Sandoval County Bureau of Elections director, Eddie Gutierrez.
Gutierrez says he ran cross country and track and played basketball for Bernalillo High School, but "basketball was my whole life."
"I think I was one of those athletes my peers looked up to," he said, proud of his heritage. Along the way, he found a few other diversions, but hoops was never far away.
When his playing days ended, Gutierrez said he couldn't go on without giving back to the sport he loves, recalling all the support he received when he was a Spartan, earning All-State recognition as a junior and again as a senior, and playing for legendary coach Henry Sanchez.
Ironically, his high school career ended when he was ejected from a state championship game by a referee. The memory still leaves a foul taste in Gutierrez's mouth.
His Spartans were playing St. Michael's for the Class A championship game 38 years ago when Gutierrez said he out-jumped a Horseman for a rebound, came down with the ball - and with the St. Mike's player on his back.
"I sprang up to clear him off my back," which he did, and found himself thrown out of the game.
"It's one of my saddest moments," he said. It came a mere three minutes into the game and Sanchez and the Spartans found themselves without Gutierrez and his average of 20-some points. St. Mike's went on to win the game, 75-51.
Gutierrez received a scholarship to play basketball at New Mexico Highlands but didn't stay long; he wasn't the only Cowboys recruit to leave. "Of the 12 who got scholarships, only three remained," he said.
Before his hoops career continued, Gutierrez went to his draft board in Albuquerque one day, with his mother expecting him home for dinner. It didn't happen, as Gutierrez was whisked away to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he began a three-year stint with the U.S. Marines, which included a stretch in Vietnam.
Back home, he entered the University of New Mexico and played a season with the Lobos freshman team; among his teammates were Rich Pokorski and Pat King.
"I was with the Wolfpups in 1971-72 and played in The Pit," he said.
In 1972, he began what turned out to be a three-year stint with the state officials association; that ended when he married Dolores Sena.
"I started another chapter in my life," he said.
But he couldn't stay away from the game of basketball, so he volunteered to help Sanchez with the Spartans, and then helped Sanchez's successor, Clarence Griego for a few seasons. Two of those Griego seasons found the Spartans back in The Pit, where they lost both times to Grants (in 1986 and '87).
Coaching was the most enjoyable, Gutierrez said, "Watching the kids' faces glow when they've done something good. Winning and losing aren't as important as teaching them the game of basketball. Obviously, winning is easier to accept than losing."
In 1989, Gutierrez was wearing the stripes again and he hasn't stopped since. You'll have to rip that shirt off his back, because he doesn't plan on quitting.
After all, it not only keeps him in the game he loves but gives him a great way to stay fit while running up and down the court.
"One of the benefits that I get from officiating (is) it takes all the pressure away from you for that particular day," he said. "It relaxes me, once I get on the court, putting everything behind me and starting the basketball game. It really is a stress reliever and forces us to stay in condition."
When basketball season ends, Gutierrez has other ways of staying fit, including countless hours he puts in during the town's annual San Lorenzo Fiesta.
Gutierrez still appreciates the way the game is played, although he thinks today's cagers are better than those he played with and against at old Spartan Alley. "Kids are a lot faster today, jumping higher, and they play smoother," he said.
One bad rap officials get is being blamed as the reason for the losing team's loss. And, true, one team wins and one team loses, but it's not the officials' fault.
"It's up to the coaches and the players to win that game," he said. "We deal with that (complaint) season in, season out."
His best advice to rookie referees or referee wannabes: "Call what you see and don't call what you don't see," he said. "Don't blow your whistle unless you can justify the call."
He said the New Mexico Activities Association's "Pursuing Victory with Honor" campaign is a good thing. He still sees poor fan behavior - "It really starts with the adults," he pointed out - but it's been more than a decade since his officiating crew had to be escorted out of Cuba by the State Police.
"He's very professional," Rio Rancho boys basketball coach Brian Smith said. "He's very cordial during the game."
Of course, cordial isn't a word usually associated with a basketball referee; probably more so with a Bureau of Elections head. Gutierrez has headed the Bureau of Elections, under the auspices of the county clerk's office, since its inception 31 years ago.
Gutierrez isn't working this year's state tournament, but he'll keep up with the action. After all, his Spartans are the two-time defending Class AAA state champs, and Gutierrez will always be a Spartan.
And, just maybe, always a referee. "I feel young enough to do my job; I feel good about how I keep up with these kids on the court," he said. "I want to do it as long as it takes, as long as it is rewarding."
And that's rewarding, as in mentally and physically rewarding, not financially, because Gutierrez, who works 45 or so games each season, makes less than $50 a game and he donates more than half of that back to area charities.
That's all it takes: a love for the game and the ability to know what you're doing.
Ellie