Odds

Against ItBy Peter Jackel

pain in the ass who toughened his When the smoke cleared from a demanding, will. The elder Kennedy and Billy’s beloved mother, June, divorced in 1970, chain-smoking father who toughened his continuing a thick tension between his two parents that never relented. will, NBA referee Bill Kennedy triumphed Billy, who was four when his parents acrimoniously parted, often had to ride over life’s trials and saw the light of a shining his bike three miles to visit his father — who usually couldn’t be bothered officiating career thanks to a Boys Club and to pick him up. And this only child’s experiences with his cantankerous, his beloved mother. demanding old man were pockmarked with persistent ugliness. Little Billy usually broke into tears he most indispensable man back seat of this most indispensable when his short-fused dad reamed in Billy Kennedy’s life, the man’s Lincoln Continental Mark IV him out publicly for screwing up his man who gave him the mojo — it was spotlessly gold with a white approach during a game of bowling or to become the elite NBA top — for another marathon 370-mile striking out in a game during Tofficial he is today, was a pain in the trip from Phoenix to Los Angeles their so-called quality time, but he ass. Those are the words spoken by that circumstances made so much always came back for more. Kennedy himself. longer. This most indispensable man Just as Billy would one day come This most indispensable man reserved most of his conversation for back for more after he was told that was a demanding taskmaster who yet another strange white woman who he wasn’t good enough to be an NBA dragged on an endless succession of was seated beside him, and little Billy referee. Just as he has since 1999, when unfiltered Kool cigarettes, aging his would routinely retreat to the rear-seat his big officiating break materialized bold features and yellowing his large floor to escape the suffocating haze of from a private discussion, the details teeth, muffled a persistent smoker’s cigarette smoke that thickened with of which Kennedy will never know. cough and spoke in a voice roughened every passing mile. His career clock is ticking toward by years of nicotine addiction. This “He never put the windows 1,000 career regular-season games, most indispensable man was a former down,” Billy said. more than 60 playoff assignments, stud athlete who fathered five children But Billy never stopped believing one All-Star game, four coveted Finals during his three marriages and at least in this coarse man because a boy only assignments, eight games in the 2012 two more out of wedlock. One of his has one father. His papa was a rolling London Olympics and countless life’s pleasures was popping open stone with contrasting values that appearances at officiating camps. Budweisers — “Now there’s a Bud liberally blurred the lines of morality, And he has achieved those milestones that’s wiser!” he used to chirp during but Billy grew up with blind faith that with a toughness from his abusive lighter times that came in drips rather the man his mother despised, the man father who left him that one singular than gushes — but his ugly moods Billy so desperately wanted to love, attribute. prevailed and he frequently drove little would ultimately be so much more Quite simply, Kennedy would Billy to tears with barbed words and than just a name on his birth certificate. not be an esteemed NBA official and broken promises. William Gene Kennedy, this most he would not be the current chair of On those rare occasions when indispensable man, died of cancer the NASO Board of Directors, among his stubborn storm cloud demeanor Nov. 28, 1993, a day before his 65th many other achievements, without that dissipated just enough for a few rays of birthday. But he remains in his son’s hard-earned education from a father he sunshine to sneak through, he would consciousness 20 years later not only struggles to love to this day. treat Billy to a Dodgers game. But even as a deeply complex father who “That’s a very true statement,”

that sucked. Billy would climb into the constantly broke his heart, but as that Kennedy said. “The short times we SPORTS USA TODAY

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had together left very lasting, long teacher who was committed to making his favorite tunes and started a where Little Billy would constantly impressions of how to achieve certain campers into true officials. performance she and the rest of us be scrutinized by a father who would things you wanted to do. He instilled “My appreciation of him as a will never forget. By the time Billy accept nothing less than perfection. the hard work, the never-give-up person and as an educator grew each finished the first verse, all the side Back in the 1960s, the elder attitude in trying to get something time I was around him,” Marshall said. conversations had ceased and you Kennedy was a star center fielder and done and to do it the right way. “He was extremely generous with his could have heard a pin drop. leadoff hitter for Lash Dairy, a softball “That was the painful part. He time and the individual attention he “Billy stops the room with his ease team in his hometown of Decatur, made you do it until you got it right. gave to officials was very special. and love for others,” Denham said. Ill. His other sporting passion was And if you couldn’t do it, then he was “It is not surprising to see him “He is one of a kind and nobody will bowling and Little Billy damn well pissed at you.” officiating at the highest levels of the ever forget him once their lives have better be showing him the right stuff It was a deeply flawed, yet NBA as his thoroughness of breaking crossed with his.” whenever they visited 300 Bowl. painfully functional relationship that down all aspects of the officiating “What was the most hurtful thing served Kennedy well as he matured. process is exceptional. His insight Tough Love vs. he ever said to me?” said Kennedy, For everything that his father wasn’t, into officiating is something officials repeating the question. “There were Kennedy is many times over. Stories of of all levels could benefit from. As an Compassion so many. He called me ‘faggot’ a lot. It his aptitude on a court are educator, you can surely say he has a It was some time in 1979 and a 12-year- was bad. surpassed only by anecdotes of a kind, Ph.D in officiating,” Marshall said. old Billy Kennedy was watching “I was always ecstatic when he Whether dealing with giving humanitarian who is incapable Kennedy’s time is unconditionally “Battlestar Gallactica” on the first floor came because I would get to see my coaches or players, Kennedy of contempt or refusals. your time. Just ask him. Furthermore, of the Park Lee Apartments on the dad. I would think, ‘Hopefully at the knows how to handle himself on the court. His officiating he might even break into a song with corner of 15th and Highland avenues end of this trip, I won’t be crying.’ I skills led to him working the Easy-Going Guy his spectacular singing voice. From in Phoenix, where he lived with his knew it could end up being a bad trip, All-Star game, NBA Finals Frank Sinatra to Stevie Wonder to mother. As he followed the exploits of but maybe this time, I wouldn’t cry.” and the Olympics in 2012. Like father, like son? No way, no how. Luther Vandross to Garth Brooks, this Commander Adama, Captain Apollo But Billy still had his mother, June “I asked if he would consider is a man who can carry a tune as well and Lieutenant Starbuck, one ear Marguarite Kennedy, a registered taking time out of his summer to be my as he manages games. was tuned to the west window of the nurse who was the rock of his life until director of instruction for my summer “Last summer in Phoenix, apartment, where an occasional car she died of cancer at the age of 72 on camp,” said NBA referee Bill Spooner, Debbie Williamson (NCAA women’s would pass through the alley. Aug. 21, 2011. Her obituary made referring to the Spoonman Referee basketball officiating coordinator) was Dad was supposed to pick him up no reference of the former husband School. “I think his hesitation was one- a speaker in a camp setting and during that night and, every time he heard a she almost never mentioned, but did tenth of a second. He said, ‘Absolutely, an evening staff meeting, with all of car approaching, he ran to the window point out a characteristic she obviously I would love to do it.’ So we’ve been her Southern style, she was poking fun with such anticipation, only to see instilled in her only son. “Her passion partners and have done instruction at several folks, including Billy,” said headlights turn into taillights. And and service as a professional was together for the last three years. Marla Denham, Big Sky Conference then his spirits sank as he struggled spent taking care of others,” read one fail. She would let me make mistakes club. The unique people skills that so “I pride myself in the instruction coordinator of officials. “She made to come to terms with yet another sentence of that obituary. and learn from them.” define Kennedy today were stirred our campers get and Billy is the reason reference to his singing and whether he promise that was about to be broken. Unlike the elder William Kennedy, by interacting with a diverse mix of why that occurs.” was any good. “Imagine a long, dark tunnel,” June taught her only son values that Boys Club ‘A Godsend’ cultures at the club. Kennedy also Becky Marshall, former Big 12 “In response, Billy found Kennedy said. “And you see a light at were embedded in love and devotion. received his first taste at the age of 12 coordinator, remembers a tuned-in the background music to one of the end of the tunnel and the light is It was such a struggle after her divorce, But with a largely absentee father of what would slowly evolve into his

coming closer and closer and closer. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: BRIAN KERSEY/UPI/N ewscom , D a when she lived with Billy in a cramped and a mother who was forced to be career choice — basketball officiating. And as the light gets closer and you attic apartment equipped with just the breadwinner, there was a void in “I was playing in one of the leagues see that it could possibly be the car that the bare essentials on Baseline and Billy’s life. He filled it at what was at the time,” Kennedy said. “I was there you’re waiting for so that you can go Central avenues in Phoenix. But Billy then known as the Miller Boys Club every morning waiting at the door to and meet up with your father … and always felt wanted by a mother who in Phoenix, where his confidence was get in and one of the officials didn’t then it’s not the right car. worked two jobs after her divorce as nourished in so many ways. show up for the eight- to nine-year-old “And then you do that, six, seven, she climbed the professional ladder to “The Boys Club was a godsend,” league, which played early. So I put my eight times and then your father becoming a nurse. Kennedy said. “It was a place where hand up and volunteered to referee. doesn’t show. He would do that time No-nonsense drive came from his I could go and enjoy myself. It was “The other official was named Rick and time again.” father. Compassion came from his like a second home to me. Without Wilson and he was kind of like my first When the elder Kennedy did mother. And both of those conflicting it, there’s no doubt there could have mentor. One of the things he said to bother to pick up his son, the joy v id S antia g o /MCT/N ewscom , USA TODAY S ports emotions are intertwined within Billy’s been a totally different situation getting me was, ‘If you want to do this, then little Billy felt when he climbed in the spirit to this day, making him a man involved with the wrong crowd. you’ve got to do it right.’ He instilled huge Mark IV was slowly, painfully who is so loved and respected, yet so “The Boys Club was a safe haven that in me and I worked numerous bled throughout the night by tension. inspired to succeed. for me. I was able to achieve those games with this guy and learned how The two often visited “300 Bowl,” “She was the Rock of Gibraltar,” things that my father was tearing to officiate basketball.” Kennedy said. “Any type of situation me down for at the Boys Club, even Kennedy had a number of that came up, she was the first person though he never came to watch.” mementos from his time at the Bill Kennedy, at age 12, developed a passion for officiating at the Miller Boys I went to. I can’t begin to tell you what So engaged did Kennedy become Boys Club, but they were lost one Club in Phoenix. He was even featured in she meant to me. She taught me how that he went on to be twice named unfortunate day in 1985, when he Young Athlete magazine (see left photo). to survive. She wouldn’t allow me to “Youth of the Year” in Phoenix by the was a sophomore at Arizona State

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University. That day the Park Lee “It took me two or three weeks to Airlines, a bank teller for Bank One to me about it. We never had dialogue apartment Kennedy shared with his recover and I couldn’t recover from the (now Chase Bank) and manager of prior to doing what he did.” Kennedy’s love for music has mother was destroyed by fire. Every classes I was taking,” said Kennedy, the Great Skate Rollerskating Rink, And Kennedy will never know, transformed into a great singing sports trophy Kennedy earned, every who had been working high school Kennedy worked his way through the since Wade and Garretson have both voice to entertain others. piece of art his mind created within the games for the Arizona Interscholastic officiating ranks, pushing occasional died. But it’s reasonable to assume confines of the Boys Club, went up in Association at the time. “I fell too far obstacles out of his way with the both would be pleased that the right flames. And June Kennedy’s insurance behind in my classes, so I decided to willpower that his father instilled choice was made. policy had just lapsed because she withdraw from college. within him. Kennedy further developed his couldn’t afford to pay the premium. “I was done for the semester and, There were two defining moments skills by working five seasons in the But what remained was substantial during that semester, I sat down and as he ascended the officiating ranks, CBA, which included assignments — the moral base he developed and said, ‘OK, now what are you going to both of which easily could have in the 1996 and ’97 championship the passion for officiating. And after he do?’ And that’s when I decided to go derailed him. The first came in the series. He also worked two games in suffered multiple facial injuries, several ahead and do the basketball thing.” aftermath of a Dec. 22, 1987, game the WNBA Finals in 1998. Kennedy broken teeth and a broken jaw when he While working an assortment between Grand Canyon College and reached the NBA at 32 in 1999. was thrown from a borrowed moped of jobs over the next several years North Park (Ill.), when he was fired What a success story he has been that struck a pothole a few months that included time as valet parking by the late Ed Trexler, supervisor of the last 15 seasons with a perfectionist after that fire, Kennedy dropped out of attendant, a customer service officials for the Arizona Community mentality his late dad would have so college, setting up a career epiphany. representative for America West College Athletic Conference. admired. singing her favorite song, Al Green’s There was no dishonor there Kennedy had ejected Grand “He has a tremendous passion for Let’s Stay Together. So make sure you guard it wisely Canyon Coach Paul Westphal, a officiating,” NBA official Mark Ayotte “A tender story of Billy is the grace After all is said and done former NBA All-Star, in overtime after said. “It’s always been his number-one and dignity he showed at the passing You’ll be glad the name is spotless Westphal got his third technical. North priority, actually, in his life. He watches of his dear mother,” Denham said. “In When you give it to your son.” Olympic Pride Park Coach Bosko Djurickovic, whose games every chance he gets. He is the Billy’s world, the best way to honor What is left to be pondered after team lost, 114-110, pulled his team off ultimate professional in his approach her would be by singing in the most Kennedy gazes at those words? The s he officiated on the world’s stage the floor with 25 seconds left after a to the game.” emotional time of his life. He was her elder Kennedy died six years before Aduring the 2012 London Olympics last summer, Bill Kennedy had difficulty bench-clearing brawl. Still, Kennedy the official takes a best friend and she was his. his son broke into the NBA and taking it all in. “He blamed me for not controlling backseat to Kennedy the human being “To be able to give her his biggest started attaining the greatness that There was a time much earlier in his that game,” Kennedy said of Trexler. because he has reached into the heart gift, performing her favorite song, demanding man expected. What career when Kennedy was told that “It was a mess.” of nearly everyone he has known. was a simple yet powerful moment to would he be saying to Billy if he could he didn’t have the stuff of a basketball But Trexler resigned that same “Billy is a very generous man,” witness and one that amplified a son’s see him masterfully handling the heat official. And yet, there he was in London all those years later, joining season. And his replacement, Jerry retired NBA official Steve Javie said. love for his mother.” of NBA arenas, when boos rain upon Felicia Grinter as the two officials from Stiteler, rehired Kennedy for the 1988- “I will never forget what he did for And then there is his father. him and superstars scream in his face? the chosen to work the 89 season. me in one of my last Finals games. The elder William Gene Kennedy “Dad is the kind of guy,” Kennedy Olympics. And then came 1993, when He had a friend take pictures of us was laid to rest nearly 20 years ago said, “who would be looking down “My favorite story was being a child Kennedy attended the Coast to Coast throughout the day of the game — in in Decatur. The son who never could from above and he would be saying, from a single-parent family and being Referee School in Dayton, Texas. It had our meetings, during our lunch and please him has been tempted for years ‘That’s my son! Great job!’ And then overwhelmed and being blessed with the opportunity and to see things that been about 17 years of fairly steady during and after the game. to go there before working a game in that would be it.” I had only read about and saw on work since that day he first officiated “He then put together this Chicago, but it hasn’t happened yet. But such a painful, troubled union, television,” the 46-year-old Kennedy at the Miller Boys Club, but Kennedy incredible book of pictures to Maybe it never will. a union that so profoundly shaped said. “To actually be able to see the was in for another rude awakening. commemorate the occasion. He made Still, Billy senses his dad’s presence who he is, lives on with that trophy’s British Museum, to see the Parliament, “I was told in not so many words copies for me and my whole crew.” whenever he leans back in the desk inscribed words. to see Big Ben … being a single-parent child, the experience was overwhelming. that I wasn’t as good as I thought I Caleb Harrison, an Arizona chair of his home office in Phoenix and “He was not a man who expressed “And then to see the venue and was,” Kennedy said. “And then I took basketball official who was trained by gazes at the trophy situated on a shelf himself in any way, shape or form to see where these athletes come being very close, but the Olympic a year off.” Kennedy at the Grand Canyon Camp directly across the room. and that’s probably the only thing together only once every four years to Committee agreeing that it was in Phoenix, contributed a lengthy piece It’s a trophy his dad gave him he ever did in terms of that type of compete on a global scale was quite correct, makes the whole experience for this story entitled, “The Kindness one day around 1985. It has words expression,” Kennedy said. “That overwhelming and the thrill of a lifetime.” of the Olympics even that much more Big Break of Billy Kennedy.” He wrote how inscribed for his son within a replica of keeps me grounded when I think Kennedy worked eight games in gratifying,” Kennedy said. London, including the Bronze Medal For veteran NBA official Mark Ayotte, But again, fate intervened when Kennedy took up a collection at the the state of Arizona: about him. I don’t get too emotional Game July 31 between Russia and Kennedy’s Olympics assignment should Kennedy returned the next summer. camp that totaled around $175 after “You got it from your father about it because, to be honest, he Argentina at the Basketball Arena in be considered an ultimate career “The second time I went back, Harrison’s rental car had been towed It was all he had to give wasn’t around that often. And when Olympic Park at Stratford. Russia won, plateau. there was a guy by the name of Dr. away. So it’s yours to use and cherish he was around, it wasn’t necessarily 81-77, amid controversy to earn its first “That was one of Billy’s goals,” Ayotte Aaron Wade who convinced Darell “Billy doesn’t scratch backs in For as long as you may live the best of times. We did have some Olympic medal since it was the U.S.S.R. said. “As with any official, obviously, the What mattered most to Kennedy was Olympics would be very, very special. Garretson, the supervisor, to give hopes to get his back scratched in If you lose the watch he gave you good times going to baseball games that after Argentina argued he should He put a lot of work into that. me a chance,” Kennedy said. “It was return,” Harrison wrote. “He scratches It can always be replaced and things of that nature, but, for the have called a foul on Russia during the “It’s obviously a very significant extremely vital. Back then, what you backs because he loves brightening the But a black mark on your name most part, when I think of my dad, he final seconds, Kennedy’s judgment was milestone in any referee’s career to have needed was a break. days of others.” Can never be replaced was a pain in the ass. He was a pain in proven correct. a chance to do that and he did. He “What’s really odd is we (Kennedy And then there was that day in It was clean the day you took it the ass.” “Having the last call of the game enjoyed every minute of it.” referee and Wade, an assistant to Garretson) August 2011, when Kennedy bid And a worthy name to bear Peter Jackel is an award-winning writer never talked about it. He never talked farewell to his beloved mother by When he got it from his father from Racine, Wis. *

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