Sports wouldn't be sports if there wasn't the neutral official who takes control of the game and makes the calls. .
An example of the type of attitudes we have today and the media is when the NASO President, Barry Mano gives his opinion on this situtuation that happened at a baseball game. "When during a game, Roberto Alomar of the Baltimore Orioles spit in the face of umpire John Hirshbeck, America was outraged. In the two years since that incident, the pace of assaults against sports officials has quickened, especially at the recreational and youth levels. Today the health of our games is being attacked by the cancer of bad behavior, much of it occurring in full view of our young people who participate in organized sports. We must do something to send a clear signal that such behavior will not be tolerated and we need to do so for two reasons. First, the men, women, boys and girls who give their time and energy to officiate not only deserve our collective respect, they must have complete confidence that they will be able to carry out their responsibilities in a safe environment. Without this confidence, we will lose the "best and brightest" in our field. Second, as a society we need to act on our belief that respect for authority, whether you agree with it or not, is critical to living, working and playing together. Sports needs to be a beacon, highlighting positive accomplishments and the need for sportsmanship and fair play. While education of the public about these vital matters continues to be important, recent events point out the need for strong sanctions against those who engage in bad behavior at sporting events.".
The NASO has created a 15-step Code of Conduct for Sports Officials that stands as a guideline for officials. The Code of Conduct is very in-depth with all aspects of sports and how the official should be perceived as.
