I like a man who gets right down to business, but never
skips the formalities. I like a man who is always in control, but stays calm
and never gets angry. I love a man who keeps things going, but also knows when
to stop. I love it when a man doesn’t always just whip it out, but rather is
willing to give a little warning first. But mostly I love a man who is
confident and competent, who at the end of it all has given a great
performance, but seeks no attention for himself. That’s what a woman really
wants.
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| A woman wants a man who plays fair |
If you thought you knew what I was talking about, you may
need to think again. I am talking, of course about referees. A good referee
makes any game a pleasure to watch, while a bad referee will leave you
frustrated and angry. And no one wants to be frustrated or angry.
When I say that they get right down to business , but never skip the
formalities, I love a professional ref. Three years ago, I
showed referees a little love with a piece about the challenges they
face and what kind of people they are. And some are simply better suited to
officiate, with faces and mannerisms that are friendly, but not too much so.
Maybe they share a laugh with the players in the tunnel, but when they step on
the pitch, they command the respect of the entire stadium. And they keep their
tempers if things get too hot, they don’t even need alternative
equipment to help them keep things under control. That’s what I mean about a man
who is always in control, but stays calm and never gets angry.
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| Like an eager teenage boy, he just whips that thing out |
One of the greatest pleasures is a ref who keeps things going, but also
knows when to stop. Otherwise I may as well watch American football,
where more time is spent not playing than actually playing. And keeping the
flow of the game is so important. But I also like when a ref knows when to stop
for a serious infraction or for the health and safety of players. There really
is something about good judgment that keeps me going during a match.
I love it when a ref doesn’t always just whip it out, but rather is
willing to give a little warning first. This is honestly one of my
favorite traits of a good ref. Anyone can just whip out a card like an eager
teenage boy. But a wise ref knows that with 90 minutes in a match, sometimes by
giving a little verbal warning to the players early on, he’ll demand more
respect, and the game will be more pure, everyone going home happier for his
prudence. A good ref gives a performance that is both lasting and memorable.
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| Keeping control helps everyone enjoy it better |
But mostly I love a man who is confident and competent, who at the end
of it all has given a great performance, but seeks no attention for himself.
How many times have we seen refs help a game deteriorate into an episode of Refs Gone
Wild? No one wants to see that, especially not me. When there is a
controversy, I want a man to stand up
and make a call, and stick to it. It’s nice that these men are getting
help from enhancements like Goal
Line Technology. In fact, just this past week, FIFA’s new president,
Gianni Infantino, approved testing for video
replay technology. But even with technology, the game will always need
men who are firm and fair, competent and confident. And at the end of the
match, they will be the least conspicuous man on the pitch, but have given the
best performance of the night.
Maybe I’m not your typical woman, but I do know what I like.
And I don’t want a man who is impotent and weak, unable to perform or do the
job right. I want a man who will enhance my experience and make it more
pleasurable for everyone involved. I don’t want someone who prematurely whips
it out, but rather someone who knows when a few words make all the difference,
yet also knows when to stop. A man who can last the whole 90 minutes, who knows
how to keep his cool when things get hot is exactly the kind of man I need to
make me happy. Because more than anyone else involved, the man in the middle
determines the satisfaction of everyone at the end of the night. And that’s
what a woman really wants.
This post inspired by the music of
She Wants Revenge
Our next match is
Chievo vs. Milan
Sunday, March 13 • 12:30 CET •
*Reminder to U.S. fans that Daylight Savings
Time begins at 2am on Sunday so be sure to set your clocks forward for the game