Joe Forte:
Life With A Whistle
By JOE TIEDE The Raleigh News and Observer
Joe Forte knows only one way to approach a basketball game. "I go in with the notion I'm there to play," he says. "I'm not there just to enforce rules. I'm participating."
It is a feel for his proper role that has made Forte one of the top college basketball officials in the country. Though involved, he doesn't try to dominate. He brings to the game self-assurance and poise, rather than a dictatorial manner.
Just as importantly, he enjoys his work. "It's a great relief, great therapy." he says. "You can forget about everyday pressures. It's exciting and it's challenging. I've found it very rewarding."
A small, dark-haired New York native. Forte always seems to be looking at the game with an unruffled, even kindly, expression. He works many of the toughest games in the Atlantic Coast Conference battle zone and manages to remain unaffected by the emotions often aroused.
"I think my background, playing and coaching, was ideal preparation for officiating," Forte explained early this season. "I think I have a feel for what's going on. The other thing is, I really enjoy basketball. It's fun.
"You have to control certain situations. We're dealing with 12 people at an emotional high and we don't have the luxury of seeing the other side of them.
"You just can't take things personally. You can't be sensitive. It's a great challenge, but it's satisfying."
Like other NCAA officials. Forte is a part-time referee who works 45 to 50 college games a season. His fulltime job is coordinating a three-state area for Francois L. Schwarz Co.. the country's largest food broker for military commissaries. The company represents various food products sold to military bases and Forte has charge of Mississippi. Alabama and Georgia from his home in Atlanta.
This is his fifth year with Schwarz and he says he can govern his time pretty much. That enables him to do the traveling necessary in basketball officiating and also to spend some time in the summer refereeing international basketball.
In Forte's case, his officiating avocation also involves homework. "I film a lot of games as a teaching aid," he explained. "I review films in the summer and critique them. 1 have a big stack of film that goes back 2-3 years.
"You can get into bad habits without realizing it. 1 can pick up little things on film and learn a lot from them."
Forte presently works for five different conferences, although the ACC gets first call for his services. He also takes games in the Southeastern Conference, the Metro. Sun Belt, and Atlantic-10.
He has been chosen to work the NCAA Division I Tournament the past five years and made it to the Final Four in 1982 and 1983. He helped call the dramatic 1983 championship in Albuquerque when N.C. State edged
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