NCAA referee John Higgins has had to deal with around-the-clock harassment and even death threats from Kentucky fans since the Wildcats lost to North Carolina in the Elite Eight, but it’s the damage done to the reputation of his business that could have the longest lasting effect.
Higgins, who officiated Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament game on March 26, owns a roofing company in Omaha called Weatherguard Inc. The three telephone lines belonging to the business have been flooded with calls over the past two weeks, but that has slowed down a bit since Higgins had all calls with a Kentucky area code blocked. However, the negative Facebook ratings Wildcats fans posted and false complaints they filed with the Better Business Bureau will be more difficult to erase.
Higgins told Marjie Ducey of the Omaha World-Herald this week that the Facebook rating for Weatherguard Inc. was lowered from 4.8 stars (out of a possible 5.0) to 1.2 after Kentucky’s loss to North Carolina. It has since been boosted back to 3.0, but Higgins says that is still low compared to the competition.
“Nobody has ever seen anything like this,” Higgins said. “This is crazy. … My job is to be fair to both teams, be professional and demand sportsmanship. That’s what we’re supposed to do as officials. That’s what I try to do every time I get out.”
There’s no telling how much business Higgins’ company could lose as a result of the false reviews and complaints. Some will know Kentucky fans were responsible, but many others could be totally unaware of the connection.
“At the end of the day, it’s a basketball game,” he said. “It does not affect anyone’s life.”
Unfortunately, it is affecting life for Higgins and his family. Some comments John Calipari made about the officiating after his team’s loss to the Tar Heels may have enraged fans further, but that’s no excuse to make death threats or try to ruin someone’s personal life. It goes without saying that Kentucky fans went too far.
H/T Deadspin
