DeRosa’s NBA life not a bed of roses because of pace

The Lowellville native is on pace to work more than 70 regular season games.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — Life in the NBA can be very grueling.

You move from city to city on a moment’s notice, more often than not traveling under the radar as far as recognition and appreciation is concerned.

You receive your assignments once a month and as mandated by the league office, are expected to make your own travel arrangements and hotel reservations.

Taking time out of his busy schedule to speak Monday to the Curbstone Coaches during their weekly meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, NBA official Joe DeRosa called his respite away from the game, albeit a brief in-season vacation, a welcome change of pace.

“When I first broke into the league I would work out during the day, take a break, relax and then head over to the game I was working that night. The older officials would laugh at me and say ‘You just wait; you will welcome that break during the season.’ Boy were they right,” DeRosa said.

One of the biggest changes the Lowellville native has witnessed since breaking into the professional ranks some 19 seasons ago is the endless scrutiny the officials must endure.

“We are under plenty of scrutiny and rightfully so. That scrutiny is justified because there is so much at stake each and every night. As a crew chief I have to fill out a report after every game so that commissioner [David] Stern has it on his desk in the morning. The report goes into detail regarding every call that we made that night,” he added.

When asked what cities seem to be the most knowledgeable and passionate about their teams, he was quick to point out that the fans in New York and Boston run a very close first and second.

“The most knowledgeable fans are the ones who have been around the longest. In New York, there isn’t much of a reaction unless there should be a reaction while in Boston, they always react like they should to a given situation,” he said.

The NBA has employed as many as 64 officials in a given season, currently operating with a 59-man roster. With two nursing injuries, that leaves just 57 available for assignment by the league supervisor.

DeRosa is on pace to work more than 70 regular season games and will undoubtedly earn a 15th consecutive play-off appointment.

He has also worked at least one game in the last five championship series, working two during the 2005-06 campaign when Miami defeated the Dallas Mavericks for the league crown.

DeRosa has also served as the supervisor of officials for three collegiate conferences — the American Mideast Conference (nine years), the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (three years) and Ohio Regional Campus Conference (eight years).

He resigned his duties from all three conferences last July to spend more time with his family. However, he and his wife Patti, who are both members of the AAU Track and Field executive committee, will become more involved in that arena when time permits.

DeRosa was also owner of Purchase Officials Supplies, a retail company that sold apparel and equipment to sports officials.

He sold that business in the last year; he and Patti currently operate Smitty Officials Apparel. Based in Barberton, the company manufactures sports officials’ apparel.

Next week, Bernie Profato of the Ohio Boxing Commission will serve as guest speaker.