Click here to subscribe today or Login.
JOE PETRUCCI
Tuesday, July 10, 2001 Page: 1E
“THAT `KILL THE UMP’ MENTALITY HAS TO STOP.” SO SAYS DR. ROBERT LOMBARDI,
THE PIAA’S ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. LOMBARDI HAS MADE IT KNOWN THAT THE
PIAA IS FULLY BEHIND ROBERT EBLE, THE SOCCER OFFICIAL POLICE SAY ROBERT LYNN
OF FORTY FORT SHOVED TO THE GROUND IN SEPTEMBER DURING A GAME BETWEEN BISHOP
O’REILLY AND WYOMING SEMINARY. WHAT DOES A JUDGE AT THE LUZERNE COUNTY
COURTHOUSE THINK? WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER, WHEN A CHARGE OF
ASSAULTING A SPORTS OFFICIAL PENDING AGAINST LYNN IS EXPECTED TO GO TO COURT.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPORT OFFICIALS, SINCE 1997 THERE HAS
BEEN AT LEAST SIX DOCUMENTED INSTANCES IN PENNSYLVANIA IN WHICH A SPORTS
OFFICIAL HAS BEEN ASSAULTED. UNDOUBTEDLY, OTHER CASES HAVE GONE UNREPORTED.
WITH THE LYNN CASE PENDING IN OUR COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THE PIAA IS MAKING ITSELF
AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THAT LYNN’S CASE GOES TO TRIAL, AND IF HE’S FOUND GUILTY,
THAT HE IS PUNISHED. THE PIAA, TO ITS CREDIT, HAS COVERED ALL OF THE BASES
WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING ITS REGISTERED OFFICIALS. THERE’S $1 MILLION IN
LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR EACH REGISTERED OFFICIAL THROUGH AMERICAN SPECIALTIES
INSURANCE CO., PAID FOR THROUGH THE REFEREE’S MEMBERSHIP WITH THE PIAA. AS
PART OF THAT, THERE’S ALSO ACCIDENTAL, MEDICAL, CATASTROPHIC MEDICAL,
ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT COVERAGE. LOMBARDI CITED THREE SITUATIONS
IN WHICH $10,000 CHECKS WERE SENT TO FAMILIES OF PIAA OFFICIALS WHO PASSED
AWAY WHILE OFFICIATING OR TRAVELING TO OR FROM OFFICIATING. “I KNOW THOSE
FAMILIES,” LOMBARDI SAID. “THE MONEY CAN’T REPLACE THEM, BUT THE FAMILIES
APPRECIATE IT.” THANKFULLY, EBLE’S SITUATION DIDN’T REQUIRE AN INSURANCE
SETTLEMENT. `WE CAN’T HAVE OPEN SEASON’ ON REFS Lombardi said the PIAA and
its legal team will be at Eble’s service, offering any advice or support he
and the assistant district attorney prosecuting the case may need.
“We can’t have open season on officials,” Lombardi said. “That’s my
belief and it’s the intent and nature of the law to prohibit it. We support it
fully. We support their protection 150 percent. Our services and information
are available to our membership and we’ll do whatever we can.”
And the PIAA’s membership in the Wyoming Valley, Lombardi said is among the
best in the state.
“You have good people up there. When it comes to hearing complaints and
dealing with situations, there’s a litany of good people in that area.”
More than anything, Lombardi and the PIAA understand the significance of
the charge against Lynn.
“The number of incidents we have I believe are minimal,” Lombardi said.
“However, when we do have one, minimal is still a large number because it
should never occur.”
Joe Petrucci, a Times Leader sports writer, can be reached at 831-7342 or
[email protected].