Longtime referee Jim Burr retires
After 39 years on the court, Division 1 basketball referee Jim Burr is calling it quits.
Burr, 68, said he accepted a position to scout officials for the NCAA. In his tenure, he's worked in most major conferences, 16 Final Fours, and seven NCAA championship games.
"I had a pretty good run," Burr told Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times-Union. "I decided that it was time to walk off the court. I had a couple of minor problems, just wear and tear. I'm no spring chicken. I'm getting older."
Burr officiated 34 games last season, a figure down significantly from 50 games the previous year, and 57 in 2012-13.
He knew his time was coming, but at the very least, he says he won't miss the traveling, and he'll get to golf more in Florida during the winter.
"I knew that the handwriting was on the wall," Burr said. "The NCAA gave me an opportunity to stay in the game to observe officials in the southern quadrant of the country, which will allow me to go to Florida for the winter.
"Everything worked out. The timing was right."