Pat Fraher
Episode 150
13 DEC 2021
He is in his 21st season as an NBA referee, having officiated more than 1,100 regular season and over 50 playoff games. He also worked the 2015 NBA All-Star Game in New York. Before joining the NBA, he officiated for seven years in the CBA, where he worked the Finals and All-Star Game. In addition, he spent four years in the WNBA. He also has two years of college officiating experience and ten years of experience as a high school official. Back in his days as a student-athlete in high school he played basketball, football, and golf.
Notable guest quotes:
“I was a cradle Catholic. I went to Catholic grade school, K through 8… complete with the nuns. My family had season tickets for church. My grandma even got us the extra Holy Days of Obligation package.”
“I got hired (into the NBA) in 2001. So, we have twenty (years) in and this is the 21st. All glory to God.”
“There’s a saying that we all have a God-shaped hole in us and nothing will fill it except for Him and I believe that was His point to me.”
“I researched the ego and during my research I realized that the ego touches every part of our life, including our faith.”
“I would call this how I was kind of brought back to the fold, so to speak — Fr. Larry Richards and his book Be A Man.”
“When I talk to a referee I like to find out, what’s the most important thing in your life. And a lot of times the answer is going to be family; which is a good answer, but, it’s not the right answer. God should come before that.”
“You put God first, what does He want you to do with your family? Take care of your family, love your family. So, you don’t have to pick one or the other. But priority makes all the difference because anything above Him is an idol.”
“After I… gave my life back to Christ… I wanted some divine revelation as to what was next… I woke up with the idea of REF, which is Referees Embracing Faith.”
“I received an email from a guy… and he was just starting his ministry, SOS, which is Sports Officials Surrendered.”
Related links:
Pat’s bio on NBA Referees Association website
Sports Officials Surrendered website