A Referee and a Superstar

Their tiff over a wet spot leads to mutual respect

Vikings star Tyran Stokes and official Rod Mar confer early in the game. (Photo by Glenn Nelson)

I spent years criss-crossing the country, hunting stories with Rod Mar. So I know well that the qualities that make him one of the best sports photographers in the world are the same that make him one of the most well-respected basketball officials in the state. He sees everything, has attention to detail, is approachable, disarming, and fair. And whether it’s NFL football or high-school basketball, he is in the constant company of giants.

A perfectly illustrative story unfolded during the Metro League championship game on Friday — less than a week after Rod photographed the biggest game in the world, the Super Bowl, and a couple days after doing the same at the Seahawk victory parade.

Official Rod Mar and the Vikings’ Tyran Stokes reconcile with a fist bump. (Photo by Glenn Nelson)

Tyran Stokes, the Rainier Beach superstar, has a thing about spotting sweat on the floor. I guess if you were headed toward millions, you’d be on alert for anything that will slip you up. Stokes points out a wet spot on the floor. Rod says there is a towel against the wall. “I’m supposed to wipe it up?” Stokes asks, incredulously. “And I am?” Rod replies while walking over to the towel, which he drops in front of Stokes, who promptly ignores it. Finally a fan from the stands arrives to wipe it up.

Stokes and Rod already have had conversations during the game. It seems Stokes realizes that Rod is a fair official. During a break in the action, almost imperceptibly, Stokes extends a fist and Rod bumps it, not even looking forward. Later, Stokes notices another wet spot, retrieves the towel, and wipes it up himself.

Rainier Beach star Tyran Stokes takes it upon himself to wipe up the next wet spot. (Photo by Glenn Nelson)

The moral of the story? They were both right. Rod and his two partners need to control the game. Stokes shouldn’t have to serve as clean-up crew. The facility/tournament should have a person armed with a mop at both ends to swiftly sop up sweat left by fallen players.

And Rod is the shizz (the very next morning, he gave a free presentation at Kenmore Cameras).

(Insider Tip: Check out his IG account, where he has an absolute fire photo from the Seahawks’ Super Bowl celebration).