Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

This book has obviously been written for those who officiate, umpire, referee and judge sporting events. It has also been purposely designed for leaders in business, other professions and avocations to encourage "thinking outside the box" while establishing, reviewing or modifying their philosophy of leadership. If you look at this book only as through the eyes of a sports official, the "covers" may be too far apart...so read between the lines Hopefully this book will help trap you into doing your own thinking for developing, re-thinking or re-framing your own leadership style. In other words, the author is challenging you to personalize your own style of leadership and make it work for you. The author also believes that many of you will be more focused in your philosophy of leadership and rewarded if you apply some of these thoughts and concepts to your own life style.

This book is over eleven hundred statements about sports officials which are designed by the author to create ten seconds of laughter and possibly twenty seconds of thought. It is a great read for the sports fan and sports officials. Hopefully it will bring a smile when you read it as well as a smile when you see sports officials during a game follow suit with many of the examples provided you in this book ... Zany Zebra Zingers. You don't need to have a background in sports to enjoy this book. One of the author's concerns is that the reader may take too seriously some of the quotations. It takes a good sense of humor to be a successful official and, if all of us could learn to laugh at ourselves or each other once in a while, we would enjoy the game more as well as appreciate in new ways the role that each of us play in a sporting contest. Robert Frost once commented on his famous poem Stopping By A Woods On A Snowy Evening, "Don't take the poem too far...just enjoy the thought." I would like to respectfully offer his advice reminding all of my readers to have fun with my comments not taking any impressions of criticism or perceived sarcasm "too far." Just enjoy the thought This collection of Zany Zebra Zingers has taken over thirty-five years to assemble. Additional Between The Stripes books on such topics of Leadership, Communication, Pregames, Supervisors and Observers, Good Officials and Bad Officials are being prepared for publication.

"An official's sense of humor is very important. It is his ability to put himself in the stands as a fan and laugh at his own mistakes." - John Laurie John Laurie, Ph.D. began his officiating career over 40 years ago. He has officiated at every level including over 25 years as a referee in the Big 8 and Big XII Football Conferences. He served as president of the Football Officials Associations of both conferences and is a member of the Kansas Collegiate Officials Hall of Fame. He officiated as a referee at numerous college championships including the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl.