So long, Mr. Zivic: Farewell to a Pacific basketball refereeing icon

Posted May 31st, 2009 by Dave Ornauer

Pacific Sportsblog

Somehow, the Pacific's high school and interservice basketball courts won't seem the same after next week.

For John Zivic, a refereeing icon who officiated in the Pacific rim dating back to his first Kubasaki High School game in 1971, departs the island Friday for retirement in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

A guy who first came to Okinawa in 1967 with the 909th Air Refueling Squadron and flew more than 200 Vietnam combat support missions, Zivic has officiated in one capacity or another in Hawaii, Okinawa and Korea ever since. He served as basketball commissioner for Korea for six years and Okinawa for five.

Zivic, 73, a retired Air Force master sergeant, never worked another game after suffering an on-court heart attack during the Martin Luther King Invitational Tournament for military teams on Jan. 20, 2008. But he did rebound to regain full health and while he says he'll miss the Pacific, he's looking forward to hanging up the whistle for good.

John was more than a referee. He upheld the rulebook on the court, but was an excellent communicator, somebody who could make coaches and players alike understand why a call was made a certain way. And John was also a friend, somebody I could count on to explain rule interpretations, and also serve as a sounding board during rough times.

John, you'll be missed, my friend.

Farewell John

On June 1st, 2009 Coachbill says:

John Zivic, what can you say about a guy who is a class act. He was best at giving me technicals but never unless I wanted them or I was way out of line. He was fair and always instructional. He knew the rules and the games coaches play to try to get him to call a game their way. You could not fool John! I enjoyed how much he cared about each player no matter what color uniform he wore. He was never vindictive to a coach or player that may have protested a little too much. I attended his retirement luncheon and was not surprised at the mark he has made with so many people. You will be missed. Thanks for being a great example and a man who taught others what fair was all about.

A legend on and off the Court

On June 3rd, 2009 CoachKeith says:

John was much more than a referee, he was a great friend! But he knew and we knew when he meant business. He was fair, an excellent communicator(As so many Referee's are not) and he did a great job to explain what he saw and why he made a certain call and as a coach you may not agree but atleast you knew why he made that call.
I took a lot of what I learned from John about basketball and life with me to the next level as an Asst. Coach with a Japanese Professional team here in Okinawa and for that I owe him a big Domo Arigatou!

Take care and enjoy your retirement.

Keith Richardson
Asst. Coach
Ryukyu Golden Kings Pro Basketball Team
richardson@okinawa-basketball.jp

Zivic: A great teacher

On June 11th, 2009 JShulson says:

I was a lousy coach! Plain and simple. John Zivic is a great ref and teacher. Plain and simple. He actually took time to help me learn new things in the middle of games. That was a long time ago. I'm not sure if I am any better a coach now, but I can assure you, I am a better person because I had the pleasure of coaching basketball teams when John Zivic was working the basketball games, and I had the pleasure of just knowing him well enough to say hello! I gave John a shout out of a car window over Memorial Day near Torii beach. I couldn't stop. I had not seen him in over six years! He looked fantastic! I am so sorry I could not spend a moment with you to express how grateful I was to have met and known you! Have a great retirement! You have certainly earned it!

Jim Shulson

John Zivic

On August 1st, 2009 Bill7 says:

John,
I hope you the best; stay healthy and enjoy the beach. Lots of memories of basketball games/tournaments we did together during my time in the Pacific -- Thanks
Bill

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