1.   It marked the first day the regular NBA referees worked a game this season.

2.   It will be the first time the NFL has not been able to use its regular referees in regular season games.

3.   Nevertheless, the league expects to be without its regular referees when the season opens Friday night.

4.   The only regular referee not returning from last year is veteran Lee Jones, who has retired.

5.   The players are happy to have the regular referees back on the court.

6.   The players are longing for the regular referees to return to the court.

7.   The regular referees must work the games during a conciliation process that will be conducted over a period expected to last up to three weeks.

8.   The regular referees tend to feel the game and they know when to make a call and when not to make a call.

9.   The regular referees have enough trouble coping with the calls, the combatants and the coaches.

10.   Players and team executives have blamed the unusually high number of preseason scuffles on the absence of the regular referees.