And in other news . . .

The NYT also reports that whistles can be damaging to official's ears.

I could have told them that.

It seems like the first game of every season leaves my ears ringing.  And then I get used to it.  The good news for me, though, is I work football.  I understand that having a whistle right next to my ears is not ideal, but at least I'm working outdoors (not in a gym like basketball or volleyball), and I'm not blowing my whistle nearly as often.  That is, unless I'm working as a Referee, then I'm blowing it a whole bunch more.