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A longtime Regina basketball referee may have just officiated the final game needed to land in the record books, alongside someone who has been part of his journey for decades.
Michael Martorana – known around local courts as “Big Mike” – worked what could be the final game required for his Guinness World Records application as the world’s oldest active basketball referee.
The 80-year-old said the night became even more meaningful when he realized the other referee sharing the court with him was his son, Aaron.
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“I didn’t know any of this was coming,” Martorana said. “I had sent him a text and said, ‘You didn’t tell me who the other referee was,’ because he usually does. Then right at the last minute I found out.”
Martorana says the surprise quickly turned the game into something special.
“I was really emotional because you don’t know what’s going to happen in a year,” he said. “We’ve played together. I coached him when he was playing ball in high school. It’s been a long, long journey for both of us, and this was really special.”
Aaron said the game had been planned for weeks as the final step in his father’s world-record attempt.
“This was his last game in the journey to get the Guinness World Record,” Aaron said. “We kind of had it planned for about a month that I was going to do this last game with him.”
Family members and members of the Regina Community Basketball Association board were also there to watch the moment unfold.
“There were several members of the RCBA board here. My mom’s here, my sisters are here,” Aaron said. “It was just an all-in-all really special thing.”
Martorana said the record attempt requires months of documentation and proof that he was still actively refereeing games.
“The first thing they want is one game a month during the basketball season,” Martorana said. “They want pictures of you refereeing, video if possible, and pictures of the score sheets.”
Michael Martorana (left) and his son Aaron Martorana (right) pose after officiating a basketball game together in Regina. The game marked what could be the final step in Mike Martorana’s bid to become the world’s oldest active basketball referee through Guinness World Records.(Jacob Bamhour/980 CJME)
He also has to submit personal records and references as part of the application – a driver’s license, birth certificate, marriage certificate and three recommendations.
Once all of the information is submitted, Guinness officials will review the application.
“They told me once it’s complete they need about 12 weeks to assess and evaluate the information,” Martorana said. “Then they’ll send me a certificate if it’s approved.”
The possibility of holding a world record still feels surreal for the longtime basketball official.
“Every time someone mentions it to me, I just smile,” Martorana said. “It was never on my radar.”
Martorana said basketball has been a part of his life for more than 70 years, beginning on courts in the Bronx before he moved to Saskatchewan to play for the University of Regina Cougars in the 1970s. He continued playing competitive basketball until injuries forced him to step away in his early 50s.
“The injuries kept coming and they took longer to heal,” he said. “That’s when I decided to start refereeing.”
At first, he admitted he didn’t always appreciate officials when he was a player.
“I wasn’t really fond of officials,” he said with a laugh. “But after doing it for a couple of games, I realized what a difficult job it is.”
Now nearly 81, Martorana continues to officiate youth and school games across Regina, often mentoring younger referees.
“Especially with the younger refs, they don’t always understand positioning or the rules,” he said. “When I’m in a game with them, it’s like on-the-job training.”
Despite his age, Martorana said staying active has helped him keep going.
“I don’t really run anymore,” he joked. “I kind of walk very fast and do the old man shuffle now and then.”
Still, he said staying involved in the sport he loves has been worth it.
“If you love it, you put in the effort to make the commitment,” Martorana said. “I think the key to longevity is to stay moving.”
