BC-FBN-REFEREES-PEREIRA:SA — sports (1200 words)
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Mike Pereira had zero interest officiating a football game growing up, but he was a football fan and the sport had a hold on him.
In 1971, at the age of 20, Pereira was a college kid who needed fast cash.
“It was in East Palo Alto, Pop Warner football, and I didn’t want to do it, but heard it was 10 bucks a game, and oh, I changed my mind,” Pereira said, eyes widening, earlier this month to discuss his favorite topic outside of family: officiating.
“I went out to earn 30 bucks, and halfway through the first quarter, I fell in love with it.