[Back In The Saddle]

I think I have just learned my first really painful lesson in game management and communication skills. Championship game of this men's church league. Our association uses this league as a development league for young officials. The level of play isn't too bad, and the temperment of the players is exactly what you'd expect from a church league.

We were warned going in that there are been quite a bit of non-basketball action in the previous games. So we're calling it pretty tight and closing hard on anything that looks like it could escalate. Team B is falling behind and is down by about 30 by the fourth quarter. They're also whining and questioning every call. After an obvious block by B, the whining finally gets to me and in response to yet another "question" I let him get under my skin and tell him to shut up.

Argh! To that point, we had a well controlled, well officiated game going. After that, the wheels came off. I hadn't even gotten to the table to report before I've got a T on one of B's teammates who wants a piece of me. Not a minute goes by before my partner has another T on B. And it's only because I realize that my unprofessional behavior started this firestorm that I don't re-T the first guy and send him home.

The evaluators were kind enough to point out that this is the place to make mistakes like this. And that they had all done that once. But they were obviously disappointed as well. Sigh. Oh well, at least I'm pretty sure I won't say that again.