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I had a great weekend doing 8th grade basketball for a big tournament with some really outstanding players. It was a college gym and for the finals the place was packed, noisy, hot and insane! What a blast!!
But I have a couple of sort of philosophical questions, of the "morning after" type. One of the schools which competed, is the small private school that my children attended/are attending. I did two of their girls' games. (The boys' team was nervous when they saw me walk in the gym -- they don't like how tight I call traveling!! But the assignor saved me for the girls' games). I like these girls who were playing. I like their little sisters and brothers and I like their parents. I especially like the two teachers who were coaches. They are two of the best teachers in the school, and my children have had both of them. This is a Christian school, with a heavy emphasis on sportsmanship and good attitude. So the last thing I expected was to have them "Working" me. In fact, I was shocked at how bad it got. I know that putting the tag "Christian" on a school doesn't guarantee good attitude, but I had expected better from these particular people. I mean, for Pete's sake, I have known them and worked with them about my children for years. So what is my "morning after" attitude? Well, I have lost a little respect. Maybe quite a bit of respect. Is that reasonable? Would it be better for me to compartmentalize a little, and sort of write this stuff off? Should I go and talk to them about it? What sort of thoughts are appropriate about the abuse I took from the stands -- full of people I have known and loved for years? I'm not quite sure what to think...
And then I remember the old family stories about my uncle who is a real MOUTH at a basketball game. His wife won't let him go to any games anymore because he ALWAYS gets thrown out. My cousin, who also was the person that got me started, used to ref. The first advice he gave me was, "Don't ever let Uncle Tom come to any of your games." My cousin had to eject his own uncle (!) from the first game (and also the last!) Tom came to watch. Yet Uncle Tom is one of the kindest, most gentle people you could ever meet, who would give you the shirt off his back if you were cold, and is an excellent middle school teacher beloved by thousands of students.
So what gives here? Any deep psychological insight that might make me more comfortable with this troublesome aspect of my new addiction?
You folks, that end up doing games for schools where you work, or otherwise with people you know, how do you handle this?
[Edited by rainmaker on Feb 18th, 2001 at 07:49 PM]
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