[JRutledge]

I realize that we get on many coaches about the silly things they say, and how they seem to not have good grasp of the rules. And most of all act like *******s much of the time.

My last varsity game of the year was an exciting one. Basically we had and all white team (two Black players) and and all Black team. I only say this because it always seems that these games are just a little more intense. Black teams think they are more talented, so they think they are just going to out play the white team on talent alone. White teams get mad many times they think that the Black teams athletic ablility is just two physical and they want you to call more fouls, instead of just being physical back. Now I say all this because this is just the backdrop of what I have noticed when I have one of these game.

Both teams are pretty decent, not powerhouses but decent. All the officials including myself were Black (3-man).

Well, both teams are from the north suburbs of Chicago and are in the same conference. So the game was also intense because of that fact. The game went into overtime and was hard fought the entire way by both teams. If either team would have made some FT's, the game might have never went that far. The Black teams coach, who was Black himself, started off complaining about almost everything. He said nothing harsh or inflamitory, just complained quietly and after I told him, I basically heard enough and stop complaining, he apologized. He just said, "all I want is a fair shake." The coach even made a comment while the game was in overtime, "this is a good game isn't it?" (saying this to me)

Well throughout the game, we had many tough calls. Calls going against both teams. We called mor fouls against the visiting team. I even made a call that fouled out the white teams big man. It was a solid foul, it just was not very obvious, but it was a foul. Well the Black team (visiting team) lost the game. And after the game when all 3 of us were living to together just about out the door, we see the visiting team coach talking to a media guy by the door. He stopped talking to the reporter and told us that we (officials) did a very good job, and was impressed that I called a foul on their big man. He said that "it took a lot of guts and he like that." He finished by saying, "we just did not get it done, but you guys did a good job."

I just want to commend that coach and others that could take the opportunity to ripe us to our face, and I would have almost expected it. I think the coach showed a lot of class when he could have easily made a cheap shot or not expressed his liking of our officiating in a very tough loss.