[Kaliix]

To those who tried to give me an honest answer, even though you didn't agree, thank you.

I wasn't sure I should have been T'ed up, but in reading the litany of posts this has generated and in giving some thought to the constructive criticism that my comments have generated, I see now why I received a technical foul and why it was deserved.

To those of you who think that a coach shouldn't try and talk to the referees, we are just going to have to disagree on that one. If you don't like the term working the ref's fine. I have seen coaches that have rode the ref's all game and I don't particularly like them either. When I talk about conversing with the ref's, I mean doing in a nice respectful manner while picking my spots and getting them to consider the manner in which they judge calls. I have seen good examples of conversing with(reading working) the ref's, performed with respect and sportsmanship by excellent coaches who could manage to coach a game, carry on a pleasant conversation with a referee at the same time and manage to get the ref's to atleast consider their future calls.

I umpire, so I do know a bit about having to make calls. I personally think that refereeing a basketball game is probably the hardest job in all officiating. Most calls are judgement type calls. To be able to make those kinds of constant judgements, while keeping a game going (read have some flow to it instead of being bogged down with whistles) and doing it in a fair and even manner that is equitable to both sides, is a terribly difficult endeavor. I have much respect for those who manage to do it well. It is not easy.

To those who resorted to name calling and snide remarks, I can honestly say that I feel bad for you. While you may not have agreed with what I was saying, there is no room in intelligent discourse for that kind of behaviour. You can vehemently disagree with someone with out making personal remarks or resorting to juvenile sarcasm and snide comments. To say that you would react one way on a message board but differently on the court is, at best, specious. You likely deserve all the comments, attitude and remarks that your pompous, cantankerous, holier than thou attitude get you while on the court.