quote:
Originally posted by KDM on 01-20-2000 10:59 PM
Mark,
I strongly disagree!!! Never judge a technical foul for profanity or obscene language 'on whether anyone besides yourself HEARD it'! If you hear the language, and its obscene .. stick the player with a technical foul .. period. By your definition, you'll allow one player to curse in a 'loud' gym, but if you're in a gym that is 'quiet', that player gets "stuck". And they both said the same thing at the same sound level. If you heard it ... another player heard it as well.
Also, not all profanity that is 'directed at you is a flagrant T with ejection'. What if you blow a call (and we do)and you KNOW you did, and the kid responds, "damn ref, I didn't touch him!" Two wrongs never make a right. If the intent of the rule was to disqualify a player for an obscenity directed at an official, it would be so stated as an absolute ejection.
The flagrant should be called when its abusive, vulgar, extreme, and/or persistent.
Personally, I wish the NF rule was the same as some of your 'rec leagues'. But until then ....
KDM
If a player mutters under his breath because he is mad at himself, we tell him to watch his language. A repeat offense by the same player gets a T. If we Teed up every high school player who said "damn" (which personally I don't consider an obscenity in and of itself) whenever he missed a layup, all games around here would be over in about 5 minutes. You may not think that's a good excuse, but it's the reality.
Have I blown calls? Probably (ssshhhh - don't tell anybody), but that's absolutely no excuse for a player to swear at me. In fact, there is NO reason acceptable for a player or coach to swear at me. Automatic T every time regardless of reason. I had a player swear at me two weeks ago prior to the game because I told him to take his earring off. After he swore, I told him he could keep it on after all. Of course, he didn't play.