[paparada]

Wow I didn't mean to start a fight. Cool off guys. You sound like fans now. Just kidding.

Let me give you some of the situations I have seen. I didn't do this before because I felt my original post was long enough.

Ref calls a line violation on a player during her free throw. Some people around are asking what was called, I reply with the call and the rule to back the call. As the ref is running up court, He is replying to the fans at the same time I am informing them. I don't understand this.

Another time, I am in the stands sitting by a man that is lightly (and I mean lightly) complaining about calls. Nothing big, not being annoying. His daughter played for the visiting team and we were laughing and joking with one another the whole time. The ref walks over between periods and begins to discuss his complaints. It made no sense to me as an official for many years to do this. There was no reason for this and it certainly didn't stop him, as a matter of fact, this made him complain even more. Luckily for the official I was there and able to contain this fan with humor. The ref's comments were things like, I have officiated for 25 years, (we all know time doesn't make a good official) she wanted to know what calls he didn't like, and assured him she would watch that closely.

These are two blatant examples that I would never do and would not encourage anyone to attempt. I believe this (for lack of a better word) closeness allows fans/spectators to feel as if they are part of the game other than what they are, FANS.