[DownTownTonyBrown]

Not sure why I feel compelled to respond...but

Rar,
You don't write like a simpleton so I must assume that you truly DO understand the answers that have been given and are simply trying to instigate this situation. Your feigned ignorance of game ending management and the silly inclusion of calling Tony's statements contradictory is laughable. (Snicker, snicker.) You don't appear to be trying to understand but rather to create a brou-ha-ha.

To restate what Tony and Chris have said 'what you permit, you promote.' Whatever we are willing to tolerate is exactly what we will have. I couldn't agree more strongly.

In another discussion thread on this forum, a Pennsylvania offical was man-handled by a parent ('inadvertantly' body slammed). The official has been permanently debilitated since the event. At the conclusion of the case the Judge made a public statement that sports fans are getting out of hand and then found the offender guilty of Simple Assault. He handed out a trivial penalty where a severe, maximum penalty was appropriate.

Is it any small wonder that fans are getting out of hand? The Judge permitted/tolerated these terrible acts and essentially promoted them by only delivering a trivial penalty. Shont also promoted such behavior because he did not immediately turn around and let everyone know (fans, players, coaches) that cursing at the officials as they leave the court will absolutely not be tolerated. These actions were publically permitted and therefore publically promoted. It is now okay to publically say at the top of your voice that the 'officials f***** the players.'

Now here's my real riff... Because Shont tolerated it, now it's gong to happen again. Because the Judge said that it was no big deal to have parents enter the court and physically injure the officials, it will likely happen again. We seem to be our own worst enemy.

There is no high horse here. Think of it as a training ground. Shont has likely learned what the proper response should have been and will likely enforce it next time.

Rut is rarely on the same page as anyone else. F-bombs are apparently okay with him... again, we are our own worst enemy. Rut, I recommend that you join the crowd. The F-bomb is not a publically acceptable word and the penalty should be appropriately enforced by ALL officials.