[mplagrow]

I was working 8th grade girls tonight, and my partner (I'll call him Smitty) was apparently chummy with everyone in the school. He had coached the boys team, and all the boys were in the stands. I was lead on a fast break, and the defender was side by side with the dribbler. The dribbler pulled up short of the basket and travelled. I called the travel, and the coach goes nuts--you know, "How is that not a foul," etc. Then he comes out with this one: "Look at Smitty! He's laughing because he knows she got fouled!"

I didn't look at Smitty (he was too far down the court for me to bother with, as hustle is not his strong suit). I put the ball in play, and at the end of the quarter, I asked him why he was laughing. "Oh, she was pushed. The girl had a hand in her back." All the boys in the stands are yelling, "Hey Smitty, why were you laughing?" So he went over to shoot the breeze with them.

I hate how that comes off looking to a visiting coach. I know I'd encounter less of this if I focused more on high school ball, but I enjoy the grade schoolers, and I guess it comes with the territory (sigh).