[Mark Padgett]

Well, I got to the gym early and the coach saw me and came over to talk. He asked if either my partner from last week and/or I were going to do his game today. I told him we both were. He got a little pale and said he knew he got my partner mad at him last week and if there was anything I could suggest he do.

I told him to just coach his team and not put any focus on the officiating beyond what he normally does. I told him that in my opinion, each game starts from scratch and he would be treated by me just as I treat any coach. He thanked me and walked away.

Just then, my partner came in. He saw me talking with the coach. He said, "I'm glad you straightened him out. Saves me the trouble." I just nodded.

The game turned out to be pretty normal, with that coach's team winning in a blowout. Early, he complained about an over and back call I made, but I just stared at him and he parked his carcass back on the bench and closed his yap.

After the game, my partner said to me, "I don't know what you said to him before the game, but he seems like a changed man."

I said, "Maybe the fact that his team won by 40 had something to do with it."

In the business world, this is called "management by avoidance".