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Originally Posted by JS 20
I had something sad and then amusing Saturday. It's an 8th grade girls game. Very small gym. Dad in the second row at half court is riding my case real hard about EVERYTHING. I called a carry (incredibly obvious--girl caught the ball up by her armpit and then dribbled again) and he says "wow you really have it out for her today, don't you". Keep in mind the second quarter has just started. I tried to be nice and said "sir, I've heard enough out of you. I don't want you to miss your daughter's game, but if you continue to act like you are now, I'll have you removed from the gym." He starts to say something and I interrupt and say "no, sir. That's enough. I don't need to hear anything else." So then his wife says "fine, if he isn't allowed to talk, then I'll say it...you're bad!!!"
I thought that was amusing. They were quiet until there were 15 seconds left in the game and then he started being a jackass again.
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When I was just starting out I had the same situation, except I tossed the guy out of the gym. He was sitting in the front row of a crowded small grammar school gym and was literally yelling into my azz as I was putting the ball in play on the sideline. I asked him to take it easy, he said he didn't have to so we stopped the game while he was escorted out. Two things I remember. The guy (who was with the visitors) was so mad that I had the nerve to boot him that he left the gym without his coat. He wanted to know my name so he could "report" me. That was back before I knew Chuck so I told him my name was Teddy Valentine. It was a cold february night and the people at the door wouldn't let him back in, they wouldn't even go to get his coat for him. I worked a lot of games for those people, they really ran a good program. The other thing is that just after the guy left his daughter came to me and apologized for her father's behavior, she was nearly in tears. Later her coach thanked me, said he always made an azz of himself and was glad someone finally did something about it.
At about the same time I was working a freshman game against 2 middle schools that were close by and really didn't like each other. Both schools made a big deal out of it and the place was pretty packed for a freshman game. And being where it was there was a local cop on duty. Midway thru the game during a time out this one really big guy gets up off his seat and starts slowly walking towards me. I could tell he had a few adult beverages in him. So I put the ball on the floor just in case and as the cop and 2 school security guys get to him he smiles and says he just wanted to shake my hand and tell me what a great job I'm doing. I told him it wouldn't look good if I shook hands with him, he agreed and was walked back to his seat.