Quote:
Originally Posted by cardinalfan
A few years ago, a small rural school. Older man in overalls on the front row tells me I need to "help my boy", speaking of one of my partners... a young black man.
At halftime, my partner asked me why I let him make a racial comment like that. I was a little embarrassed that I had taken it to mean he was young and inexperienced.
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I don't blame you for not assuming the worst. Years ago around here most schools got just whoever to call jr. high games, basically anyone who would put on a whistle, with no affiliation with any officiating group. One year I was the senior member of a team at age twenty-something, frequently accompanied by a protege who was about nineteen at the time. I think at first fans honestly took a "He doesn't know any better approach," to the kid. I told my young partner I would be glad when he got old enough that people would give him his own criticism instead of piling it all on me. It was a gradual process. After reading me a list of my own shortcomings on the way out one night, one lady added a postscript: "And your boy was bad, too!"
For the record, all parties involved in the story are white.
Many fans truly know no prejudice when it comes to basketball officials.
"There is no racial bigotry here............ Here you are all equally worthless."**
**Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
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