[rsl]

AAU tourney today. I never sign up for more than three games because I know my quality goes down dramatically in game 4 and beyond. I did three pretty good games and was feeling good. Then it happened.

Only one ref showed for the next game, and he was on pain meds for a bulging disk in his back. There is no way he can do a one man game, and no else can stay to help.

I end up doing games 4, 5, and 6 with a good but incapacitated partner. I did OK, but in game 6 I miss a foul on a steal that results in an easy layup. I wasn't in position to make the call- the legs had stopped responding. The coach on the wrong end of this call yells "That's bullcrap" about 5 times as loud as he can. I finally cannot ignore him and T him up.

While we are shooting I tell him "I know I missed a call, but I cannot let you yell at me that loud and that long". He agrees and the rest of the game goes reasonably well.

I felt guilty for a bit, because he was right- the missed call was bullcrap. But I refuse to feel guilty now. This one is on the ref that was a no-show. I have to look at the bright side. I got some advanced training in game management under extremely adverse conditions. GIGDGO.