[Welpe]

I wrapped up my season last Thursday with a couple of boys middle school games. It was a rather bizarre night. The first game was fairly vanilla except for a technical foul called by my partner against a visiting player.

Before the ball is given to the thrower, the visiting coach requests a time out. I grant it and the time proceeds to argue with me that we can't have a timeout until the shots are taken. I essentially ignore him and continue on. He also managed to completely confuse the home scorer by telling her that the technical did not count towards a player's 5 fouls but to mark it anyways. That took a while to sort out and I still don't think he really got it.

Between the first and second game, things start getting weird. A visiting player from the first game comes up to my partner and asks "How much do you get paid?" My partner responds with "Tell you what, why don't you go sit down and not worry about it?"

Meanwhile, I head over to check the book and notice that the coach of the home team is the timer from the previous game. Turns out his wanting to argue while at the table was only a preview and he starts in on us right away...but only after the fans start complaining about a perceived missed travel or foul. I shut it down right away and diplomatically tell him that we'll call the game.

This game is a lot more physical and the visiting team doesn't seem as interested in playing as they are intimidating their opponents. We hit double bonus in the middle of the second quarter and the wheels pretty much came off the game after that.

During half time, the visiting coach is agitated but still polite and calmly tries to ask my partner a question about a charge he called. My partner cuts him off and tells him "Why don't you coach and I will officiate!" The coach, indignant at this point asks him "Can't I ask a question?"

"No, you can't, coach!"

"What chapter are you guys from?"

"Coach, I recommend you go sit down!"

I think I've turned about three shades of white at this point. I immediately turn around and check the books and make sure the arrow gets switched.

The rest of the game is a total hack fest, with me adding one more T to my total after a visiting player screams at me to "CALL THE FOUL!" I did, just not the one he wanted.

We called a total of three intentional fouls and two unsporting technicals against the visiting team in this game.

As the final horn sounds, I shake my partner's hand, bee line to the table for my jacket and run to the door while my partner headed to the locker room. Unfortunately I did get accosted by one elderly "gentleman" that asked if I was new? I laughed and ran to my car and was on the road before the fans had even started coming into the parking lot.

What a way to end the season.

Now it's time to resume the honey do list, starting yesterday with all day spent moving bushes and mulching the yard.

The one question I have is, should I contact my assigner about how my partner spoke to the coach?