[williebfree]

Home = Blue; Visitors = Black

Opponents scramble for a loose ball; black pushes it, but it contacts blue’s hand as it sails into the crowd.

(Tweet) “Black” (point toward black’s hoop)

Home coach calls time-out.

As I wait at the location of the ensuing throw-in, a father (located 4 rows up, behind me) who had been chirping off an on since the beginning of the game challenges my last call and my ability to officiate. “That should be blue ball! Blah, blah, blah…. How long have you been officiating?”

In a slight lapse of my usual professional demeanor, I turned toward the heckler and responded with a stern posture, “We are 2:19 into the second quarter so that would mean I have been officiating 10:19.” I paused then with a smile on my face I continued, “But I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.”

All those who heard my retort began to chuckle. I did not have any additional problems with the crowd that night.