Fresh game or loss of goodwill

[ronny mulkey]

I'm seeking advice on how to handle:

3 years ago, our crew was assigned a game in a region tournament in a neighboring region. We handled the game with minor problems with a coach that had a unbeaten team that got upset in the finals. The next year, we are again assigned this region tournament and this coach brings another unbeaten team into this tournament. Again, he gets upset by the same team that beat him the year before using the same formula - take the ball to the hole and get fouled. His team responds by launching 30 feet jumpers. During a local TV interview he implies that officiating crew was the reason his team was beaten citing a disparity in the foul count.

Guess what? This year this coach takes a coaching position in our region meaning that we do his regular season games. My crew had his game last Friday night and about 3 minutes into the game he goes off on an out of bounds call. He begins to dredge up calls that I made 2 years ago. I put the ball in play and continue. He call a timeout about a minute later and calls me over amaiably enough. He proceeds to inform me that he he is not going to take the officiating that we gave him 2 years ago. He's ranting about some video that he wants to show me and some letter that he wants me to read. Of course, I give him the "this coversation is over" and leave. Our crew discusses at halftime. Needless to say, he gets whacked about 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter.

We have his game again tomorrow night. My question is:

Does every game start fresh for you?
Ddo you take less crap from a coach if he has given you trouble in previous games?
How would you handle if he wants to dredge up any previous games, especially 2 years ago?
How would you respond to: "here we go again: or "I guess we ain't gonna get any calls tonight?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Mulk