I wanted to call your attention to a story just posted on <b>Officiating.com</b> involving an American player on an Argentinean team punching out an official.

After being given a technical foul the player confronted the official and sucker punched him - knocking him unconcious. The referee is still recovering from a broken jaw an possible blindness.

There is more about this event, including photos and video, at the following link: <a href="http://basketball.officiating.com/x/article/1705">Out-of-control Player Punches Official</a>

[Edited by Brad on Aug 9th, 2004 at 09:15 AM]

I saw this before.....
 

and I was in shock!!!!!!! And people wonder why there are not more good officials. Why work hard at a thing that we can get attacked at the drop of a hat. Especially when what we do is not life or death. It is only a game, and a single foul is not going to jeapodize anyone's livelyhood.

That thug belongs in jail. I am flabergasted but not surprised. I am not trying to sound like some head shrink but this act is a direct reflection of the lack of discipline that exists in some parts of our world. FIBA, IAABO, and all Federation referees should boycott any games this guy shows up to play in.

Yea, he should be in jail. But this happened overseas so all they will do is ban him from the league and send him back to America where he becomes a problem here. I hope this video spreads far enough where this guy can't even get in a rec league game.

Ref to blame too?
 

The player was in no way justified in hitting the referee.

Yet I think the official could have prevented the incident. How?

Watch the tape. The ref, in repsonse to thug's objection to his non-call on the foul, did not "T with dignity." The official practically t-d him in his face then walked in his path.

The response may have been different if he would've unemotionally called the T, then looped away from the player to report the foul.

For what it's worth, I hope the player gets punished big time.

Sorry SID
 

Shifting the responsibility (of the attack) to the official is NOT acceptable!

I work in a juvenile correctional facility and can tell you this is a black and white issue. The Player is TOTALLY responsible for his actions; REGARDLESS of the officials actions.

I heard about it, but I did't watch the video of the incident. The link our friend gave us is not working anymore. Could anyone send to my e-mail a good link to this video or the video file itself?

Thanks, a lot.

pity, could not get to the link, although I do have a short .9mb video of a player punching a referee in Uruguay in a basketball game.

Do you know the player's name?

From what I heard in the video, it sounds like "Elness Bowling", american player, playing for an argentinian team.

I've updated the original post to include the correct link.

I'm a young athletic official and I could defend myself (at least temporarily) against this sort of attack with one clause, if I was prepared. I've had players and coaches walk aggressively toward me and it takes every bit of control to avoid getting in a defensive fighting position. Lucky for me, I haven't been attacked. But as an official, are we obligated to "take a blow"?

That sounds like a rediculous statement, but the alternative is be fight ready. And there's no way to be fight ready without looking like it.

Doesn't sound ridiculous to me, depnds on who it is and how serious it is, but if he swings he's live game. And if I were you I wouldn't take the blow.

It's hard to avoid a blow when you're trying to look poised. That's the problem. Do I get ready for a fight by clinching fist and turning into a fighting stance or do I try to stay calm looking? Keep in mind, I'm no ninja.

Keep poised and as soon as he gets in your face eject him and your partner should help with that(strength in numbers).