any comments from officials on this forum as far as their responses to ignorant fans when being heckled.the reason i ask is because of some responses nba ref earl strom came back with in his day were witty and hillarious.i'm just a bb fan that would like to hear some classic comebacks to fans that don't know the rules.i mean, really,if you refs knew as much as the fans,you wouldn't be heckled!(lol w/alot of sarcasmmmmm)humorous input is appreciated.

I have never talked back to a fan. I might use a come back with a few coaches, but never will I discuss anything with a fan.

Talking back to the crowd is a dangerous game to play. You are not likely to win that game, and you'll certainly take a credibility hit.

However, if you do a search on this site for "Davism" (go to google and add site:officialforum.com to your search -- hmmm, that emoticon is actually a colon followed by the letter o), you'll find a whole lot of things we wish we could say ;)

[Edited by Back In The Saddle on Mar 8th, 2005 at 04:00 PM]

During warm-ups there was a group of 12 16-18 year-old lads that already were hyped into the game (15 minutes before it started).

I strolled over to position and said "Hi, guys."
They returned the greeting.

I asked them to help me out if they "saw me kick any calls".

They had fun the whole game, but not at my expense.
mick

ref18,i know it is not appropriate to acknowledge idiots,but casually refs sometimes interact or comment to descent and respectful fans with regards to the comment made by goofan whom might not be in listening distance.i know i've chatted briefly with some refs just prior to inbounds play resuming.we'd both get a laugh and play continues.hope you understand my point.thanks for your response.

When I was waiting at half court for teams to come out of their huddles, this guy sitting about 2 rows up had been borderline all day with his comments. He was this big corn fed galoot. AS I am standing there with my backed turned, he spouts off with, "You guys are horrible!" I put the ball in front of my face, drop my whistle, turned my head towards him and said, "How would you know?" The other fans sitting in the area all ducked their heads in their hands and started to giggle.
The rest of the date was pretty pleasant.

I also asked this older gentleman one time - If he was here, who was stirring the sauce?

Being a xxx does have it's advantages sometimes.
AAR

[Edited by mick on Mar 8th, 2005 at 06:12 PM]

Not a comment to a fan but a great one a friend of mine had this year.

A1 forces her way down the lane between several players, takes an off balance runner and falls to the floor, out of bounds, beneath the basket. She looks up and says to my friend "Where's the foul!" He replies "Here it is!" WHACK!

please keepem' coming.good stuff.LOL

Do we know eachother?? :D


And back to noinwe's post, I have no problem having a laugh with a fan, but if they are critizing you, don't waste your time responding.

should have been more specific and added coaches,players and fans comments.thanks

you have to be kidding. Issuing a T for that??? geeeesh

hey ref18, i don't believe we've met.i'm agaloot from pothole,pa. tried to get some comments on a bb forum in pa just to break the ice from some of the negative feedback coming from biased pinheads.a official referred me to this forum.figured i could get real laughs on here.he was right.officials got a tough job!how long have you been on th e hardwood?

[Edited by mick on Mar 8th, 2005 at 06:11 PM]

The only reason I asked is because I've used that line with coaches.

I'm from Ontario, Canada, so I'm pretty sure we've never met.

I agree fans don't know their xx from a whole in the ground. I used to read the Hoop-La a local bulletin board regarding high school basketball, but don't anymore because the fans are so stupid. I've been pounding the hardwood for 4 years now.

[Edited by mick on Mar 8th, 2005 at 06:05 PM]

Bobby Knight shared a story on the Dan Patrick show today about his interaction with a fan at Michigan State years ago. The fan was notorious for heckling Knight so one year Bob decided to engage in a "conversation" with him. Knight called the fan out of the stands before the game and handed him a few peppermints with the comment "Why don't you chew on these tonight instead of chewing on my xx". The fan stopped his heckling and the two became good friends over the years. The fan even went so far as to get a resolution passed in the Michigan legislature honoring Knight for his years of service to Big 10(+1) basketball.

[Edited by mick on Mar 8th, 2005 at 06:06 PM]

I actually had a partner last year who had two in one night. We had a JV/Varsity Boys double-header (most of our games around here are like that) between two big rival schools. The horn sounded for halftime of the JV game, and as the three of us are gathering at midcourt to go to the table, the visiting coach comes running out and starts going nuts. It was one of those things that you could kinda see coming. The coach got only a few words out before WHACK! my partner nails him. In response, the coach yells, "Hell, you might as well just give me the second one!" WHACK! now he gets the pointer finger to the door as well. Until this point, none of us have said anything. As the coach is getting ready to turn, he then yells, "I've been coaching for 11 years, and I have never been ejected from a game!" Now my partner replies, "Well, then I guess you will have to start that streak over again."

After the coach was ejected, he kept trying to come back in the gym, we actually had to get the sheriffs involved.

In the varsity game, there was a fan sitting in the first row, foul line extended, and he was being extremely loud, and even more obnoxious. After getting on my partner a few times, he was standing in the C near him. The guy said someting, and he just turned to him and said, "You probably don't know this, but I actually hold an officiating record for throwing fans out of gyms." Interestingly, the guy actually quieted down after that.

At this particular school, things are always interesting, and this night was no different.

My high school teachers told me that pounding the hardwood can make you go blind. :eek:

Z

Pounding the hardwood
 

Zebraman, that just ain't right. Funny as heck, but it ain't right. LOL

not all posters are stupid on the bb forum.some great people,just the boneheads beating deadhorses gets old.good to meet you.new to this forum and appreciate your responses.keep up the funny posts!

Can't we just continue until we need glasses??

OK, a comeback*

"Hey ref! You're missing a great game!!"
"Yeah I know but they made me come here instead."

*Performed by a pro on a closed track. Do not try this at home.

I had a play somewhat like this and had the chance to ring a player up. I didn't, however I wish I would have.

Good one <img src="http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ubb/graemlins/thumbsup.gif"><img src="http://www.illinoishighschoolsports.com/ubb/graemlins/thumbsup.gif">

Summer V tournament here in Reno - Boys traveling club team, very good.
About 4 assistant coaches.
Championship game.
1st half - P no calls an obvious flop because the ball goes in the hole.
The asst. jumps in my partners **** with "Where is the foul?" WHAP - Of course.
He now goes to the baseline to administer as I come over to advise the HC that he has to have a seat, this same asst. jumps up and yells, "I can't believe he didn't call that! He needs to make that call!!"
WHAP and I pop off with, "The only call we need to make is a taxi for you. Buh-Bye now!"
TR

"Hey ref - want to borrow my glasses?"

"Why? They're not doing you any good."

That explains why all the fans seem to be offering me their glasses at every game I do :D:D

Childrens league-

Coach- Come on ref, you gonna call that 3-seconds or your gonna wait untill 20.

Me- Nah coach I was thinking more like 45.

I did not do this, but I saw another official try this.
 

I was at an AAU tournament held at one of the Illinois schools a few years back.

I was watching one veteran officials being heckled by a fan standing just off the court. There were no stands in the gym and there were 3 courts right next to each other. So this fan was all over this State Final official about all kinds of calls. Every time down the court this fan had something to say.

Well during a timeout this officials just turned around and held his finger out with his lanyard and whistle dangling as if to say, "You want to do this?" He stood that way for the rest of the time out not saying a word. The fan tried to keep running his mouth but each time he said something, it was like he could not get the words out. "But you cann...." Or he would say, "You should....." He could not finish a single sentence.

We all fell out laughing watching this. The fan did not say another word the rest of the tournament because he was embarrassed.

Peace

I heard this one:

Ball goes out of bounds.
Ref: "Green Ball"
Coach, loudly "Can you explain that call?"
Ref: "Do you want the long version or the short version?"
Coach: " I guess the short version"
Ref..."Green Ball!"

ROTFLMAO

this season alone
 

Let me preface this by saying a normally don't talk to fans, but our smallest schools in Montana have tiny gyms (3 rows on each side of the floor).

I call a block in transition near midcourt.

Fan, sitting on sideline in backcourt:

"How can you call that from there?"

Me, at timeline as trail (2-man crew, I'm on the run)

"You're right, I should sit where you are."

That was the end of that.


Another game...2-man crew, ball goes OOB on baseline, my partner misses obvious tip, so I go tell him what I saw, he changes his call.

Coach of team call goes against, who's sitting in backcourt:

"Chuck (my partner), you never change your calls!"

Me: "There's a first time for everything!"

The other coach and scorers table personnel were rolling on that one!!!

Good one!

One of my friends had something like this:

Coach: What do I have to do to get you to call a travel?
Ref: (with a big smile on his face -- btw: this guy has went to the state finals 3 times) Get me to go like this (does the travel mechanic).

Re: this season alone
 

"Like this ... "block" ... any other questions?"

Not using smarta*# comments is a struggle for me on the court. I've always had a certain gift for it. A few from my career....

Sophmore game this year, I couln't resist. Player A goes hard to the hole and gets a little bump on the way, initiating as much as taking. I no call of course. Coach A repeats loudly about 8 times "Tell me there's no body on that". As I go by on my way to T. I spit out my whistle, slow down in front of him and say, "Coach, there was no body on that". 3 players next to him were beside themselves laughing and the coach even cracked up. Didn't hear him the rest of the night. Not a strategy I will normally use, but I couldn't resist.

My favorite I ever used was in my second year, kid's travelling tournament (both in where it was held and how the players moved the ball). I call a foul and as I go to position a fan is screaming, "How do you call that foul!" I stopped, looked at him and replied, "First I blew my whistle loudly indicating that play should stop. Then I put my fist straight up in the air communicating that I had a foul. If my hand had been open, I would have been communicating a violation such as travelling, but since my fist was closed, I called a foul. Any other questions?" Didn't hear anything else from their fans for the evening. I enjoyed that one, but it is out of my officiating game forever, with good cause.

another 3 seconds story
 

This didn't happen to me but a fellow official. This fellow official was playing in a league game that was being held in our State Prison, inmates were the officials. My buddy one time down the floor mentions to the ref that he needs to call three seconds....The ref spits out his whistle calmly walks over and explains that he is in the pen for life, three seconds don't mean s**t to him....... LOL so needless to say there were no more suggetions from the floor....

Re: another 3 seconds story
 

ROFLMAO!!!

Had a coach last year screaming "whose got #5" with no response. After 2 or 3 baskets by #5, I said "Coach, how much clearer can they answer - no one has him"

First I'll start by saying I only thought it...

A gentlemen in the stands was not satisfied with my visual measurement on 5-sec closely guarded. His constant objection was, "That's not six feet that's 10!" I wanted so badly to reply, my better judgement and professionalism got he better of me, "I bet that is what you tell your wife too!"

Probably should not have made this statement but had had it with this fan and was standing in front of him waiting to administer the ball.

He says"Do you get paid for this?"
I said "Not enough to put up with your bull****"

Ball goes the other way and that was the end of that. Only about 30 seconds in the game and his team was losing.

A1 got in a looseball scuffle, out on B. A1 comes to inbounds the ball and says "You need to call that, they are slapping me everywhere!"

I respond "They are slapping your hands right? (the fact)"

He replies "Yea man, they hit my hands everywhere!"

Me: "Ok, good, because the hand is part of the ball."

I hand him the ball and start the 5 count.

Re: heckler
 

Why don't you send it back. Using an affliction such as retardation which is not the least bit funny in a joke is disgusting. For those of you who think I'm kidding - I'm not.

[Edited by mick on Mar 11th, 2005 at 02:29 PM]

That's a good one. The look on the guys face if you actually had said it would be priceless, but especially in this case some things are better left unsaid. :D

Mark,

I apoligize for any discomfort you may have experienced. I'm not trying to create humor at other's expense, but your point is well taken. Let's all have a great weekend.

[Edited by BlackFox40 on Mar 11th, 2005 at 02:13 PM]

I have two:

One coach in a HS Tournament was being pretty nasty the first quarter (stomping, yelling "that's a foul" that sorta thing), so I warned him. Two trips later after a great no-call by my partner, he screams at me "THAT WAS A FOUL". We were in transition (2 person) and I was right in front of him. I stopped on a quarter( I'm not fast enough to stop on a dime anymore) and stuck him. As I walked up to the table, he said "That's the first call you got right all night"! I looked at him, smiled and said "Here's number two"! WHACK!

We were walking out for a three person game and a older gentleman said as we walked by him; "The three blind mice are here"! I was speechless and could barely contain my laughter!

I would have looked at him, then looked around and said, "Where are the other two?"

Thank you. I appreciate your post.

lol I have to make sure I have some one witty like you on my crew because it won't be me coming up with comebacks liek that.

My response would have been.

"No Thanks, I don't want to watch this awful game either".

Heard this the other day.

Player dribbles the ball into the defender and balls goes out of bound. Official call Out of bounds.

Dribbler yells out, "Where's the foul".

Officals goes "Yes you're right "Charge""

GUYS, GREAT TOPIC HAVE FEW COME BACKS TO COACHES DON'T GIVE FANS THE TIME OF DAY.

COACH IS YELLING FOULS ARE SIX TO ONE, I TELL THE COACH "yOU KNOW COACH IF YOUR TEAM WOULD BOX OUT INSTEAD OF GIVING UP 3 AND 4 SHOTS A TRIP THEN HACKING ON THE LAST SHOT WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW." HE REPLIED YOU THINK SO? "I KNOW SO" AND TOOK OFF DOWN THE FLOOR DIN'T HEAR FROM HIM THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

PARTNER T'S HEAD COACH, WE LET HIM STAY UP EVEN THOUGH HE SHOULD BE DOWN. LATER IN THE GAME HE IS MOUTHING AGAIN. PARTNER GIVES A TWEET FROM A CROOS THE FLOOR AND A TEE. COACH SITS DOWN REAL QUICK. PARTNER GOES OVER TO THE ASSISTANT COACH WHO IS SITTING THERE WITH HIS CHIN IN HIS HAND MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS. LOUD RIVALRY GAME. PARTNER LEANS OVER AND TELLS THE ASSISTANT "THAT TEE IS ON YOU FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF HIM" (POINTING AT HEAD COACH). COACH DIDN'T GET UP OR SAY A WORD THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

BEFORE THE GAME GO OVER TO HOT FEMALE COACH TO GET CAPTIANS SMALL TALKING SHE TELLS ME YOU LOOK FAMILIAR DO I KNOW YOU. I REPLY "DO YOU KNOW THAT GUY YOU DREAM ABOUT" BELIEVE IT OR NOT SHE SAYS YES. I SAY "I'M HIM" AND WALK AWAY REAL QUICK. LATER IN THE GAME AS I GO BY I GIVE HER A "YOUR NOT DOSING OFF ON ME ARE YOU COACH."

DOING AN ELEMENTARY GAME A FEW YEARS BACK. INTRODUCE MYSELF TO A GROUP OF COACHES, ASK WHO IS THE HEAD COACH TWO OF THEM TELL ME THEY BOTH ARE. I TELL THEM TONIGHT YOU HAVE ONE WHO IS IT? ONE FINALLY SAYS HE WILL BE THE HEAD COACH. I TELL HIM I WILL ONLY HEAR CHIRPPING FROM HIM. NO CHIRPS FROM THE REST OF THE COACHES. I RECENTLY SAW ONE OF THE COACHES AT A HIGH SCHOOL GAME AS HE WALKS IN DURING PREGAME, HE TELLS ME HE IS A FAN TONIGHT HE CAN CHIRP ALL HE WANTS TO.

RAINMAN,
Welcome to the forum.

You make him sit the first time, he doesn't get the second.
mick

"BEFORE THE GAME GO OVER TO HOT FEMALE COACH TO GET CAPTIANS SMALL TALKING SHE TELLS ME YOU LOOK FAMILIAR DO I KNOW YOU. I REPLY "DO YOU KNOW THAT GUY YOU DREAM ABOUT" BELIEVE IT OR NOT SHE SAYS YES. I SAY "I'M HIM" AND WALK AWAY REAL QUICK. LATER IN THE GAME AS I GO BY I GIVE HER A "YOUR NOT DOSING OFF ON ME ARE YOU COACH.""

This can be dangerous. Be careful. Just a friendly thought :)

Sorry Mick, I didn't realize some might find this offensive :)

[Edited by ref18 on Mar 11th, 2005 at 11:15 PM]

Read that post more slowly, ref18, and then you'll see what not to say.
mick

Still a classic:

A1 complains he got fouled. Reply "Girls play on Tuesdays."

Here a couplke from my collection
" Player complains thats a foul i say it aint nothing unless i call it"

" I call a foul then theres a timeout a player whos been bugging me a bit comes up to me and says u callled that on the wrong player i say i wont call the technical foul on the wrong player"

"Player get all up in my face complaining i say get out of my face or ull go (whilst doing a pretty cool hand signal)"

"Assisant coach stands up and complains i say take a seat or take a hike"

Cheers
F.F.A.B.A ( future federation of australian basketball associations always be a dream)

speaking of assistant coaches. . .

we have a couple in our district that are pretty obnoxious at times. I told a head coach once that assistant coaches can only talk to the assistant referee. He had a puzzled look on his face and said, "We don't have an assistant referee, do we?" "Exactly." I said. It worked well because I have a good relationship with the the head coach.

Oh, my!

Last night I had an 8th grade boys game. Red hits the ball out but partners says red ball. I walked over and told him I'm 110% sure red hit it out, did he pass on a push or something to make him want to award the ball to red? He said no and changed his call. One of the Dads in the front row right by where we were decides to get real loud.
Dad: "Oh, good grief, he was standing right there".
Me: "You saw the same thing I saw and we got it right".

Dad: "I didn't see squat".
Me: "Oh, and that makes you qualified to comment".
All the other parents from both teams proceeded to laugh and give him a bunch of crap. He just quietly sat there red-faced for the rest of the game.

I do prescribe to leaving parents comments alone but this time I couldn't pass it up.

Youth Tournament game.

Obvious out of bounds play in front of team bench. I yell the right color, but point the wrong way. I immediately correct my point while the coaches jump up from their chairs. They were supposed to get the ball. I look at the coach and say, "I just wanted to see how fast you could get up." He smiles, thinks about it and says, "How did I do?" I say, "Slower than most." Not my usual mo, but something clicked in my head to difuse the situation before they started something else.

Doing a V game years ago. 2-man. I am the T and a steal and fast break ensue. I run my butt off to get into the right position for a call. The B player (formerly an A player until he threw the ball away) fouls from behind the A player who was shooting a layup. Had I not been in position, I would not have called it because it was one of those body fouls that may have looked like a foul but there could have been "daylight" in between the players. There was none and there was contact in the air. I go to report the foul to the bench. The B asst. coach, who is at least 50 feet from the play and can only see the back of his player, asks "Where was the foul??" I said, "Under the basket."

I normally don't give smart-aleck answers but I ran my butt off to get perfect position and this guy, who is 50 feet away with the worst angle in the gym, questions the call. It's that kind of question that destroys all credibility. If the play had been right in front of his bench, I could understand his question.

You: "Then look in a mirror. You'll see all the squat there is".

Leaving the court after the first half fan says, "you guys are terrible". I say over my shoulder, "If you think that was bad you ain't seen nothin' yet."