Last Saturday, my partner blew his whistle for a violation, then made a signal that I can only describe as a helicopter crashing. At the next break, I asked him what the heck was that all about. He said he wasn't sure if it was a travel, a carry or an illegal dribble so he mixed the three together.

Uh, OK.

This was the same partner, who the previous week, T'd a coach "on general principles". Ya gotta love it.

I saw a guy with quite a belly use it in his signal. The defender "bellied up" and bumped the dribbler, so he leaned back, stuck out his gut, and patted it with his non-fist hand.

That one gave me a good laugh. :)

I LOVE IT! Funny thing is I actually think I can picture this.

I'd love to see this mechanic on a PlayPic. :D

You reffed with Santa?

I was at a tournament once, and had an official do this thing with his hips to simulate the old belly-bump or frontal hip check. It was hilarious to see this tall, lanky guy with glasses do this thing that looked suspiciously like something out of a Christina Aguilera video.

I have a partner I work with who reported a foul as "dogpile" one night. I don't remember the mechanic he used!

I recently had a partner who called "Over the back!!" While saying this, he lunged his arm forward like if he were swimming crawl... Nobody really noticed or cared about it but I had a good laugh with him after the game!

well
 

definitely doesn't beat the doggy paddle. If you imagine someone doggy paddling in the pool over and over again...that's what one of my partners did. When I asked him about it, he told me it is supposed to signal repeating "touchs" by the defense?????? How do you respond to such stupidity. I responded with a sardonic smile. I should add that this was actually a varsity official :(.

Re: well
 

LOL! I yield to you!

Who was the NFL white hat who got in trouble for the "giving him the business" foul? He used one hand as if he was giving a guy a "noogie" and using his other hand as if he was holding the guy's head.

1. Ben Dreith, NFL referee, explaining a 15-yard penalty over the intercom: "Number 99 of the defense, after tackling the quarterback, was giving him the business down there." (http://www.ffbookmarks.com/umpire_quotes.htm)

I've called players for cross body blocks and clipping during basketball games. It gets a chuckle out of the table personnel.

Did he get in trouble for it? I thought it was just highly publicized

I think what stood out about Dreith's comments was that it happened way back when officials were first given microphones to report infractions.