Yesteray I had a game, player fouled out, then on way to the bench yelled "God damn it!" I gave him a technical. He costs his team two team fouls and four points on one play.

But I was wondering what you're interpretation of foul language is. I'm starting to work some older games where I'm hearing a bit more of it and wondering where you draw the line. I hear the line has moved from what it use to be.

Does it really matter to whom the foul language is directed at, as long as a reasonable amount of people can hear it?

But everytime I've called it I've never really had any complaints from parents on this call.

What are your interpretations of the rule?

I am a believer that if the laguage is loud enough to be heard in the stands and is one of those words, and there are a lot of them, i will whack them.

If they do something dumb and know it and then say something under their breath and nobody can hear it except me then i may let it go and just tell the player to be careful.

Anytime the comment is directed at me or someone else on the court it is usually always a T. It doesn't matter if it is foul language or not. If the player tells me that is a horrible call, Whack.

If anyone can hear it, boom T. If it's directed at me, boom T. If they mess up a play and are disappointed at themselves and keep it to themselves and I can hear it... I just tell the player to watch it.

My rule of thumb is much the same. I say, keep it for the kids! Meaning that if a little kid is in the stands, and he could hear it, it deserves a T. If it is directed at another player or official, then it deserves a T regardless of the volume.

I have discussed this before many times. If everyone can hear something, that is much different than if someone says something under their breathe. Actually the use of curse words is not even that big of a deal from my point of view. I have had players use slang that I would be much more offended by than what is typically considered as foul language. Basically every situation I try to handle differently. Even if a lot of people hear something, it does not mean you did or know what was said.

Peace

I once issued a "T" for a "GDit" and the coach wanted to argue and insist that it was in the bible and wasn't a curse. I could only laugh and say, "Let's just let your church vote on it and then we'll use whatever they say for the rest of the season."

This was a point of emphasis this past year.

C. Inappropriate language. The committee is concerned about the use of inappropriate language by players, bench personnel, coaches, officials and spectators. Each group has a responsibility to the game and to each other to demonstrate civility and citizenship.

The team huddle is not a safe haven for coaches' bad language. Players are not permitted to "let off steam" by using profanity, even if it is not directed at an opponent or official. Being angry at oneself is no excuse. Officials are not exempt either. Inappropriate references to players or coaches are not acceptable. Game administrators must also pay particular attention to fans. A game ticket is not a license to abuse.

JRut has a valid point. Inappropriate language is a broader category than just George Carlin's 7 words.

Exodus 20:1-2
"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain...or thou shalt be issued a technical unto thyself, and the wrath of thy referee shalt be with thee all the remaining minutes of the game" BUV (Blueump Version)

Hey B, I'm guessing this was in the 8th grade game. Both of those coaches should back you up whether you warned or whacked.

I agree with others, if it's heard by several people or directed toward me or someone else, penalize. If it's basically said under their breath, I'll warn. If course, you have to take it in context...is he saying this because he's mad at himself, his teammates, his coach or refs?

For Rec ball or AAU, my tolerance is very low.

Just for reference - two of the largest kids rec leagues around here have a rule that any profanity, for any reason, by a player or coach is an automatic flagrant technical foul. This is the rule through 8th grade. HS rec is different.

Another one of those typical situations where the guys last week weren't so sensitive to the language, and now, all of the sudden, it's an issue. Language is bad enough, but I despise the term 'homer.' That should be on Carlin's list when it comes to words that you can't say to officials.

:D

Earl Strom tells a good story about this in his book:

"He (Oscar Robertson) fired a pass at a teammate, who missed it. 'Sheeet, m**********r,' he hollered out. He was right next to me as I retrieved the ball from the stands. 'I don't have a real problem with what you just said, but see that woman out there?' I asked him. 'That's my wife, and I'm afraid she heard that. I don't talk like that around her and you're not going to either." He got the T and the message."

I'm on the same page with most of you guys. I'm its loud or directed at me, WHACK. If its to oneself out of frustration and under their breath, give them a warning.

JRut has a point, each situation is different, and should be handled as such. I do think that if I am officiating, and I hear it, then that is enough to warrant a penalty. It depends on the situation as to whether or not I hand out that penalty. We had a situation on a game worked this year where a player was charged with a foul and was being substituted for. As he was going out of the game, he walked passed the calling official and said very quietly, "F@#$ you." Now, of course he got whacked. When the coach asked what he had done, my partner told him, and the coach agreed. Now, this goes against what some people feel, namely that you better make sure that someone other than you hears it. But, as we discussed, every situation is different, and needs to be handled that way; but it never hurts to use standards when applying rules like the profanity "T."

Flagrant "T" all the way!

Like everyone else says, if it's loud enough for the crowd to hear, give the T. If it's only heard on the court, remind the player to watch their language as soon as possible. If it's an adult league, I had some success the one and only time that I worked adults, by mentioning this in your pregame. Tell them right off about your concerns with kids being in the stands and let them know that if they are swearing, you are going to assess the T.

Fbomb at the refs
 

JR-

I agree with you. I would have assessed at flagrant T for that one as well. I guess my partner was feeling a bit too nice. Actually, I think he was shocked more than anything. The kid in question is usually well-behaved, he is actually the son of one of the HS assistant coaches around here, but he goes to private school. For his part, the coach did sit the kid down for the rest of the game; and the school actually suspended him for a short time.

F@ck you too junior.

Oh btw...tweet.

Boys varsity this weekend. 3 minutes into the game. Player on the floor was taking some ribbing from his own bench. He says (though doesn't yell), "Shut the f--- up!" I whacked him. He was incredulous. Coach says loudly from player, "What do you expect at a Christian college? Just knock it off and play basketball!!"

That is correct. I also had an offensive foul this game if I may say so myself. :D

Thanks for the input everyone, I'm glad to see everyone feels the same way, and I'm glad the rule seems to hold true for high school.

A Baseball player was batting and was thrown out of the game after telling the umpire he was a dirty %^$*&^. Years later, the player sees the umpire and says "You know, you were the only umpire to ever throw me out of a game, and I bet you don't even remember what happened." The umpire says, "Oh, yes i do. You called me a dirty %^$*&^." The player said "You're right, but it was only me, you and the catcher that heard that." The umpire says "That's true. But I couldn't let that catcher go through life thinking I was a dirty %^$*&^."

That's why you T them up.

Here's a situation.

Partner calls a foul. The offending player wasn't quite happy with the call. You switch as partner goes to table to report the foul. The player says something like "F*** YOU" directed to your partner. Now, not a lot of people heard it but you did and you are 100% sure that it was directed to your partner.

Do you T him up?

Every time. Toss him too.

Yeah, he might as well miss the next game, too.

gotta keep the crew's integrity and if you let this moran get away with it, he'll only get worse.

What about an international player swears in a foreign language, such as French? :)

Seriously.
 

It is not always what you say; it is how you say it. :D

Peace

Re: Seriously.
 

We!

I mean, oui!

(Damn French!)

A few years back I was working games at the Nike World Master's Tournament in Portland, OR...had a Lithuanian team playing, and one of them didn't like a call - said something in whatever language they speak there, and I T'd him No idea what he said, but the expression and body language told me it wasn't a compliment...one of the other Lithuanian players walked by me and said "Good call, referee. He deserved that." So like they said - it isn't always WHAT they say...

That's funny, did you ever get the translation?

We had a situation on a game worked this year where Vlade Divac was charged with a foul and was being substituted for. As he was going out of the game, he walked passed the calling official and said very quietly, "eiou muazer phadfkjaaldsafad." Now, of course he got whacked.

When Divac realized what was happening, he spoke in English "your barn door is down".

Now what? :)

Someone could say "great play" and deserve a T for it.

If they said in a sarcastic way to an opponent who just did something stupid.

I asked the player who told me it was a good call, but he said I didn't want to know, so we left it at that...

This kid would get at least The Look, and possibly a T also, from me.

Je le parle . . .

And like Rut said - it's not always what you say, but how you say it. After going to a high school with a large number of foreign students, I have a pretty good idea of when someone's swearing at me in any language.

WHACK!!

(Ok, I'm not sure what he said, but it was how he said it!)

I'll take a guess......good f'n call ref! ??

"G..D...I.! I only said 'I speak it', T'es vraiment trop con!!"

Now, another T for him? or an appology?

My most recent game had my partner T up a kid for saying ,"Finally!" I don't care for THAT f-bomb either.

5 years of French here, watch out! ;) :D

Qui donnez un merde? :D

That doesn't impress me, I've been eating french fries since I was 2 years old.

Merde...this must be an important word, when I took french in HS every test came back to me with MERDE!!! scribbled in red all over it.

I figured it was a good thing.

Our HS favorite was:

J'aime les grand tetons. :D

It was a classic on our school trip to see them in Whoming in 8th grade.

Is Whoming down near the Ozarks? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

:D

We saw the bigger ones in Wyoming.

On another note. . . .
 

Add JC to the list of "it's not what you say, it's how you say it. . ." I had a coach yell, "Jesus Christ! You guys haven't gotten a call right all night!"

Since we're on the foul language topic...

I was watching an AAU 17u game this weekend between two very good teams. Because the confines of the gym were, well, confined, you could easily hear anything said on the court, included the trash talk between the players.

With under a minute to go, A1 drove past B1 and made a lay-up to tie the score. B coach immediately called a time-out. Almost simultaneously, as A1 headed back up-court, he looked at B1, and said, "get up n*****!". The referee stopped A1 in his tracks, and said something along the lines of "If I have to tell you again to shut up, I'm going to T you up. Do you want to lose the game like that?"

Since both players were black, I thought the referee handled the situation appropriately, but it sure made you think about cultural differences, and what constitutes crossing the line.

Like, what if you were reffing in an atheist league, and one of the players said "GD". Would you give hime a T? Just kiddin'.

Thank you for starting my week with a ridiculous comment and setting the bar pretty high for anything worse.

It doesn't matter that they were black or not. Kids of all colors use that word in these situations nowdays and it is stupid and wrong. Your way of thinking is unbelievable!

Amen, Tom.

We're supposed to apply the rules consistently and evenly. The only colors we should be seeing are the shirts the players are wearing. If the players are trash-talking and yipping, we're supposed to take care of bidness- no matter who's doing it.

I hear more cursing or bad language in baseball games where 99% of the players are white and come from very affluent backgrounds or communities. If I threw out every white baseball player that used some foul language, I would have 2 or 3 ejections every game. So do not give me that only inner city kids of color are the ones cursing and subject to bad behavior. That is much more cursing than I ever hear working a basketball game with kids from many different races and cultures. I think you need to get a clue.

Peace

The "Get up" part is enough for me - T for taunting, regardless of what words come after it.

So, I take it that in your opinion, there is nothing the matter with racial epithets?

That's good to know.

Clue provided to the one who needs it most...

He said nothing about ignoring it because they were black or that a white kid wouldn't say such a thing.

His point, quite clearly (not that I agree with it though), was commenting on the fact the one who said it was the same race as the one who it was directed at. With that, he felt it was OK to handle it with a warning as opposed to a heavier penalty if it has been a white kid calling a black kid such a name.

Of course JR, that is exactly what I said. :rolleyes:

Peace

JRut, no need to get your Under Armor in a wad just because someone says something about a race. In this situation, it was same race on same race using a slang term (which I consider inappropriate). Read the whole post and you will see that there were no ill directed comments from 1 race toward another or for that matter any stereotyping.

Here's one that will throw you into a tizzy: Did anyone see the Kentucky Derby RACE this past weekend?

Life is not fair.

Peace

I'm black too and I would give a T as a reaction in this case. One, he was taunting and secondly he called him a name that many have been beaten if not killed for. There is no place for that on a basketball court. Regardless of the color of the offending party this should have been dealt with IMO(something more than telling him not to say it again).

Tell me exactly what you mean then, Jeff, in case I am misinterpreting you. Do you feel that it's OK for <b>anyone</b> involved in a game to <b>ever</b> use racial epithets?

My father has been dead since October of 1995. I do not have to explain anything to you, especially when I have been over this issue for years now. If you feel that is a big deal, you handle it the way you see fit. When I am at my games, I will handle it the way I see fit. I am Black and have a right to handle a situation in a way that will accomplish what I want that you as a white person might not have.

Peace

And it's very obvious to me what you want to accomplish.

Btw, how do you know that I'm a "white person"?

And why would being a "white person", a "black person" or "any kind of person" be relevant as to whether an official would allow any participant, no matter their color, race, religion, creed,etc. to use racial epithets?

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on May 9th, 2005 at 02:13 PM]

I'm sorry to hear that. I lost my mom July of '03. Mother's Day is still a little sad.

I think we're simply interested in how you as a Black man view this situation. As a white guy, I obviously don't have the perspective that you do on this type of question. So as a genuine honest question, I would be interested to know if you think it's ok for a Black person to use a racial "slur" (at least, that's what a white person would call it) toward another Black person.

Obviously, if I used it toward a Black person (even a good friend) I think it would be inappropriate. Can two Black people use this "vocabulary" without it being demeaning?

Is it like "I can insult my family members, but nobody outside my family can?"

Chuck, NO it is not OK and I don't care what Rut says.

I really do not see the point of having this deep conversation. I have said in the past how I feel and it gets turned around by those that think everything in life is about them. If you feel that certain language is unacceptable, when you work your games you can do just that. If I am working a game, I will do the same. I do not have "magic words" that are automatics. Everything has a context and will be addressed the best way I see fit. Maybe that would be a T, maybe that would be a "talk to." Maybe that would be to tell the coach and let him deal with it.

I just have found out that this is not the place to have those kinds of discussions about race. If your only interaction with folks outside of your race is on this site and in the game of basketball, then maybe you need to find some acquaintances to have these discussions with. I am not going to be that person anymore.

Peace OUT!!!

Hey, everybody.

I just want to apologize to those I offended. I by no means meant anything derogatory toward anyone by my comments.

I think Camron described my sentiments best. If a white kid had said that to a black kid, and I was reffing, I would have thrown the kid out of the gym, if I could get the other player off him quickly enough. I guess the reason I mentioned it is sometime I'm not sure how those kind of comments are perceived by others. Since both players were black, I knew the term didn't carry the same intention, but as tomegun says, its a term no one should use.

Years ago, Richard Pryor had a short-lived variety show. In one skit, I can't remember it exactly, he played an old man who used the term several times in a monologue, then fell asleep. Either Richard Pryor, or another character, like I said, I can't remember, came on, and said the problem is, if you say it enough, no matter who you are, you start to believe it.

Again, I apologize. I was raised in the segregated south by a mom who tried her best to raise me to be colorblind. I try to do the same with my children. I guess I don't always do a good job.

If anyone wants to e-mail and discuss further, feel free to.

If scholars, comedians, actors, teachers, executives, musicians, sales people, officials, coaches, players, Athletic Directors, School Board Members, assignors, students, educators, authors and entertainers cannot agree on what is acceptable and not acceptable, what makes you think we are going to solve that issue here?

Peace

JRut: Amen to that.

I gotta tell ya, though, I think Charles Barkley has it right. What we need in this country is a frank discussion about race - not just blacks and whites, but all folks. I wish CNN would tackle that one.

The NFHS already solved the issue for it's officials.

NFHS rule 10-4-1(d)NOTE-- "The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others <b>under any circumstances</b> including on the basis of <b>race, religion, gender or national origin</b>".

I can't see anything in there saying any particular race is exempt from that rule. If the taunting involves race, religion, gender or national origin, it's prohibited.

That is what I said? Could you find the words in this thread where I stated anything about anyone being exempt? I think I said that many people from many different backgrounds do not agree on the usage of certain words. I know that someone could avoid the word in question and offend me greatly by using other words. And folks like you have told me to not get upset over or that I was over-reacting. I guess if you feel the only way to offend someone is by using a very specific term with a historical connotation. I know that if the word "boy" was used by certain individuals that would offend me just as much if not more than being called the word you are so focused on in this post. But that just shows that officiating is about judgment and intent, not just words. I can tell you that people that live in certain parts of the country or are a certain age look at these things differently. I know my Mom who went to Florida A&M an historically Black University (how is there such a university) feels one way about a certain word and another family member that she is related to feels another way about the very same word that is much younger. The bottom line is that we all bring our own personal values and philosophies to the officiating table. I have heard others have no problem being called by their first name by a bunch of kids and I would be very offended or against that kind of interaction. We all are not the same and we all are not going to be the same.

Peace

Are you ever gonna answer my original questions? Let's try again:

Do you feel that it's OK for anyone involved in a game to ever use racial epithets?

If so, when?

That means the referee already warned the coach about his language. He should have definetely given him a T then. I probably would have given him a T on the first offense. If you're just going to keep threatening someone and telling someone to stop, and they don't, you're getting no where. Then you need to inflict punishment.

My weekend foul language story:
I dished out a T this weekend for a player yelling "****" after he missed an open layup and the other team got the rebound.

How do you expect to get anywhere when you say something that is pretty good and then you end it with a dig?

This is the bottom line, if someone doesn't know and comes here to ask that is good. YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER! You know how I know? I have 34 years experience on this earth that says so! If it isn't an automatic T for you then that is really sad. I'm asking you (almost begging) if you don't have something to add to a thread like this leave it alone. Please?

Tommy,

You sound like a lot of people whose way to make the world a better place is through what you do as an official. I on the other hand realize that I am just an official and I am not going to change minds or attitudes because I give someone a T. I can change behaviors by using my voice and giving my opinion just like I do other times during a game. No, it is not an automatic T for players that are of the same race when they use language that they use on a regular basis. It would not be an automatic T if players spoke in Spanish and I did not know exactly what they said. Does that mean it would get a T? Of course it would under the right circumstances. Just like the issue that we are talking about. And they fact that you do not understand that, either you do not get out much and talk to those that look like us in Nevada or you think we all should think alike. I have no idea what Nevada is like how many Black people are there. I do know that I belong to an association that is almost entirely Black and works a lot of Chicago Public League ball. I also know that when I work city/suburban games the race of the officials always seems to be an issue. Three of officials that worked the state finals took a lot of heat for not "helping out" a city team get to the State Finals. These officials took much more crap from their own people than whether a single word is used.

There was a documentary on the TV channel called Trio. The documentary's name was "The N Word." There were people from all walks of life from the many areas I mentioned in my earlier post. There were Black people that were conflicted by the word, admittedly upset by the usage, and others that were in acceptance of its usage and others that used it for shock value and to take out the sting of the word. And there were people that were of all ages and all different types of backgrounds that had many different points of view. I suggest Tommy that you read more about the many points of view or listen to the many points of view that are out in the public by books or in interviews. You will find that many are conflicted about what to do or what not to do when it comes to this word.

Let me also address one more thing. Condoning something has nothing to do with giving a T. I know that in many aspects of officiating officials give warnings or talk to players about all kinds of things. I see officials give all kinds of warnings when there are conduct issues in a basketball game. I have yet to see an official give an "automatic T" for taunting players. Probably why you see more and more POEs on certain attitudes or why new rules have to be clarified so that officials can take action. The use of language is the same thing in my thinking. There is slang terms that I might identify that older people would never realize would be offensive. I do not concern myself with single words and what I will do when I hear those words. All words have context and different meaning depending on how they are used and who uses them. That is the case whether you or I agree. The people that use certain words think so. That is the world we live in. If you do not want to have much of a thought process and give out Ts, then that is your right. You do not have the right to tell me how to react when we not only live in different states, we do not even have the same background and schools with the same history.

Peace

Why are you not asking those that live in your area?

Peace

:D

You are too much.

Thanks for the laugh though.

:D

Rut, I don't even know what to say to you.

You are well spoken and you have your own opinions.

Strong opinions.

On this subject, like others I have remained silent on in the past, your opinions are as ignorant as hell but they are your opinions.

I'm sorry moderators/posters but for this guy to casually throw out the race card when it doesn't exist and then ignore this just because both players are black doesn't make any sense to me.

In my opinion your point of view is not only stupid, but shortsighted and not much of my concern. Do what you like. I will definitely do what I like and feel. Especially when someone thinks race is a card that someone plays. That tells me everything I need to know about you. ;)

I also did not say that that a single word used by people of the same race was to just be ignored or accepted. That just shows how much you either did not read my response or you are so emotional about the issue, you cannot see that everyone on this planet agrees with you. Maybe you have just been in Nevada too long. Who knows or who cares at this point.

Have a great evening.

Peace

I thought you weren't gonna be the person to have these discussions here anymore...but 5 posts later...

Rocky, as usual, the words are something you never want to really confront.
 

Actually Rocky, these were my exact words below. Then again, the actual words never seem to be something that most people want to actually confront. Let us just assume something was said and keep repeating it. Maybe it will eventually come true.


Peace

I don't know what my being in Nevada has to do with anything but whatever you say. I have been in the DC area for almost 2 years, does that matter?

Something like this happened to another official I know and she asked what I thought about it. I also asked several of my friends. Nobody said anything less than a T was in order. These were girls and the girl who said it was the best in the state of Nevada.

You are the master at deflecting things after you put your foot in your mouth with a stupid comment. The point of the matter is you show your ignorance all the time. The player in this play taunted and used a word that is a racial slur no matter what color they are. That is two reasons to give a T. If you choose to ignore both of those things then thank you for letting everyone know what kind of official you are. I know you will say things like you don't come here for validation and the people who work with you respect you and all that crap. If you have so much respect from them why do you even come here when virtually every thread you give your opinion on turns into a bad thing. Sure, you can do what you want in your area but why is it always you against everyone else?

As a black man I'm embarassed about your comments regarding this subject. I'm from the midwest and I've spent considerable time in the south, west and east. I would expect anyone I know across the USA to administer a T for this act. You are an embarassment in Illinois, Nevada, DC or anywhere else for even suggesting you wouldn't do the right thing.

Now I'm done with this thread for real!

I most certainly have discussed this with people in <b>my</b> area. Not just referees, but the people we referees have to deal with-- leagues, coaches, administrators, etc. With regard to any type of epithet related to race, religion, color, creed, etc., we have a "zero tolerance" policy. Nobody gets a pass, no matter if they claim that they were only kidding when they used an epithet.

Does this policy eliminate incidents? Hell no. Hopefully it reduces them though. We realize that we can't change how any person really thinks or what they are. That doesn't mean that we or others have to put up with them in an an enviroment that we, as officials, are supposed to be responsible for.

No need to respond. We disagree and we're just going around in circles now anyway.

You are the one that should be embarrassed by your actions but you words. I do not know what they do in Nevada, but it seems like you need to go somewhere that you can expose yourself to other people of color. You obviously are not getting that in Nevada.

Where in my post did I say anything about the usage of the "N" word or condoning racial comments of any kind? I simply said that Black kids are not inherent for inappropriate comments or language that might be offensive. It sounded to me from the boys statement that inner-city kids were the only ones subject to comments that were outside the bounds of appropriateness. And when inner-city kids say things, they should be looked in a different light as the white suburbanites that play the game. That was the only part of this discussion that I commented on. That was the only part I took any exception to. But no, you and JR and even Chuck ran with this comment and assumed I was condoning the usage of a word which I never addressed in this thread. You should not be an assumption that one thing is acceptable in the "hood" and something else is acceptable in the suburbs. When you got on your little tangent about "I do not care what Rut says," with Chuck, it was obvious to me you never once really read my comments or tried to understand my comments.

There is a book that has been out for a couple of years call "N@@@@r, The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word." The book deals with the very word and its usage, acceptance, non-acceptance and history. Now I do not agree with the premise of the author Randall Kennedy (who I believe teaches at an Ivy League school) and his position that the words "sting" is gone. I have major problems with that position. I do understand that there is a movement that is against the position that both you and I hold. But the way I want to handle a situation on a basketball court is different than the way you want to handle a situation on court.

You are a complete sorry *** person if you think everyone in this country regardless of education and background should feel the way you do. First of all they do not. Listen to today’s culture, music and theater. I do not know what they do in Nevada, but there are a whole lot of things dealing with issues like that here that are not in other cities or other parts of the country. I grew up in a small, rural college town. The college I went to most of the students were from Chicago and there were students both Black and white that never interacted with others outside of their race until they reached college. How those kids act on a basketball court is a reflection of their personal experiences and what is appropriate and what is not appropriate is shaped by what they learned from others.

I had two situations this year with Black kids using this word during games toward their own teammates (not used as a put down). One time it was a football game, another time it was a college basketball game. Both times I made a point to say something and literally got in the face of the kids. In the football game the team was all-Black and I addressed the entire defensive unit when two kids used that word. When I was finished, I did not hear that word again the rest of the game, but a couple of kids where saying "Amen" to my comments. This particular game was between two all-Black schools. The visiting team had a mostly white coaching staff and it was one of their players that used that word. The home team that had an entire African-American coaching staff, their players did not use such language. I was personally satisfied with the way I handled it and so were my fellow officials. I just wanted the action to not only stop, but the kids to realize where they were, who was watching and tell them it was not acceptable to me and many others around them. Throwing a flag would have done nothing but make the players think some official was picking on them. Then I would have to explain the issue to the coach. Then I might have had further problems in that game. Instead, I got their attention and respect for the rest of the game. And maybe, just maybe one of those kids remembers my comments and either change their behavior or they recognize they need to watch what they say around other people.

I have never heard one Black player use that word to another player. And if I did I might use a different approach. But even then there are Black kids that know each other and might say something to an opponent knowing it would be accepted. I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

All you did was jump to a conclusion that was further from the truth. I have been exposed to more things than most here or in this country. If you look at the library of my parents home and there are more books dealing with race and gender that you could not find all the books in a college library. I have a minor in African-American studies where this issue was discussed 10 times over in class and read many books I would have never been exposed to if I did not have that minor.

Thank you for giving all these great people a narrow view of what all of us is supposed to think.

Peace

Re: Rocky, as usual, the words are something you never want to really confront.
 

I quoted your EXACT words from an earlier post...so the only one not confronting the words is you - you said you were going to stop and didn't...