Threats and profanity

[assignmentmaker]

Originally posted by rotationslim
Going to get roasted here.. but I will throw it out anyway.

If at halftime a rational, calm fan approaches you and asks a simple question, respectfully, why not choose to be an amassador for the game and answer.

NOW I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:
1) interacting with a hostile fan, clearly they should be ignored or tossed out depending on their degree of hostility and how they are expressing it.
2) getting in a long drawn out conversation that would distract you from your halftime duties.
3) The guy is looking for an arguement.
AGAIN, those situations are not what I am asking about.

I am saying, why walk around with a chip on your shoulder, prejudging all fans as the enemy. If you sense the guy has genuine question, and was just seeking to understand something, and you can teach him a principle of the game with a 10 second conversatino.. why not be a teacher for a moment instead of a policeman.

Would that not fit nicely in the role of a quality official.

Well, just as a cautionary tale, I would not have believed I would do this - the other night, end of a hotly contested game, coming out of a time-out, I am trail near the sideline, my partner is administering near the endline, a fan-lady walking by takes a step or two onto the court, pats me on the butt and says I missed such-and-such a call.

She came and was gone . . . I just ignored it . . .