How not to enforce Bench Decorum

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Fast forward (still first quarter); partner is reporting a foul, and visiting coaches are all up again. Partner tells them they need to be seated, and one coach mouths off with, “that’s just stupid.” Whack.

Since my personal POE this year is dealing with coaches, I'm going to ask a rather pedantic question. What about this statement earned the coach the T? Was it his attitude? On it's face, the statement merely expresses the coach's unhappiness with the rule. Could your partner have gotten out of this by saying something like: "I don't make the rules, coach, but I do have to enforce them."?