Ever Deal With Fans off-court? Do You Always Ignore On-Court?

[DrFeelGood]

Anyone have some memorable experiences with fans screaming at them? I mean, it's always amazing how that mom from the home-team see's a play that you missed

So my question(s), what are some memorable experiences you've had on-court with fans? Did any try to come out and fight you? Did you ever get boo'd by the entire gymnasium? Did you ever look up into an angry crowd and see more people that want to kill you than ever? lol

Also, anything off-court? Anyone try giving you an earful after the game was over and you were ready to leave?

[Nevadaref]

I wear contact lens when I officiate and glasses the rest of the time. (Still afraid of having the laser surgery.)

Anyway after showering and changing following a game, I was leaving the gym with my partners and a mother still standing around talking to some other parents said, "Now he puts his glasses on!"

Even I found that amusing.

[just another ref]

Even though you know they're just kidding, when the whole gym chants: "Find a tall tree, and hang the referee," it will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

They are just kidding, right?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Even though you know they're just kidding, when the whole gym chants: "Find a tall tree, and hang the referee," it will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

They are just kidding, right?

They never chant that when Bhuck Elics is on the court.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

They never chant that when Bhuck Elics is on the court.

Tall tree not needed?

[JS 20]

I had something sad and then amusing Saturday. It's an 8th grade girls game. Very small gym. Dad in the second row at half court is riding my case real hard about EVERYTHING. I called a carry (incredibly obvious--girl caught the ball up by her armpit and then dribbled again) and he says "wow you really have it out for her today, don't you". Keep in mind the second quarter has just started. I tried to be nice and said "sir, I've heard enough out of you. I don't want you to miss your daughter's game, but if you continue to act like you are now, I'll have you removed from the gym." He starts to say something and I interrupt and say "no, sir. That's enough. I don't need to hear anything else." So then his wife says "fine, if he isn't allowed to talk, then I'll say it...you're bad!!!"

I thought that was amusing. They were quiet until there were 15 seconds left in the game and then he started being a jackass again.

[Jimgolf]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Even though you know they're just kidding, when the whole gym chants: "Find a tall tree, and hang the referee," it will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

They are just kidding, right?

We've got a rope, (clap) we've got a tree! (clap)
All we need is, (clap) the referee (clap)

[tomegun]

First of all I think that if anyone is going to say anything about me at least it should be funny.

There is an outdoor adult league in Maryland that I used to do. These are the kinds of fans that aren't really for either team, they just want to see highlights. One group of old men called me everything except a child of God. They lovingly referred to me as "baldy" most of the night.

I was doing a DeMatha game and one fan was staring me down during a timeout. The game was being played at American University and for some reason we looked at each other at the same time. He was mouthing something, complaining about the game. A few weeks later I was doing a game at DeMatha - a very small gym especially considering they are a nationally known team which regularly produces several D1 players every year. Anywhoo, we had a timeout and all of a sudden I'm staring at the same guy and at the same time we both bust out laughing - it was like a replay of the same thing. He came into the locker room, yes it was just a room that anyone could come in to, and talked to me for a few minutes.

Years ago, I was doing a game in Vegas and my partner moved the cheerleaders. A little later on, he gave one team a T because one of the cheerleaders called him a name. While I figured out what was going on, someone with a bullhorn in the stands called him an a$$hole. My partner got security to take them out. When the kid left he left the bullhorn with his buddy. As his friend was walking out he used the bullhorn and said, "You are still an a$$hole." He had to go too.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by tomegun

They lovingly referred to me as "baldy" most of the night.

Tell them you're not bald. You just have solar panels on your head to help the environment.

[ChrisSportsFan]

Originally Posted by tomegun

First of all I think that if anyone is going to say anything about me at least it should be funny.

There is an outdoor adult league in Maryland that I used to do. These are the kinds of fans that aren't really for either team, they just want to see highlights. One group of old men called me everything except a child of God. They lovingly referred to me as "baldy" most of the night.

I was doing a DeMatha game and one fan was staring me down during a timeout. The game was being played at American University and for some reason we looked at each other at the same time. He was mouthing something, complaining about the game. A few weeks later I was doing a game at DeMatha - a very small gym especially considering they are a nationally known team which regularly produces several D1 players every year. Anywhoo, we had a timeout and all of a sudden I'm staring at the same guy and at the same time we both bust out laughing - it was like a replay of the same thing. He came into the locker room, yes it was just a room that anyone could come in to, and talked to me for a few minutes.

Years ago, I was doing a game in Vegas and my partner moved the cheerleaders. A little later on, he gave one team a T because one of the cheerleaders called him a name. While I figured out what was going on, someone with a bullhorn in the stands called him an a$$hole. My partner got security to take them out. When the kid left he left the bullhorn with his buddy. As his friend was walking out he used the bullhorn and said, "You are still an a$$hole." He had to go too.

This is good stuff and it's gotta be true stories because you can't make that crap up. lol

[blindzebra]

I love the big student sections...too bad many schools in my area tend to not have them.

Most of the schools in my area that do have their own "crazies" tend to be in the same region and they always travel. Most have the visitors section behind their bench with the home seated opposite from the home bench. That set-up causes a loud cross-fire from the sections. It also puts the home crazies court side without a buffer. That closeness can be fun on some nights...others not so much.

I had a super ball go flying across the court during a girls varsity game. GM came in asking who did it, I could only tell them the direction. There were about 10-15 kids in the first row pointing at the 10-15 in the 5th row, who of course were pointing back...GM threw them all out.

I am far from the AZ record though. A heated rivalry game had a couple of fights break out during the first half with several fans tossed. Another broke out at the start of the 3rd quarter so the officials pulled everyone off the court and had GM clear the entire gym! They finished the game with both teams, the table and the officials. My 20-30 pales to the 2,500 or so that they tossed.

[MichaelVA2000]

18-U rec-ball. Team A is up by two points with twenty seconds left on the clock when B1 drives through the lane and flattens A1. My partner calls PC and B1 leaves the game with five fouls.

As the ball is being put in play, all hel* breaks loose on Team B's bench. A1's father has come onto the court and has punched B1 and is now fighting with the coach from Team B and fans from both teams are now pouring onto the floor.

My partner declares a forfeit, in favor of Team B and we locked ourselves in the AD office until the police came.

A1's father and three other people were arrested.

[ChuckElias]

Just wanted to say Happy New Year.

I posted this about 5 years ago. This was an on-court problem with a player that continued off-court: Fun, fun, fun!

[26 Year Gap]

Happy New Year, Chuck. Any more Dartmouth games?

[DrFeelGood]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

Just wanted to say Happy New Year.

I posted this about 5 years ago. This was an on-court problem with a player that continued off-court: Fun, fun, fun!

Thanks for the reply Chuck, so what ever happened to #4?