"I played the game my whole life"

[Mark Padgett]

This Sunday, I called an intentional foul on B1 who just ran up to A1 and pushed her in the back to stop the clock. Team A was up by 5 with about 30 seconds to go in the game. Coach B couldn't believe I called it intentional. I told him what happened and he said, "That's not an intentional foul. I should know. I played the game my whole life."

My reply: "Really, coach? Your whole life? Even when you were a baby? Did you dribble while dribbling?"

He just stared, turned around and walked away.

There's a guy who lives in the neighborhood who was a boy's V coach for over 20 years and he comes to watch a lot of the games (he's retired and doesn't have much else to do, I guess). We talk sometimes between and after games and he came up to me after this one and said he couldn't believe that coach didn't think that was an intentional foul. He said, "What did he think needs to happen - the girls head has to fly off?"

Saying you know how to officiate because you've played the game is like saying you know how to fly a plane because you've been a passenger.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

This Sunday, I called an intentional foul on B1 who just ran up to A1 and pushed her in the back to stop the clock. Team A was up by 5 with about 30 seconds to go in the game. Coach B couldn't believe I called it intentional. I told him what happened and he said, "That's not an intentional foul. I should know. I played the game my whole life."

My reply: "Really, coach? Your whole life? Even when you were a baby? Did you dribble while dribbling?"

He just stared, turned around and walked away.

There's a guy who lives in the neighborhood who was a boy's V coach for over 20 years and he comes to watch a lot of the games (he's retired and doesn't have much else to do, I guess). We talk sometimes between and after games and he came up to me after this one and said he couldn't believe that coach didn't think that was an intentional foul. He said, "What did he think needs to happen - the girls head has to fly off?"

Saying you know how to officiate because you've played the game is like saying you know how to fly a plane because you've been a passenger.

Mark:

ROFLMAO, I think you are off your meds again.

MTD, Sr.

[Coltdoggs]

Padgett, you are a funny dude! ..you should have just said "Well coach, I've been officiating MY whole life...there's there is the difference!"

[Mark Padgett]

I guess if you dribble while dribbling that would be a double dribble.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by Coltdoggs

Padgett, you are a funny dude! ..you should have just said "Well coach, I've been officiating MY whole life...there's there is the difference!"

Mark is the "Hawkeye Pierce" of this forum.

[TheOracle]

That's a great topic, Mark. I believe that many coaches, players, and fans equate an intentional foul with a dirty play or excessively hard contact. I believe that they thikn this way because the penalty is identical, unless you reach the flagrant category. I'd say at least half the time, you will get a bad reaction when crossing the arms above your head, and no explanation or context will suffice. I wish more people would understand that if is not a basketball play based on outskilling your opponent, it is essentially an intentional foul.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

based on outskilling your opponent

"Outskilling". Is he related to WGN Chicago Superstation meteorologist Tom Skilling?

[TheOracle]

No, Jeff Skilling, former Enron executive. If the players can fool us as well as the investors were, I'm giving the player every call! Mad SkillZ, Baby!

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by TheOracle

No, Jeff Skilling, former Enron executive.

Did you know Jeff and Tom are brothers? Not kidding. I used to work with Tom in Aurora, IL in radio when he was a teenager. He actually had hair then!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Saying you know how to officiate because you've played the game is like saying you know how to fly a plane because you've been a passenger.

Great line. Other than breakng the plane and fouling the inbounder, there are only three other automatic intentional fouls, in my mind, a push from behind, a bear hug, and grabbing a jersey. I'll call a few others, like a hard foul, but those might be more subjective.