Comments to the crowd
 

The other night I witnessed two occasions where my partner spoke to the crowd during the game. One was after a foul call. A fan in the front row said, "Don't you guys see there are two colors out there?" My partner simply said, "no." Later in the evening my partner turned to the stands and told a different fan, "You need to shut up!"

As much as I would like to say something back to the fans at various points, I have always refrained. IMHO I think this just lets them know that they are getting our attention. How should I have handled this?

"You can generally lump interactions with fans into two categories. There are those situations where the answer to the question of whether to talk to fans is definitely No. On the other hand, there are those times when the answer is Hell No! Knowing the difference is important" Back in the Saddle

Holy smokes, I just got quoted from a year ago! :D

I talk back to the crowd all the time (gee - what a surprise) but I always tell them I'm required by law to inform them I am a sarcasm professional and if they continue to engage me in rhetoric, they are doing so at their own risk. :cool:

Talking to anyone outside the players, coaches, and game admin is something I try to avoid. We have nothing to gain from that, and unless you are a veteran like Padgett who probably knows everyone in the gym, it can blow up in your face on many different levels. I learned this first-hand and from seeing others.

I will say something on occasion in Rec Ball. I've been calling games there for yrs, everyone knows me, atmosphere is good, I've coached some of their kids, etc. Never above that level though.

Yes, this quote is from over a year ago. I had a similar Q concerning interacting with spectators. This one stuck with me. Oh, by the way, thanks.

Glad to be of help. :)

Very Rarely ....
 

Last week. Boys varsity game. Fourth period. Time out. I'm standing with the ball, on the sideline, opposite the table. Fan, in first row, right behind me, politely asks "Isn't #20 carrying the ball"? I answer, just as politely, "I'll keep my eye on him".

Didn't call a carry on #20, but I got a nice wave from the fan as I left the gym at the end of the game. Of course his team won.

I rarely do this, but the key is the polite tone, and the proximity of the fan.

I would have looked down at the ball and said, "No. Actually I'm carrying it." :cool:

(Rimshot).................He's here all week ladies and gentlemen

At a JV boys 'tournament' (4 teams) a couple of months ago...
 

I had all sorts of sniping from the stands, from grandma sounding voices, "how much is that other team paying you??", etc.

I never respond to stuff like that. Game goes OT (actually it went 2 ots) and at some point a dad-looking guy asks me what the rule on time outs is in overtime. I tell him. Right now I respond to all legitimate questions (had, "why do they keep track of team fouls on the scoreboard?" over the weekend) with a legitimate answer.

Please, try the veal. :rolleyes:

Seems longer.

This weekend as visitors at a 6th grade girls game, the 3rd quarter was abit phsycial and the home crowd was chirping about their team having 9 fouls to our 0. One of the officials decided to be very emphatic with a gentleman about appropriate behavior. :eek: He did have game management make an announcement, though I wish he have juts skipped the verbal fan dialogue and go to game management immediately and let them nip it in the bud.