"Part of the game"

[JoeT]

I ref in an adult rec league where a few of the players are inclined to make some little comment about a call (or no-call) almost every time down the floor. I usually don't make a big deal out of it, but I wanted to run this comment by you guys to see what you think.

One team has gotten especially bad about making a lot of comments (many of them are absurd). I spoke with their captain after the game, and he informed me that players commenting on calls is "part of the game."

I disagreed (not surprisingly). I told him that he, as captain, is entitled to request a clarification on a call or rule if he has a concern.

My guess is that the problem arises since many of these guys have either never played organized ball or have not done so in years. Thus their primary point of contact with the game is watching the NBA and its incessant whining. (Shawn Kemp now does it publicly - see http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000202/sp/bkn_kemp_s_fouls_2.html)

Before you even say it, I know that I should probably keep a tighter lid on the comments. I would never spend an entire HS game listening to it, so why should I here? It is a rec league, though, and I do try to be sensitive to the fact that these guys are supposed to be playing for fun.

Do you think it's "part of the game?" Do you think that this notion comes from watching the NBA?

[This message has been edited by JoeT (edited February 08, 2000).]