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[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by rainmaker
...The worst problem was that the coach had the fans all worked up. He didn't do it overtly, so I couldn't deal with it directly, but it became real obvious by half-time that he was playing to the crowd. And they were appreciating!! ...the fans were screaming at me about how I was about to lose the game for them, because of all my racial prejudices. I know we aren't supposed to listen to fans, but it got through. Especially since everyone on the bench was also screaming it.

So, at that point, what's left?

Wow. Sounds like a tough game. Being prepared with a list
of things to calm things down with is good to have. But I
think you were in way deeper than that and I'm going to disagree with your mentor in this regard - your one liner to the coach to get the game under control & done should
have come way earlier. My advice? When you saw the
coach was playing the crowd you might have had a quick word
with him. Non-threatening, quietly, just you and he during
a dead ball. "Coach, your behavior is undermining my
authority and I can't have it." No one else should hear
this, because you have laid down the law to him and let him
know who's in charge. Either he'll get it and stop or he
won't and then you have got to take him immediately.
This guy wanted to make it personal between you and he,
you needed to cut him off at the knees right away. IMO.