Ref chokes coach

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

And a completely unfounded guess. There was absolutely nothing in the article or photo that gives any indication that race was involved aside from the obvious point that one person was white and one was black. While racial insults certainly could have been the trigger, I could think of at least a few equally inflamitory actions that could be just as likely....e.g. insults/comments about his daughter/wife/mother without reference to race. It would be just as ignorant and stupid to suggest that the official couldn't restrain himself because of his race. Let's not make something about race merely because it is possilbe.

Put simply, we don't have enough info to make any conclusions about what led to the incident. But, unless the coach grabbed the officials hands and put them there, the official should lose his officiating credientials.

I agree with the first paragraph - it is very well put!

With the bold text, I agree only if in the same region, a coach looses his coaching credentials, if the situation was reversed. If current policy is to suspend a coach for a year, then the official could be permitted the same punishment.

[Adam]

You may well be right, Cameron. It’s possible the official was just having a bad day. Or it’s possible that he’s a psychopath who was just looking for an excuse to choke a coach. There are all sorts of potential explanations.

Maybe the coach said something about the official’s wife and kids. We don’t know. I do know that few things generate more emotional reactions than racially charged provocations. Personally, when someone who doesn’t know my wife/kids/mother makes some stupid insult, I chalk it up to ignorance. Of course, I understand some folks have different triggers than I do.

I’m not willing to say, however, that regardless of how the coach may have provoked him, the official should lose his credentials. An investigation should be completed, and loss of his officiating license should be on the table.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I’m not willing to say, however, that regardless of how the coach may have provoked him, the official should lose his credentials. An investigation should be completed, and loss of his officiating license should be on the table.

And I know someone will twist what I am saying here, so I also agree that if the official were to be brought to charges that would be perfectly OK with me. And I would also have no problem if he was banned from officiating in many areas and many sports as well. Just like any crime there is always a motive part of the discussion, it does not mean the motive is right.

Peace