A tale of two games

[Mark Padgett]

Last night, two 8th grade boys games back to back. First game, worked with a guy that I didn't know. I think he was getting paid by the foul call. Both teams, double bonus, both halves. After Q1, I realized I had called two fouls and he had called 12. I kept track of mine after that so I could check the book after the game to see how many he called. I totaled eight for the game. He totaled 37. No, not a misprint. Five boys fouled out. The worst part was, I called the fifth foul on three of them, so it gave the impression I was the "bad guy" at those times. My partner was calling fouls for virtually any contact. It was a nightmare. Oh yeah - the coaches were a lot of fun, too.

Second game, different partner, thank goodness. Visiting coach complaining about almost every call since he was getting blown out. Q2, my partner finally had to give him a technical after a warning for shooting his mouth off. Two minutes later, my partner calls a travel on one of his kids (extremely obvious) and the clown throws his clipboard down. BUH-BYE, courtesy of me.

This is why I get the big bucks.