I made a mistake

[Reffing Rev.]

Sub-District Game, 5 point differential, late 3rd quarter.

Team B has been pressing all game, effectively. Team A breaks the press out of a timeout with a great 'football' pass play for an easy layup. Ball is bouncing under the basket, when B1 picks up the ball and begins "coaching" teammates on who was to pick up that player, while B1 is still standing under the basket and clock is running. I was new T at this point, verbally said, "let's go...take it out" and then started my count because the ball was clearly at his disposal for the throw-in. I got to 3 before B1 even got out of bounds, and then got to 5, paused for a breath (to be nice) then called the 5 second count. B1 looked at me and slammed the ball down.

Technical Foul.

As I head toward the table B's coach standing in the coaches box obviously wants an explanation. I agree, he needs one. So I tell him, ball at his disposal, starts the count, blah blah blah. He says, "Come on, no one ever calls it that way (which I did in favor of his team at a Christmas tournament this season)" I explained for his benefit, ball was clearly at his disposal. That's the rule. I was turning to resume my new spot at T for the free throw administration and he asked why B1 deserved a Technical foul. Coach had been a little snooty, but he and I have had a good raport for a few years. I simply said as I started to walk away, "Come on coach, he slammed the ball down, that gets a Tech, and everyone calls it that way." He then said, loud enough i could hear from 20 feet away, "How dare he talk to me that way, smart a**."

I admit, my comment may have crossed a line. My next one sure did. "Coach, no one talks to me that way." Tweet. Magic Word = Technical Foul.

He then charged me. Partner who had also heard the comment and was already on his way over intercepted coach and issued a second Tech.

It was a long night.

I made a mistake. 10 years of officiating, 7 years of HS varsity basketball, and I in 30 seconds became a complete moron.