Escorted out of gym by police tonight

[Berkut]

I remember my very first year officiating, I had several rec games one day, doing them by myself, girls youth, IIRC.

Anyway, girls game, and I don't even remember why, but some parent/coach got mad about some call or another. I ended up Ting up a coach, and while I was reporting the T, a parent who was leaning against the wall next to the bench said something to me as I walked by.

I couldn't really hear him, and he wasn't yelling or anything, so I turned and said "Excuse me?"

He stepped forward, and said in a quiet tone, "I said you were a ****ing *******."

At this point I notice that he is

A) Rather smelly,
B) Dressed like a bum, and
C) Carrying a rather large knife in a sheath at his belt.

Yes, I know, I am clueless to not notice any of this before I spoke to him - but honestly, I was not even aware anyone was all that upset. The coach I just T'ed wasn't even particularly angry.

So I turn away, walk back to the center of the court away from him, and indicate that there is an officials time out. I then tell the head coach (who I just T'ed) that the gentleman in question would be leaving the gym.

The coach has no idea what is going on, so I repeat myself. The guy in question says (loudly now) "I am not leaving - you cannot make me leave!". I say something like "We are not going to continue until he is gone".

The coach tells him to leave, and he does - as he goes he says "I will be waiting for you!", which I ignore.

I finish the game and the next one, put on my jacket and leave. He is sitting outside the door, but either ignored me or did not recognize me.

Looking back on it, I made a variety of mistakes.

1) I should never have responded to whatever it was he muttered at me to begin with. What good ever comes from talking to parents/fans????
2) I should not have thrown him out - I should have gotten whoever was in charge to deal with throwing them out.
3) In retrospect, why didn't I call the cops before I left? It was probably pretty stupid to just walk out of the gym like that after he said he was going to wait for me.

Live and learn though. Nothing ever came of it, fortunately.

[bbcof83]

Haha, Berkut, that is an incredible story. Did he look like this?

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I've had one coach come into a locker room to request my name. I've had a parent ask for my name at an AAU game so she could report me to AAU. I've had a coach come to the locker room to try to get some clarification on a ruling. I've had one escort, after a player fight, more out of precaution. The home coach in that fight was mad that two of his players were ejected when only one from the other team (the one who started the mess) was; and was screaming down the hall as we left. He reminded me that we messed up the free throws, which was funny, because his team benefited from the screw up.

Had girl's 7th grade yesterday with a very annoying young coach, the usual stuff, screaming nothing but negative comments at his girls and the constant chatter directed my way. Did a few "unbelievables", which I should have whacked him for. And yes there is a God, his team blew a comfy lead and lost at the buzzer, which of course was our fault. He wanted to talk after game and I asked if it was pertaining to a rule question, which it wasn't. Conversation politely over(I wasn't giving him a forum for a free shot). He asked my name and I gave the obligatory "Mendy Rudolph" which he wanted me to spell(and I obliged).

Either his father or a parent suddenly was lurking over my shoulder and tried to get his two cents in.

Four Varsity boys' games over the Holiday and nary a peep from any coach.

Ya gotta love this game.

[artar]

The coach was ejected for leaving his designated coaching area (box) and his behavior towards me. He had been giving a warning not to leave the coaching box one period earlier therefore getting furious with me combined with the previous warning to not leave his area resulted in the ejection from the other ref.

[Corndog89]

I lived in Panama City, Florida from 2001-04 and called games throughout the panhandle. It was not at all unusual to get police escorts off the floor, to our cars and out of town...off into the scary, dark Florida backwoods night . High school basketball games were often the biggest events of the week/month/year in some of those small towns and the locals took them very seriously...tiny, old gyms were typically packed to the rafters and I loved working there. I'd guess 3-4 times a month my crew would "earn" a police escort of some type. There were armed policemen/women at every high school game I ever worked in FL and they were very proactive to ensure there were no incidences. Two drunks who got into a fight in the stands at one game spent the night in jail...that's the only "action" I was ever aware of.

My one question to Artar is how much experience your partner had? I know you said he was a vet, but one of my pet peeves is assignors assigning new guys together to work games with little-to-no veteran experience. 2-3 years of experience doesn't necessarily make a vet. Very tough situation for your second game ever ...it gets better.

[constable]

I'm a university cop. I am also a basketball official. I pay special attention to the safety and well being of the crew that is on a game any night I'm working.

The officials dressing room is in a secure corridor- I doubt most people even know where it is. The dressing rooms in our facility are secure- you need an access card to open the door and there is a panic alarm inside which when activated rings through as 911 call to us. Thankfully we've never had to use it. I in the past have "escorted" the crew to their room so I could talk shop with them about ball.

Now I realize most of us here don't have the luxuries of such a set up.

The bottom line is when in doubt, call the police. They are trained and paid to protect us. Like I said, my vocation just has me in a uniform with a badge on it. My avocation has me in stripes, black pants and patent leather shoes that prompt my fiance to make fun of me. I know the differences between my 2 gigs and wouldn't hesitate to call my law enforcement colleagues if the situation dictated it.

[Mark Padgett]

Years ago, I tossed a kid from a local rec league game. After the game, his mom came up to me screaming in my face. She said she was going to "report me to the Board". I told her she already had. She said "Whaaaaa?" I told her I was the President of the Board (which I was that year) and that I would take it under advisement, then I said OK, I did and there was no merit to her complaint. I love doing stuff like that.

She just shook her head and left. As she was leaving, she shouted she was going to "get her money back". Since we don't charge admission, I took this to mean she meant her kid's registration fee. When I got home, I looked through our records and found that her kid received a full "scholarship" (as we call financial assistance) and didn't pay a registration fee anyway.

I never received a request from her for it and she wasn't at her kid's next game (I checked) which was his last one of the season. Since he was in his final year with us and she never registered any other kids, that was the last I ever saw of her. Darn - I was looking forward to having more fun with her.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by artar

The coach was ejected for leaving his designated coaching area (box) and his behavior towards me. He had been giving a warning not to leave the coaching box one period earlier therefore getting furious with me combined with the previous warning to not leave his area resulted in the ejection from the other ref.

Okay, leaving the coaching box is not a flagrant foul; it's a standard technical foul no matter how many times he's been warned. Unless there was something particularly egregious about his behavior (and leaving the box doesn't qualify as "egregious"), I don't see a flagrant foul there. Is there some special rule I'm not aware of in this league that boots a coach for one T?

Unless he had a previous T, or said/did something particularly flagrant, I'm not understanding why he was ejected. Again, it looks like a standard T.

[Rufus]

My first year with my current association I ejected a JV coach. He came into the changing area after the game to apologize (my partner and the varsity crew were there as well). I reported the ejection and his coming into the dressing area (even though it was to apologize). Didn't need an escort on that one.

Two weeks ago my partner had just finished a 7th grade boys game and had gotten back to the dressing room. The coach knocks on the door and complains about the fouls (showing us the book for emphasis). I told him "Good game coach" and he leaves. Reported that one as well and thankfully didn't need an escort on that one either.

You did the right thing asking for an escort. Never be shy about the safety of you or your partner. I like to tell me partner in pre-game that we're the only ones that care if we get out the gym in one piece. I'm going to have to amend that to include law enforcement.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Berkut

I remember my very first year officiating, I had several rec games one day, doing them by myself, girls youth, IIRC.

Anyway, girls game, and I don't even remember why, but some parent/coach got mad about some call or another. I ended up Ting up a coach, and while I was reporting the T, a parent who was leaning against the wall next to the bench said something to me as I walked by.

I couldn't really hear him, and he wasn't yelling or anything, so I turned and said "Excuse me?"

He stepped forward, and said in a quiet tone, "I said you were a ****ing *******."

At this point I notice that he is

A) Rather smelly,
B) Dressed like a bum, and
C) Carrying a rather large knife in a sheath at his belt.

Yes, I know, I am clueless to not notice any of this before I spoke to him - but honestly, I was not even aware anyone was all that upset. The coach I just T'ed wasn't even particularly angry.

So I turn away, walk back to the center of the court away from him, and indicate that there is an officials time out. I then tell the head coach (who I just T'ed) that the gentleman in question would be leaving the gym.

The coach has no idea what is going on, so I repeat myself. The guy in question says (loudly now) "I am not leaving - you cannot make me leave!". I say something like "We are not going to continue until he is gone".

The coach tells him to leave, and he does - as he goes he says "I will be waiting for you!", which I ignore.

I finish the game and the next one, put on my jacket and leave. He is sitting outside the door, but either ignored me or did not recognize me.

Looking back on it, I made a variety of mistakes.

1) I should never have responded to whatever it was he muttered at me to begin with. What good ever comes from talking to parents/fans????
2) I should not have thrown him out - I should have gotten whoever was in charge to deal with throwing them out.
3) In retrospect, why didn't I call the cops before I left? It was probably pretty stupid to just walk out of the gym like that after he said he was going to wait for me.

Live and learn though. Nothing ever came of it, fortunately.

So what's the game fee in Afghanistan?

[artar]

"The bottom line is when in doubt, call the police."

Good point made by constable. After I was escorted from the gym last night the police officer told me not to hesitate to call anytime there is a basketball game where security is needed and the police will come guard the game.

Last night was the first night, first game I had ever been to where there was no cop present. I worked in the media 16 years as a sports photographer and never had been to a game (middle school included) where there was no security present.

[Mark Padgett]

I always call ahead for an escort service at my games. (imagine pic here)

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I always call ahead for an escort service at my games. (imagine pic here)

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by billymac

roflmao!

[eyezen]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Okay, leaving the coaching box is not a flagrant foul; it's a standard technical foul no matter how many times he's been warned. Unless there was something particularly egregious about his behavior (and leaving the box doesn't qualify as "egregious"), I don't see a flagrant foul there. Is there some special rule I'm not aware of in this league that boots a coach for one T?

Unless he had a previous T, or said/did something particularly flagrant, I'm not understanding why he was ejected. Again, it looks like a standard T.

Maybe he went Pat Knight?