3 seconds....THREE SECONDS!!!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Why do so many supposed adults, who have grown beyond those brain-damaged teenage years where we were all convinced that our friends knew everything and the adults knew nothing, why is it they so easily revert to that same mentality at sporting events?

And how is it that a complete stranger sitting two rows in front of mommy and daddy is afforded instant credibility and assumed to be vastly more knowledgeable and observant than the folks in stripes? We really need to figure that one out, and then teach those skills at camps!

I had a ball near the sideline last night. I'm right on the line (which is the hardest part of having to bounce between 2 and 3 person for me -- getting to the sideline as the lead official) and the ball had gone off of a home player's foot and was heading out. For some unknown reason, a visiting player reached down and tried to stop the ball and the ball squirted out of her hands and onto the sideline. I signal the violation, and some clown 8 rows up starts yelling:

"How can you miss that? That ball was already out! You're giving it to the wrong team!"

Later, we had a scramble, loose ball, players rolling around, ball's tied up, players roll over, and one ends up on top of the other. No foul, the ball was already tied up, etc. :

"She's got a knee in her back! That's a foul! You guys are terrible! Call something! Somebody's going to get hurt! Oh, the HUMANITY!"

OK, I made the last sentence up. I think.

I could go on and on and on and I tuned about 90% (I'd estimate) out completely. The parents are just complete and total idiots. I'm OK with that, but how about keeping their idiotic opinions to themselves?

[TimTaylor]

Maybe NFHS should require a sign in flashing lights on the gym wall with the Lincoln quote: "It's better to remain silent and thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

[Upward ref]

Originally Posted by TimTaylor

Maybe NFHS should require a sign in flashing lights on the gym wall with the Lincoln quote: "It's better to remain silent and thought a fool than open one's mouth and remove all doubt."

disregarding that advice myself right now ! all the high schools put out sportsmanship rules of behavior , booing, cursing, etc. seems like they should eject some of the biggest mouths a few times for the worst stuff. my son and i left the home team side last night and sat across the gym because imo they are notorious for their big mouth opinions, and really embarassing to be around . even though the team went all the way last year.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by Upward ref

disregarding that advice myself right now ! all the high schools put out sportsmanship rules of behavior , booing, cursing, etc. seems like they should eject some of the biggest mouths a few times for the worst stuff. my son and i left the home team side last night and sat across the gym because imo they are notorious for their big mouth opinions, and really embarassing to be around . even though the team ( Tabb H.S., York Co. Va.) went all the way last year.

The ultimate combination: ignorance + bias + no self control + an entitlement complex.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

The ultimate combination: ignorance + bias + no self control + an entitlement complex.

Are you talking about Congress?

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

The ultimate combination: ignorance + bias + no self control + an entitlement complex.

I believe Rob Zombie has referred to that as "ugly American."

[just another ref]

Last night BV, team A pressed most of the night. Team B had a lot of success breaking the press and scoring. There were a lot of near miss block attempts and I think A players must have slapped the backboard at least a half dozen times. Each time, the same very helpful voice was heard:

"That's a tech! He can't slap the backboard!"

[Refk]

I don't think it works to try to educate unless you know them personally. .......... last year watching a game prior to my daughter's. Official calls backcourt violation- player jumped from back court, caught pass from teammate in front court (still in air). This guys goes nuts ..... turns to me and says " can you believe that ; where are they getting theses guys, they are HORRIBLE ". He had been obnoxious the whole game so instead of just keeping my mouth shut I said (nicely) that these two officials are probably two of the best in the area and that they got the call right. He reallly didnt' like that and the conversation just went down hill....... got to the point where he was getting personal with me and we ended up having a few choice words. I walked away .............. tough to do and vowed NEVER to try and educate someone I don't know.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The parents are just complete and total idiots. I'm OK with that, but how about keeping their idiotic opinions to themselves?

The big question is why does society allow this type of behavior? If those people were to yell and act like that at any other location in our society it would be thought of as completely improper. All of a sudden they go to a youth sporting event and society no longer looks down on that type of behavior.

Some people who don't act like idiots the entire game sit right next to people who do, yet they do not think anything of it when the idiot screams for an hour straight. Why does society not look down upon this type of behavior?

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Cobra

The big question is why does society allow this type of behavior? If those people were to yell and act like that at any other location in our society it would be thought of as completely improper. All of a sudden they go to a youth sporting event and society no longer looks down on that type of behavior.

Some people who don't act like idiots the entire game sit right next to people who do, yet they do not think anything of it when the idiot screams for an hour straight. Why does society not look down upon this type of behavior?

My wife went to an all girls boarding school in the Northeast. Very minimal exposure to sports and particularily High School sports.

So her first exposure were people threatening her husband, calling me names, etc. To this day she is appalled at the behavior of "adults" in these venues. She also would like to know when did it become acceptable for adults to act like this in public ?

[mj]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

She also would like to know when did it become acceptable for adults to act like this in public ?

Once in a great while when I'm on my soapbox about officiating and this topic is brought up, I compare it to me going to someone's place of work and screaming over their shoulder about the mistakes they are allegedly making.

Does this quiet them down at future games? I highly doubt it but maybe it makes them think even just a little bit.

[stosh]

I am often tempted to go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of cheap party whistles (in ten packs for a birthday party), and then at an 11 year olds rec game hand them out to the parents as they come in and tell them that if they don't like a call, instead of complaining just blow the whistle!

I think they would quickly see why there are only 2 or 3 officials.

It's nice to dream...