2009's wildest moments in high school sports

[grunewar]

We've talked about poor behavior a bit lately. Below is from Today's Washington Post. Some stories have been posted before, others are new. Enjoy!

Varsity Letter - By Preston Williams - December 31, 2009

Why, it must be time for the annual spin around the country to ponder the wild and the wacky from the world of high school sports in 2009.

Portland, Ore. -- A father, allegedly unhappy with his son's playing time, hired a private investigator to tail the basketball coach, instructing her to call authorities if the coach was drinking and driving.

Kirkland, Ill. -- After only one person confessed, school officials canceled the remainder of a boys' basketball season because of urine the players had left on floors and toilet seats in another school's locker room.

Poultney, Vt. -- A junior varsity basketball coach -- who had told referees they needed to take command of the game or he would take action -- received a life ban from coaching in Vermont after tripping an opposing player.

Valparaiso, Ind. -- An upset fan who attacked a basketball referee after a game was arrested by the ref himself, a moonlighting Indiana State Police officer. "You can't arrest me; you're a referee!" the fan said in between shoves of the trooper-referee.

Allentown, Pa. -- A girls' basketball coach, angered by the heckling of a player's father, was found not guilty of disorderly conduct after he went into the crowd during a game and allegedly placed his hands around the man's neck. "As long as you're yelling, your daughter doesn't play," the coach told the dad. (My personal favorite)

Litchfield, Ill. -- Two boys' basketball players, suspected of stealing cash and iPods from players from another school while sharing a locker room at a tournament site, were arrested for the crimes while their game was going on.

Cut Bank, Mont. -- A boys' basketball team was forced to forfeit its game after a player, dunking during warmups, shattered the glass backboard, violating a state postseason rule.

Fair Oaks, Calif. -- An athletic league appeals committee reversed the result of a boys' basketball game after one team was awarded 18 technical free throws -- the shooter made 17 of them -- with 12.3 seconds left in the game. The team should have shot six free throws.

These are just basketball. Entire article is at:2009's wildest moments in high school sports - washingtonpost.com

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Fair Oaks, Calif. -- An athletic league appeals committee reversed the result of a boys' basketball game after one team was awarded 18 technical free throws -- the shooter made 17 of them -- with 12.3 seconds left in the game. The team should have shot six free throws.

Anybody here know the full story? Has it been posted here?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

An upset fan who attacked a basketball referee after a game was arrested by the ref himself, a moonlighting Indiana State Police officer. "You can't arrest me; you're a referee!" the fan said in between shoves of the trooper-referee.

grunewar: Thanks for sharing. It could happen. I've worked several games with a Connecticut state trooper. Coaches don't give him any problems, or they get a ticket. Happy New Year.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Anybody here know the full story? Has it been posted here?

Was this handled correctly?

HS protest after EIGHTEEN free throws given

Committee awards win to Bella Vista boys hoops team - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports | Sacramento Bee

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Was this handled correctly?

HS protest after EIGHTEEN free throws given

Committee awards win to Bella Vista boys hoops team - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports | Sacramento Bee

The Amazing Archive Man.

[representing]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Litchfield, Ill. -- Two boys' basketball players, suspected of stealing cash and iPods from players from another school while sharing a locker room at a tournament site, were arrested for the crimes while their game was going on.

Something similar to this happened in the league I officiate for. I can't remember the teams or anything like that, but it was Girls JV/V team. As visitors, this one team stole sneakers and all sorts of other stuff from the school they were visiting. When the bus made it back to their school, cops were waiting. Turns out the janitor went into the locker room to clean up and noticed a lot of stuff was missing. He called the AD who came in and said that there should be sneakers and stuff. They called the other team's coach and they agreed to call the cops, not letting the girls know of their returning-home surprise. Every girl on the bus had to open up their bag and if they had even just one thing not of their belonging, they were arrested on the spot. The school canceled the rest of their season after that as well.

Now that I think of it, it wasn't a 2009 event, I think it was the 2007-08 season. But still, thought it was worth mentioning

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by grunewar

We've talked about poor behavior a bit lately. It must be time for the annual spin around the country to ponder the wild and the wacky from the world of sports in 2009.

Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other during a Christmas Eve locker room argument over a gambling debt, according to The New York Post.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other during a Christmas Eve locker room argument over a gambling debt, according to The New York Post.

Does this happen next year?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Does this happen next year?

Woke up to read the story online before I logged onto the Forum. I'm sure that it was published to late to be included on any type of 2009 list. This has Sports Illustrated's "Sign of the Apocalypse" written all over it.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Woke up to read the story online before I logged onto the Forum. I'm sure that it was published to late to be included on any type of 2009 list. This has Sports Illustrated's "Sign of the Apocalypse" written all over it.

I'm not nearly as surprised as they seem to be, then.

[Upward ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The Amazing Archive Man.

Do you now take back half the bad stuff you ever said about him ?

[Cobra]

Can you believe it?!?!

Shawnee, Kan. -- A gymnastics team posted the best score at the state meet but dropped to third after officials deducted a point because the coach had asked about her team's balance beam scores after the window in which she was allowed to inquire.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other during a Christmas Eve locker room argument over a gambling debt, according to The New York Post.

C'mon, this is DC ya know!?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by grunewar

C'mon, this is DC ya know!?

So they thought that they were playing for the Washington Bullets?

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

So they thought that they were playing for the Washington Bullets?

The Washington Yiddishe Knoodle has just reported the family of recently deceased Wizards owner, Abe Pollin, were assessed a $3500 fee from the Washington Hebrew Cemetery, to cover costs associated with returning his remains to his original gravesite. Seems his coffin had mysteriously moved 3 plots to the west.

RIP Abe.....