A few years ago, I was finishing my last rec game of a shift while my buddy, the Immortal Dave, was waiting to begin his. It was during a timeout in the 4th quarter that he yelled from the stands, "Hey Padgett - are you pregnant?” I ignored him but he yelled it again. I finally turned and said, "OK, Dave, I'll bite. No, I'm not pregnant, why do you ask?” Dave says, "Because you missed three periods!"

Not much you can say at that point.

Circa 2007...

"Don't worry, ma'am, "I've got a Tivo!""

If someone says it during a game, "What you've got a TV behind you?"

Or, "I know, but they don't have a jumbo-tron in here."

Or, I know, but I got assigned to work here."

There are however some very fine parents and coaches in the basketball community. Did three games Saturday and after two of the games had both parents and coaches shake hands with me and my partner and say that they appreciated the job we did and hoped to see us at a future game. (It's a youth league grade 4-8 and we can't really avoid parents and coaches as there is usually no place to go).

Caveat: whenever we'd receive a compliment like that a partner of mine would always remind us "If you believe them when they say you're good you got to believe them when they say you're bad."

Exactly, which is why I always smile and say thank you but file it in my banks as a sportsmanship display rather than a true critique of my officiating.

I don't take parental comments as a critique of my officiating, I'm probably my toughest critic as I think about situations on the way home and then spend a half hour that same evening with a glass of single malt and the book and review whatever I feel unsure or deficient about. This board has an impressive database of issues and suggestions as well. And, a fair amount of humor. For that matter I worked with the league assignor the other day and I was being tougher on myself than he thought I should have been. He was actually very complimentary.

My point is that there are some parents and coaches illustrating behavior that's more appropriate than the alternative we so often see.

Agreed
 

And I also take note whether they're from the winning....or losing team.

For me, a thank you or any positive comments from a losing coach/parent/player means just a little bit more.... and is possibly more genuine.

I was doing a 7th/8th grade CYO game the other day, and late in a close game, I saw A1 shove B1 during a dead ball. I had done team A several times over the last couple of years, and knew the coaches were very good about sportsmanship and such, so it was a little surprising.

Anyway, I called the T on A1, and the coaches sat him down immediately, and A ended up losing by 4 or 5 points.

Between games, the A coach came over to thank us for working the game, the way he always does, and I asked him "OK, coach, what did I miss on that T? Did your guy get shoved first?" and he said "Yeah, the other player kind of gave him a little extra elbow, and then my guy pushed him back. But they have to learn that someone being unsporting is no excuse for them being unsporting - you guys did a great job, thanks!".

And I thought "I would do a lot more CYO games if more of the coaches had that guys attitude..." Sadly, that is not the case.

Not really a question of whether you "believe them" so much as it is a appreciated display of courtesy in a environment where it is often missing.

Well said.

So....both teams won? ;)

So, that would be like a VICTORY BLARGE?!?

I'm against that.

wobw