Ugh...I could have gone a lifetime without seeing another image from that rather disturbing collection ever again.

I have to agree with the masses, Goodwill. That comment certainly will get someone in trouble at most workplaces, but let that school teach the kid a lesson about our good friend "sexual harrassment." We sports officials need only concern ourselves with genuine threats and violence (both physical and verbal). I don't think "Hey cutie" qualifies.

What's your motivation behind this comment, Mark?

Wouldn't have raised even one eyebrow on me. Some girl in the stands probably kicked the kid in the shins, anyway.

I had a kid toss a wallet on the floor next to my partner in an obvious joke during a timeout (he was administering the throw-in right by the student section). He got game management and made a huge deal out of it. I can guarantee (cause the AD told me later) that it made the official look like an OOO jerk. Me? I would've laughed and handed the kid his wallet back and probably told him he didn't make enough flipping burgers to buy me.

Matter of fact, I had a great time chatting with a student section the other night. And with a parent at the division line last night before the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters. Anything I can do to make it clear I'm having a good time and I'm human is OK with me.

I'm an Anglican.

Just saying.....

Around here, it would take at least 4 years to live down threatening to remove the student section for something as lame as that. You'd definitely never live it down at that school as long as you do games there.

Agree completely.

I would have cleaned the wallet out before handing it back to the kid. And then told him "thanks". See what he had to say about that. :D

I'm in agreement with the clear majority that this wouldn't even cause me pause, let alone be enough for me to involve GM. However...

What if this statement was made in a clearly sarcastic and hurtful way toward a player who was quite unattractive, overweight, etc. Does this change anyone's feelings on how to handle the matter?

I'd stuck the whole thing in my pocket and said, "thanks"!

No band-aid is needed. This maybe the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of an official doing with regards to a fan.

It's not threatening, profane, vulgar, insulting, racist, sexist, humiliating....the list could go on and on. There is absolutely no reason in the world to even acknowledge that such a simple and innocent comment.

As for the black eye, most fans already have a poor opinion of officials. Everyone who heard the comment or knew what was going on left the building and told everyone they could about the jerk wearing the stripes. There was absolutely no reason whatsoever for you to do anything in that situation.

Thanks for the tip!!

Or at least laughed at the driver license photo. Assuming he had one.

And Occasionally Some Fish ...
 

Not me. I enjoy eating a little meat. I don't eat a lot of red meat, but I have chicken, or turkey, almost every night for dinner.

Making a short story into a long story, ;-).
 

Bainsey:

I officiated H.S. soccer from 1993 until 2005, and I have expierenced far too many partners, in NW Ohio, who think that the crowd is part of their domain.

Case in Point: The philosophy of the soccer officials association in Ohio to which I belonged during that time: A young official (early 20's, LOL; ah to be young and have hair again, :D) stood up and told the group that he had officiated a H.S. game the week before and the crowd (fans from both teams) were constantly yelling its displeasure with his calls (if both sides are mad then he must have been doing a good job, :D) and that by the end of the first half he could not concentrate on his officiating because the crowd's attitude toward his officiating. The concensus of the group was that he should have stopped the game and admonished the crowd regarding its unsportsmanlike behavior toward him that if if did not stop, he would take appropriate action. :eek: RFLMAO!! I had to stop the insanity and tell them they were all nuts, which I did, and then I addressed the young official directly. I told him that if the crowd was bothering him that much he had to do one of two things: (1) Either change is attitude and forget the crowd, Or, (2) Officiating is not for him and that he needs to find another outlet for his engeries. That did not go over well with the powers that be in the group.

MTD, Sr.