Attacking ref: "Part of the game"

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Da Official

After listening to the interview, for ME, I have a less negative opinion of the young man. Listening to Holland he doesn't in my opinion (as stated before) appear to be this thoughtless, mean spirited, thug, and bully that society should fear and consequently lock away forever.

I concur. This kid made a very bad choice for which he's rightfully paying the price, but he's no monster.

It's always smart to consider what motivates people to do the things they do, especially the wrong choices. In that second, the kid didn't see a referee. He was a kid who got mad at someone else who, in his eyes, took away something he loved, and he instinctively fought for what he loved.

This kid probably identifies himself primarily, if not entirely, with basketball. He took the disqualification personally -- the worst thing any of us can do -- and the reaction speaks for itself.

As for "part of the game," I guess we can say this kid isn't articulate, either. I believe what he meant was that his competitive fire was still burning, and he felt that fire as he took it out on the guy that tossed him.

Mind you, all of this condones nothing. It may explain some of it, though.