Amongst the fans

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How can this be? I've been doing this for thirty years, and I have never had a blarge in any of my games, nor have I seen a blarge in any that I've observed.

I think he means "block/charge" plays in general, not the double foul variety we love to hate.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Me too. And the human face I bring is usually the one of a fan that pissed me off.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hannibal Lechter has donned the stripes. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Being an official has ruined my life as a basketball fan. Every time I go to a game in person, or watch one on television, I'm not watching the players, I'm watching the officials. This even happens when I go to UCONN men's, or women's game, and I'm not even a college official. I've had friends, or family, ask me, "Hey BillyMac, wasn't that a great pass?", to which I reply, "What pass? Did you see that official close down on the three point shot?".

When I eventually give up officiating, will I ever be able to go back to being a fan? Please tell me that I can go back. Someone? Please?

I too have been struck with this affliction. In surfing games on TV, my first focus is who is on game.

At our local high school, I'm now sitting on visitor's side in a corner far far away from the madding crowd. On a rare occasion when I'm with the parents, "was that a foul?" is the mantra directed at me.It's nails on a chalkboard when all the cliches come out "call it both ways" at the top of the list.

I will admit however, under my breath, watching my son's games and having some pretty green freshman refs, that I revert to being a dad. Just a momentary lapse I promise you.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by fullor30

I will admit however, under my breath, watching my son's games and having some pretty green freshman refs, that I revert to being a dad. Just a momentary lapse I promise you.

I have had this experience as well, or at least part of it. I now keep my mouth shut.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by fullor30

I too have been struck with this affliction. In surfing games on TV, my first focus is who is on game.

At our local high school, I'm now sitting on visitor's side in a corner far far away from the madding crowd. On a rare occasion when I'm with the parents, "was that a foul?" is the mantra directed at me.It's nails on a chalkboard when all the cliches come out "call it both ways" at the top of the list.

I will admit however, under my breath, watching my son's games and having some pretty green freshman refs, that I revert to being a dad. Just a momentary lapse I promise you.

Originally Posted by mbyron

I have had this experience as well, or at least part of it. I now keep my mouth shut.

I believe judtech has a 12-step program he can refer you to.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

Ladies and gentlemen, Hannibal Lechter has donned the stripes. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Everybody should have a role model.

[Loudwhistle2]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Letemplay - good post!

+1 Letemplay, we've walked similar walks. Interesting how your perspectives and experiences matched some of mine.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Fan asks me, "Isn't that goaltending?", which led to a quick, friendly, discussion about the difference between goaltending, and basket interference.

So Billy...did you tell the friendly fan that the official kicked the call?

Or did the official indeed kick the call?

That's the problem with sitting with fans...they are going to look to the official in the stands to legitimize their complaints...be it by our "friendly explanations" or even by our facial expressions.

IMO...we have to be very careful not to throw our "partners" under the bus, even with a friendly explanation or frown on a call.

But, I'm sure you know that...just throwing it out here.

[26 Year Gap]

My daughter played field hockey, so I was a totally clueless fan. For 4 years.

[Loudwhistle2]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

My daughter played field hockey, so I was a totally clueless fan. For 4 years.

Sounds like me and volleyball as far as rules go, thank God she only played for two years. Sheer torture for me to watch volleyball games in about 50 ways!

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

Did you tell the friendly fan that the official kicked the call?

No. The ball dropped down from the rim into the net at about the same time the net was barely touched. Since the ball went in the basket, I would have passed on it also.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by letemplay

I'll share my story on the thread subject.

I'm glad you did, letemplay. Great perspective.

Here's a "for what it's worth."

A few years ago, I'm working a youth tournament with teams from all over the state. In one game, the coach is a very well respected official from another board.

I'm the T. Right in front of his bench, the point guard made a very strange shuffling move, an easy travel for me. I whistle, and the coach is aghast.

"(Bainsey), what did he do?!?"

I quickly reancted the motion to the best of my ability. (My pivot foot is always the left foot, because I have two of them.) I was a little surprised he didn't see the obvious shuffle.

The following year, this same gentleman is working a tournament game, and he has a similar travel call for foot shuffle in front of a bench. All I could do was burst out laughing!

Okay, it wasn't all I did. I found him after the game and called his attention to that travel call.

"Last year, you busted my hump at a youth tournament for the exact same call!"

He just smiled guiltily.

"You probably called in on my kid, that's why."

[NoFussRef]

I began officiating basketball when I was 14 years old. Not having a driver license until 16, my mother used to haul me around from gym to gym so I could work my games.

She still tells stories of what it was like sitting in the stands listening to parents whine and cry about calls/no-calls.

Her favorite's include the half-time chit-chat where after 2 quarters of complaining about how terrible the refs were... someone would ask "which one on the court is your kid?" to which she would proudly reply "The one with the whistle." Hahahaha.

Or the time she went to switch seats at half, a "lady" asked her if she wanted her seat saved, and mom replies "no thank you, I am tired of hearing what an a$$hole my son is, I will sit elsewhere."

Gotta love Mom.

And yes.... Hot Moms.

[APG]

It's an **cking shame that grown adults felt the need to berate an official who isn't even considered an adult...but nothing surprises me today.

[NoFussRef]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

It's an **cking shame that grown adults felt the need to berate an official who isn't even considered an adult...but nothing surprises me today.

Back before I learned to just ignore fans, and if anything, laugh at their demonstration of ignorance regarding rules, I used to engage them from time-to-time.

My favorite way to "get even" was to call an "Official's TO" stop the game and embarrass the sh$t out of them. Often this would involve reminding them that they are adults, and we are all here for the kids on the court, and that they need to "SET AN EXAMPLE".

Of course I also offered my whistle to a "lady" once. I figured if she was so sure she could do a better job than my partner and I, she should be given the opportunity... She of course graciously declined and I didn't hear a peep out of her the rest of the game.