Amongst the fans

[tref]

"You know, I'd like to just watch a game as fan sometimes. I dont need you explaining calls to me, just let me root for my team." - My wife

Just goes to show fans dont care about whats right/wrong they want everything to go their teams way. Personally, I cant sit in the stands anymore... many of their comments are just plain stooopid!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by tref

"You know, I'd like to just watch a game as fan sometimes. I dont need you explaining calls to me, just let me root for my team." - My wife

Just goes to show fans dont care about whats right/wrong they want everything to go their teams way. Personally, I cant sit in the stands anymore... many of their comments are just plain stooopid!

I get the same comments from my wife when watching movies and TV shows about sports and military.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I get the same comments from my wife when watching movies and TV shows about sports and military.

At least you get to watch movies about sports and military. *cue 4 Yorkshiremen sketch*

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by tref

Just goes to show fans dont care about whats right/wrong they want everything to go their teams way.

I think that has more to do with the heat of the moment.

At the previous UM game, this was the guy sitting next to me:
(at stripes) "That's horrible! No WAY is that right!"
(pause)
(turns to me) "What's the rule on that again?"

For a few seconds, fans react based on their knowledge, and yes, their bias. But ultimately, people want to be informed. They may not like the explanation at that time, but it does serve a long-term purpose a long-term purpose that will help us all. In other words, they'll be far less likely to complain about the same thing later, with the proper knowledge.

By the way, my wife and I have no problem telling each other we're dead wrong. It's been happily that way for nearly 20 years!

[IowaMike]

On the rare occasions when I don't have a game scheduled I will go watch a good high school matchup, particularly at tournament time. What I find interesting is how much crap is yelled at the officials during the course of the game. It shows me that I must tune out about 99% of the derogatory things fans scream during the course of my games because I just don't hear that much of it. I generally get a chuckle out of the fans stupidity and wonder if they realize that the only people listening to them ***** are other fans; the officials don't hear it or don't give a rats behind.

[Raymond]

My son just started a new school today. When I went to the school Tuesday for orientation out of the first 4 people I met, 3 knew me from officiating AAU & HS: receptionist whose son who went on to D1 ball; male counselor who went on to play D1 ball; counselor whose daughter played HS ball and was also working somewhere in school.

The receptionist told me later that she and the male counselor got all nervous (and guilty) because they were worried I would remember all the terrible stuff they had said about me during games. I like bringing that human face to the officiating profession.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I like bringing that human face to the officiating profession.

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

[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.

[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 IowaMike

On the rare occasions when I don't have a game scheduled I will go watch a good high school matchup, particularly at tournament time. What I find interesting is how much crap is yelled at the officials during the course of the game. It shows me that I must tune out about 99% of the derogatory things fans scream during the course of my games because I just don't hear that much of it. I generally get a chuckle out of the fans stupidity and wonder if they realize that the only people listening to them ***** are other fans; the officials don't hear it or don't give a rats behind.

+1 Most of the fans that bawl the loudest are the ones that like to hear themselves talk! Same blabber mouths are the ones in the restaurants that always talk and laugh louder than the rest. They must have been bottle fed or weened prematurely.

[Terrance "TJ"]

Purely for science, I'd like to see the reactions of people in a gym including the refs when someone, non sarcastically, applauds (loudly/vocally) a correct call by the crew. Especially if it was a fan/spectator of the team the call went against.

[grunewar]

When I do get that oft chance to see a game as a spectator, most of the time I'll sit by myself or with fellow officials. It certainly is entertaining to listen to the educated masses and their comments. Sometimes I just chuckle and shake my head.

It is however tough to "enjoy the game" sometimes as you observe the officials, coaches, and other nuances of the game others don't watch - after fouls, during dead balls and TO's, etc.

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by grunewar

When I do get that oft chance to see a game as a spectator, most of the time I'll sit by myself or with fellow officials. It certainly is entertaining to listen to the educated masses and their comments. Sometimes I just chuckle and shake my head.

It is however tough to "enjoy the game" sometimes as you observe the officials, coaches, and other nuances of the game others don't watch - after fouls, during dead balls and TO's, etc.

2nd year here. I told my wife that I can't watch basketball like I used to, particularly in person. It's actually been a little disconcerting to view my favorite sport and one I played and coached for more than 35 years from a brand new perspective.

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I think that has more to do with the heat of the moment.

At the previous UM game, this was the guy sitting next to me:
(at stripes) "That's horrible! No WAY is that right!"
(pause)
(turns to me) "What's the rule on that again?"

For a few seconds, fans react based on their knowledge, and yes, their bias. But ultimately, people want to be informed. They may not like the explanation at that time, but it does serve a long-term purpose a long-term purpose that will help us all. In other words, they'll be far less likely to complain about the same thing later, with the proper knowledge.

By the way, my wife and I have no problem telling each other we're dead wrong. It's been happily that way for nearly 20 years!

Same thing in my marriage! If I tell my wife she's wrong, I'm dead.

[Freddy]

The basis of the common term "fan" is the word "fanatic." Check out any dictionary to discover synonyms for each and you'll realize why most fans, with their preconceived bias and wholehearted favoritism fueling their fervency, lapse into fanaticism and vocalize their criticism against any call even the best of officials makes that goes against their favored team. It's the natural regression of things.
There are a handful of select individuals I know with whom I can sit to watch a game at my alma mater, whose judgment is not biased and with whom I can enjoy watching a game. I'm trying to make more people I know the way this handful of people is. It's working, slowly, but it is working. I wrote an article for the school newsletter just this past week entitled, "Are you a 'Fan', or a 'Fanatic'?" in order to help move people back to a reasonable, objective viewpoint.
Nothing stated regarding fanatical behavior that should really shock anyone on this board.
It's simply something up with which we are asked to put.