Amongst the fans

[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.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by NoFussRef

Gotta love Mom. And yes, Hot Moms.

Gross.

I know that they have to be somebody's Mom, just not somebody's Mom that I know.

[APG]

Originally Posted by 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.

Pretty funny. I hope you don't revert to doing those actions now despite what you might read from a certain forum member...especially if you decide to join your state association next year.