Fun, fun, fun!

[ChuckElias]

Juco game last night. Community college vs. the JV of a 4-year college. Juco team (playing at home) took an early lead, but then began playing out of control, I called about 8 offensive fouls and my partner had a few more. They blew the lead and 3 minutes into the 2nd half, they found themselves down by 20. Frustration set in, and play began to get more and more rough. My partner and I were calling a LOT of fouls. I should've called one intentional, but didn't. Around 7 minutes left in 2nd half, JV player bobbles the ball while taking a couple steps. No whistle. Juco player #4 tells me my officiating ability is sub-par. I T'd him.

At 4:56 (2nd half), juco player #34 commits his 5th personal foul. He then shouts to the crowd a word that begins with F, ends with K, and isn't "Firetruck". My partner T's #34. Juco head coach then yells across the floor to my partner (and I quote, ok? I'm not making this up), "Are you wearing a reffing patch, or a smoking patch?!?"

Now aside from the fact that this is quite possibly the lamest, stupidest put-down I've ever heard, you have to understand that we don't wear any patches for our college games around here. Also, he had made the exact same comment to me earlier, except that he said it when I was right next to him and I don't think anybody else heard it. I was so stunned by his lameness, that I just put my arms out to show him no patches and gave him a look that I hoped said "Huh?!?!"

Anyway, b/c it was shouted across the floor and everyone heard it, my partner T'd him. While we're shooting the FT's good old #4 is giving my partner the Rasheed treatment. Trying to stare him down, telling him that call's just not right. Parnter tells him to stop talking, and stop eyeballing him. Player stops right in front of him and stares him down. Partner T's him. That's his second and he's done.

#4, however, doesn't want to leave the gym. I inform him that he has to leave. Finally, he leaves and we continue. Once play resumes, there is another call and one of the juco players says something and his teammate says "Hey, just shut up or they'll call another T!"

Ding!

Anyway, the last 4 minutes went by without any more fireworks.

As we're leaving the gym, there's #4 sitting right outside the gym door. He says, "See I'm still not mad at ya. Ya punk-@$$".

We shower and dress and head out to our cars, and -- what a surprise -- there's somebody at the door. I think it was #4, but he'd gotten dressed and I'm not 100% sure it was him. (I'm 99% sure, tho) He walks out behind us and says to me "I'll shoot [or maybe he said "do"] you like the DC sniper". I reach my car and drive to my partner's car to make sure he doesn't have any problems, and my partner tells me that the kid said to him "You better hope I don't see what car you're driving".

The threats sound really bad, but honestly, I never felt like I was in any danger at all. He didn't follow us to our cars or try to make any physical contact. Maybe I'm stupid, but I really wasn't scared or concerned.

What a pleasant evening! The best part? I have that same team in 3 weeks on the 21st. Gonna be fun, fun, fun!!

Chuck