Karl Hess tosses two NC State players

[Pumpy25]

As a spectator I understand to an extent what he did, but I don't know what they said either. I think it shows thin skin. Players/coaches get heckled all the time, why are officials above this and untouchable? Just looking from another view point, coaches and players have to answer for their mistakes, why not officials? Not saying he did bad during the game because I didn't watch it. I've always wanted to see officials be open to the media, not about specific calls, but for questioning and comments. People would get more insight on what the thought process is behind certain things.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Pumpy25

As a spectator I understand to an extent what he did, but I don't know what they said either. I think it shows thin skin. Players/coaches get heckled all the time, why are officials above this and untouchable? Just looking from another view point, coaches and players have to answer for their mistakes, why not officials? Not saying he did bad during the game because I didn't watch it. I've always wanted to see officials be open to the media, not about specific calls, but for questioning and comments. People would get more insight on what the thought process is behind certain things.

You have no way of knowing if the official had thin skin or not as you don't know what was said. And it's not as if he went out of his way to address this...the freaking idiots are right at the scorer's table where officials are at all the time taking care of our duties throughout the game.

Also officials do answer for their mistakes...we all have bosses we have to answer to if something goes wrong. There would be little point in having officials open to the media...we know exactly what the questions would be.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Pumpy25

As a spectator I understand to an extent what he did, but I don't know what they said either. I think it shows thin skin. Players/coaches get heckled all the time, why are officials above this and untouchable? Just looking from another view point, coaches and players have to answer for their mistakes, why not officials? Not saying he did bad during the game because I didn't watch it. I've always wanted to see officials be open to the media, not about specific calls, but for questioning and comments. People would get more insight on what the thought process is behind certain things.

This isn't about officials having to answer for their mistakes. This is about two fans who thought they were untouchable and could say what they wanted to.

As for your suggestion, the only thing that would come from officials being interviewed by the media is that more fans would post that time honored comment, "The refs think the game is about them."

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Pumpy25

As a spectator I understand to an extent what he did, but I don't know what they said either. I think it shows thin skin. Players/coaches get heckled all the time, why are officials above this and untouchable? Just looking from another view point, coaches and players have to answer for their mistakes, why not officials? Not saying he did bad during the game because I didn't watch it. I've always wanted to see officials be open to the media, not about specific calls, but for questioning and comments. People would get more insight on what the thought process is behind certain things.

This just shows a lot of ignorance on your part. Players/coaches a lot of times address issues with officials about things fans do. I have even had game management ask me and my partners to watch out for certain behavior of student sections and to tell them if they are going over the top. Actually they expect us to address it or to monitor certain actions and comments. So you have no idea what you are talking about really if you think these things are not addressed at many levels. My state during the playoffs has a required statement that must be read before every contest about fan behavior and many conferences do the same during the regular season. And if there is a problem with fans we as officials are instructed to remove problems from the stands. It is not like he went up into the stands and got rid of the guys, he has security and the police to address this issue.

Peace

[truerookie]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This just shows a lot of ignorance on your part. Players/coaches a lot of times address issues with officials about things fans do. I have even had game management ask me and my partners to watch out for certain behavior of student sections and to tell them if they are going over the top. Actually they expect us to address it or to monitor certain actions and comments. So you have no idea what you are talking about really if you think these things are not addressed at many levels. My state during the playoffs has a required statement that must be read before every contest about fan behavior and many conferences do the same during the regular season. And if there is a problem with fans we as officials are instructed to remove problems from the stands. It is not like he went up into the stands and got rid of the guys, he has security and the police to address this issue.

Peace

This goes to show that game managment should have more staff on hand to handle those situations.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by truerookie

This goes to show that game managment should have more staff on hand to handle those situations.

I cannot speak for this situation, but attending the college and pro games I have in the past, there are a lot of those individuals around than what we would see at the HS level in most cases. Some places at the HS level have several police officers at games and other places have just teachers or administrators that are hard to find in a big crowd. As I said I saw a police officer that was removing the men from the arena.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

We as officials are instructed to remove problems from the stands.

Here in my little corner of Connecticut, we are instructed to have the problems removed from the stands. I would never give an unruly fan the old baseball "You're Outta Here" heave-ho signal. Nor have I ever observed any official use this signal in regard to a fan situation in over thirty years of officiating high school basketball. Of course, I've never officiated an NCAA Division I game, so I really shouldn't comment on what goes on with the "big boys".

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Pumpy25

As a spectator I understand to an extent what he did, but I don't know what they said either. I think it shows thin skin. Players/coaches get heckled all the time, why are officials above this and untouchable? Just looking from another view point, coaches and players have to answer for their mistakes, why not officials? Not saying he did bad during the game because I didn't watch it. I've always wanted to see officials be open to the media, not about specific calls, but for questioning and comments. People would get more insight on what the thought process is behind certain things.

I have no idea what was said or to whom; but I can tell you that the same comments will get you booted whether you say them to the officials, players, coaches, or table.

Heckling won't get you tossed unless it crosses a big bright line.