Dancing Officials
 

Anyone happen to see this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=498Xn0ti02Y

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Should be an EJ on the mascot.

Mark and I started in HS basketball together many years ago....

He is a pretty cool guy and I could see him doing this.

I ref with Mark's brother back in his hometown.

I do not see a problem with this for the most part. It sounds like Mark is being a good sport. And if the mascot is a woman (and he might know) I really see no problem with this. He probably is OK with this one time thing. If the league does not want this, I am sure there will be some memo to make that clear. ;)

Peace

What does the gender of the mascot have to do with any of this?

It has a lot to do with it if you like that kind of thing. I forget, we have to play the political correctness angle.

If it were me, I would not want a dude in my personal space like that. That is what it has to do with this issue. Maybe the official does not role that way, not that there is anything wrong with that. ;)

Peace

Nothing.

It has nothing to do with political correctness.

I used to be a bouncer in a bar and girls would do this to me after they had way too much to drink and it was really annoying. Of course, they weren't wearing a bear mascot suit! :)

Then why would you be surprised that I mentioned what gender the person in the suit would be? It would matter to me personally. It would matter to others too (Not everyone, but it would matter. Do not fool yourself) If it would not bother you that is fine, but once again, I do not want a male putting their hands all over my waist and rubbing up against me. And if the official knew, maybe, just maybe that changed his attitude about being a good sport or not with the dancing. I know if it was one of the dance girls my attitude about it would be different in or out of uniform.

Peace

To you.

Peace

Inquiring Minds Want To Know ...
 

I often wonder if tapping my foot to a catchy tune during a time out, or an intermission, would be considered unprofessional in my high school games?

Comments please.

Billy. We will need video to confirm if this is proper!

No we won't.

The job of the mascot is to entertain the crowd, and if this entertainment includes making an ass out of somebody else, so be it. I would think making an ass out of an official would make it that much better, in the eyes of the average fan. I don't see gender as an issue.

And by the way, it isn't a woman. I would have bet that is wasn't.


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Well gender is a role to many and would be a big factor to many. People should respect each other's space and I am not so sure I would have just stood there not knowing anything about who is in the suit. Then again, that is me. Just like I would not make certain gestures or comments to a 16 year old cheerleader at a HS game because someone would take that comment a different way than possibly intended as opposed to saying something similar to an adult.

As a matter of fact I was on a game where an official had to go to court for assault because a parent was offended by the official running into a female cheerleader. So, yes, gender matters in these cases more than most of you would ever know or admit. And I repeat, if I knew who was in the suit that would have a great deal with my reaction. If many here do not care, that is fine, but I am very careful that I say to mascots or cheerleaders because something you think is not a big deal, because a big deal. I know someone that just got fired for saying that a HS cheerleader was "hot."

Peace

I heartily agree with this part.

No matter who is in the suit:

"Take it somewhere else, bear."

"Not kidding, bear. Get away from me."

I'm hoping the cheerleaders from the home team last Friday night aren't itching for a lawsuit, because on one of the first trips down the floor as Lead that night, I wiped out about three of them and sent them into the wall. I was going to say something to them about backing up, but the next time I looked they had gotten the hint and gave us plenty of room the rest of the night.

I'm more worried about not getting drilled by a cheerleader doing back-handsprings down the sideline.

Mark handled this perfectly.

You don't want robots out there who just ignore attention from mascots. That will make them seem cold, unapproachable, etc. Instead, Mark danced with him for a few seconds. That gets people to laugh and then he goes back to being professional, as we need referees to be.

I agree with this. I just look at the expressions on all the people's faces in the stands and know the NBE looks at this as just another part of their "entertainment package" and would approve of the official handling it just as he did. Kudos.