You Don't Say ...

[bainsey]

A few grammatical things:

"Non-shooter" should be hyphenated. See also "throw-in."

Everything in quotes should have the comma inside the quotes. For example, it should be "Reaching in," not "Reaching in",.

I would finish "who are far smarter than me" with a colon (: ) rather than a period (.), since you have a list following.

My spellcheck didn't like the word "tosser." Funny, Brits sure like to call each other that.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bainsey

"Non-shooter" should be hyphenated. See also "throw-in." I would finish "who are far smarter than me" with a colon (: ) rather than a period (.), since you have a list following.

Done.

I've always had trouble with punctuation inside, and outside, quotations, so I'm sticking with what I'm comfortable with, even though it's probably grammatically incorrect.

[bballref3966]

I would hope we would never give credence to the nonexistent "over the back rule" by reporting a foul to the table this way. I would not be happy to see my partner report a foul that way...

Originally Posted by bballref3966

I would hope we would never give credence to the nonexistent "over the back rule" by reporting a foul to the table this way. I would not be happy to see my partner report a foul that way...

Why not? It's just a colloquial term for "push" or "displacement" or "rebounding foul".

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Why not? It's just a colloquial term for "push" or "displacement" or "rebounding foul".

Because only one of these, "Push", has a corresponding signal when reporting to the table. In addition, over the back isn't a foul, "over" implying no contact, while on the back may be a foul, but it still doesn't have a corresponding signal to report to that table. Another reason: Although colloquial terms are great for everyday conversations, officials should try to use formal (colloquial means informal) rulebook language whenever possible.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

officials should try to use formal (colloquial means informal) rulebook language whenever possible.

I can agree with that.

[Rob1968]

Grammar

. . . smarter than me, could be smarter than I. The phraze infers "he is smarter than I am," and we would not say "he is smarter than me am."
The simplest test of such phrazes is to separate the two and test whether one would say them, separately and completely, with the desired verb, as one tends to say them in plural or intimating the verb by the structure.
Yes, it's a nit I just picked.

[bballref3966]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Why not? It's just a colloquial term for "push" or "displacement" or "rebounding foul".

Because many fans think any time a tall player secures a rebound over a shorter one without contact that it's "over the back." Reporting "over the back" (a non-rule book term that communicates the wrong message) only adds credence to this myth. A push or displacement doesn't always happen by virtue of reaching "over the back." Sometimes the most common fouls in this situation are ones the involve the behind defender bumping the guy with inside rebounding position forward. Are you telling me it makes sense to report "over the back" in this instance?

If it's just a colloquial term, does that mean it's okay for us to yell "on the floor" for a foul prior to the act of shooting? Colloquial terms much of the time aren't the right terms to use.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by bballref3966

Because many fans think any time a tall player secures a rebound over a shorter one without contact that it's "over the back."

There it is. I had to tell three coaches this year that "over the back is legal." I've loved the stunned look each time.

If you still believe "on" and "over" are the same thing, is it an automatic homerun when a fair ball goes ON the fence?

[john5396]

Originally Posted by bainsey

There it is. I had to tell three coaches this year that "over the back is legal." I've loved the stunned look each time.

If you still believe "on" and "over" are the same thing, is it an automatic homerun when a fair ball goes ON the fence?

As a baseball umpire, I dont think I have ever considered the case where a fly ball comes to rest on the top of the fence...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bballref3966

I would hope we would never give credence to the nonexistent "over the back rule" by reporting a foul to the table this way. I would not be happy to see my partner report a foul that way...

A few do. Mostly very young, less experienced rookies (who hopefully get it straightened out right away through peer evaluations), and very old veterans (who have done it that way for decades, and aren't going to change).

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

A few do. Mostly very young, less experienced rookies (who hopefully get it straightened out right away through peer evaluations), and very old veterans (who have done it that way for decades, and aren't going to change).

I call that signal the "Creeping Death Foul."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

I call that signal the "Creeping Death Foul."

Over The Back Signal:

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I've always had trouble with punctuation inside, and outside, quotations, so I'm sticking with what I'm comfortable with, even though it's probably grammatically incorrect.

Time out, Connecticut.

Consider this. Last year, there was a story going around about a player who scored in the other team's basket (very late in the game, as I recall). The headline read something to the effect of "scored in his own basket."

I emailed the author and pointed out the error, how the object of basketball is to score in your own basket, etc. He replied with appreciation, but decided to stick with what he had because "it sounds better."

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I would finish "who are far smarter than me" with a colon (: ) rather than a period (.), since you have a list following.

Shouldn't it be "smarter than I?"