Ref Attacked After the Buzzer
- Thread starter TXCyclones
- Start date
I disagree, this doesn't happen everywhere.
I think you'd be surprised how often and quickly the 'court of public opinion' can change when someone stands up and calls out a blatant wrong.
An anecdotal experience I had - One evening after a 'night on the town' with some friends (and corresponding amount of 'liquid courage') in the downtown area of a large city, I came upon a 'guy' who was laying hands on his SO. At first, I shamefully pretended I didn't see what I thought I saw (not my problem, right? Don't need any trouble or to get involved), until he did it again.
I could no longer walk idly by as I was about to, or as many others were actively doing. I stopped, back tracked to where the couple was standing and I openly confronted the guy - asking him if he just did what I thought I saw him do. In a few moments, there were a half-dozen other pedestrians (2 - 3 'groups') who had also stopped to "back me up", to comment on the wrong being committed, and in the end a group of 4 - 6 ladies offered to help the SO get away/ get home safely which worked out great for myself - especially, because I didn't have the slightest idea for how I would actually help this young woman out, beyond momentary separation.
Long story short - I could've easily become the target of this man's aggression, but by openly confronting the action and not the individual; I was able to quickly garner enough public support that an ugly situation was quickly diffused with no physical confrontation. I think, so often in a situation like this, folks want to quickly resort to the physical action/risk (restraint/ intervention) when simply calling attention to the ludicrous nature of the action can diffuse the situation.
Obviously my story is anecdotal, and obviously it was a situation where I felt strongly enough about the 'wrong' that my personal 'securities' went by the wayside - but saying something can often times be the hardest part and the easiest solution.
I've been around more of these things than I care too, not just youth sports. Best is if you can take care of it before it gets to punches. Other official and the teams HC (although it looks like he may be involved) should have gotten between the situation. I also noticed there was no handshake line. That allows the coaches to group their team up and get a look at anything that happens. I was always in the back of the players, they knew I was there and would make their day miserable if they even looked at another player weird.
Many times all it takes is an outside person to step between and things stop, would say I've only ever had to push someone back once in the times I've seen things escalate and stepped between.
For one, where the hell are the parents when a ref is attacked on the court.
Shouldn't some of the parents come on the court to restrain the kids? As opposed to capturing it on their I-phones..
I'm glad your situation worked out. I'm not so sure this situation would've ended as well, though. Words weren't stopping that situation.
The fact that a group of four people were already on the floor confronting the ref tells me there was one way this situation was going to unfold. There's a lot of bravery in teen testosterone, especially when they have the upper hand.
Seeing similar situations at parties over the years, four guys that age (regardless of race) that are looking for a scrum are more likely to continue until they lose their advantage.
Is it really a trend, or is it just these types of things are more widely publicized because of the advent of phones and social media? I would love to see some data either way. I know with sports specifically there is a long history of violence involving players, officials, coaches, and fans. It's probably been going on as long as sports has been around.
What I can't understand is when did it become common for a group to attack one person. That is what I find disturbing.
Why People Are Acting So Weird
Crime, “unruly passenger” incidents, and other types of strange behavior have all soared recently. Why?
www.theatlantic.com
I think more parents are attending also. Back in the olden days of mine (the 80s and even early 90s) when we would play tournaments either travel wise or the little aau, many parents were not attending and it was generally set that the coach would beat your ash, or the ref would just bounce you if much physical play happened. The parents got embarrassed and would pull you in escalated situations. Coaches would get a little physical with you to get you in line and then your knew your parents would make the next week living hell. So between having more helicopter parents and that 7th grade game meaning the difference between getting drafted or not (in their thinking), it has ramped up.
I do appreciate you bringing that up, because I never would have thought about it that way.
I appreciate what you did in that situation. It would be a little more difficult when there are 4-5 people compared to the one you confronted. I do agree that speaking up to try an diffuse the situation is best, if possible. I'm just not sure if it could have been done in this situation. It escalated extremely quick.
One thing that I noticed was that the attackers seemed like they planned this. There was no argument/confrontation before that could have been diffused, they just went after him.
In 1895 Pop Warner took his Iowa Agricultural College (later Iowa State University) squad to Butte, Montana for a matchup of two very strong teams.
"...
He couldn't have imagined anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 rowdy miners and even cheerleaders firing pistols into the air any time they felt the urge to express their pleasure — or displeasure — at the events on the field.
He also wasn't ready — though perhaps he should have been — for a little home cooking from a local referee named W.H. Armstrong, who conjured up inventive ways to prevent the Cardinals (soon to be Cyclones) from scoring when they threatened to overtake the home team.
..."
And this excerpt is from a Montana apologist's take on the game.
I don't imagine the referees were intimidated at all by a crowd full of armed miners who weren't at all shy about firing their weapons when things didn't go their way.
Source: https://406mtsports.com/406mtsports...cle_5710ece6-8205-53d2-afc0-f3d468ebfeaa.html
Sounds the administration you and your spouse have are awful. The wife's school will get rid of kids like the upskirt photo after turning it over to the authorities.
There is no doubt that my wife's admin is absolutely horrible. Without a doubt. My admin tends to be more supportive, but they have also undermined teachers this year. A colleague of mine caught students cheating and gave them a zero. Admin made her give the students their points back when their lawyer daddy came in and threatened legal action.
Why sometimes the extra pay from a larger district isn't necessarily worth the issues that can be faced. It's a matter of finding that balance of decent pay and a district that won't seem to be a threat to your safety.
My BIL taught in the TC's for a bit at one of the rougher HSs. Said it was nothing for a gang member to drag a kid out of class, said there was only so much you could do due to your own safety. Believe he said he taught there 1 year, 2 at most; and found a new school quickly.