Ref Attacked After the Buzzer

[madguy30]

DSM public has its pluses and minus like any other district. My wife (at a dsm high school) and I frequently have the if you can just hang on for... more years, or is it time to look elsewhere conversation. She "likes" her job but it is harder and harder to accept every day. And the stories you listed are very similar to what she tells me routinely. My response is regularly, "back in my day (25 ish years ago) kids who did that (err something of that nature, because no kid every got physical beyond pushing a teacher that I remember) were never seen by me again" to which she responds "those kid(s) will be back in class end of the week, no where else they can go." Its incredibly sad.

The political majority in Iowa wants public education gone in favor of privatization, and they are getting their wish, just slower than they want. The line between haves and have nots is being emboldened more and more every day.

Also its the 80/20 rule... in that 20% of the students will **** it all up for the remaining 80% because no one has any idea or willingness to address the 20% causing the problems. So. Damn. Sad.

On one end it's not providing funding for the resources to really address it...on the other, whatever funding is there, is used for the shiny new reading curriculum that gets used for 2 years or adding more admin or meaningless position that just adds layers to work through or talks around issues, instead of directly getting down to it.

All I hear is 'these kids need consequences'...well, when I was in school I didn't know anyone that changed their behavior due to consequences handed down. Just kind of went on their record and trajectories took care of themselves.

All sorts of things need to change and the slippery slope started looong ago including from generations that won't hear a word about how they were absolutely a part of it.

 

[Kinch]

My wife teaches at a 4A school. I teach at a 2A school and have significantly less issues with violent students. I am dealing with ****** pay, unsupportive parents, and a complete lack of support/resources for students in crisis. It isn't worth it, so we are leaving the profession.

I think open enrollment, especially at 1a and 2a schools, has created a lot of spoiled parents and administration without backbone.

 

[Kinch]

I've been to hundreds of athletic events in my lifetime and never seen a ref physically attacked. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe it's rare. I don't know how you could possibly claim it's common, or normal.

I guess we have different definitions of "rare". Can you show me some study where this happens in more than like 5% of amateur athletic events?

I don't know if the IHSAA prints their minutes any more, but , it isn't uncommon for them to deal with that type of thing at their meetings. I don't know what percentage it occurs.

 

[CycloneVet]

"I don't see anything wrong with that, the ref had it coming"

- Fran McCaffrey (probably)

“I am sure he was a cheating mother ******”

- Fran McCaffrey again (probably)

 

[CycloneVet]

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 had a similar situation, my family and I with my parents just got done eating in a small town restaurant on Main Street and we were standing and talking on the sidewalk when the woman came around the building screaming with a guy chasing her. I stepped in and he stopped long enough for her to get in her car and get away. The guy didn’t confront me he just left, so hopefully I saved her from an assault of some sort.

 

[CYdTracked]

Several years ago was waiting for the game before us to finish in our rec basketball league and not sure what happened during the game but a guy trying to play hero ball and shoot it over 3 guys at the buzzer got mad and started screaming at the ref for not calling a foul. Next thing you know he was inviting the ref outside to "beat his ass in the parking lot." Funny thing was the ref was a pretty big dude that I am sure would be doing the ass beating if they did fight and he didn't back down and stood his ground that he'd be glad to meet him in the parking lot. The league director was there and was able to descalate it but was quite a tense moment to watch.

Don't get why some people will go bonkers over a game. Have seen it many times in the rec league softball games I've played and it's just not worth it to engage with idiots that take it too seriously. We may get screwed on a bad call or something from time to time but in the big picture no one outside of the complex that night really cares if you won or lost so no point to take it personal. We just like having a couple hours of drinking beer and playing a game win or lose we have a good time.

 

[cyfanatic13]

I did Iowa high school baseball for a decade. I have a story like this. Two dad's of a team that blew a 10 run lead in the 5th went apeshit and were waiting for my buddy and I as we were leaving the field. Thankfully, the AD followed us out, gave a box full of brats and Gatorade and said "get in your car and get the hell out of here".

This didn't happen to be in Parkersburg circa summer of 2013 did it?

 

[madguy30]

Several years ago was waiting for the game before us to finish in our rec basketball league and not sure what happened during the game but a guy trying to play hero ball and shoot it over 3 guys at the buzzer got mad and started screaming at the ref for not calling a foul. Next thing you know he was inviting the ref outside to "beat his ass in the parking lot." Funny thing was the ref was a pretty big dude that I am sure would be doing the ass beating if they did fight and he didn't back down and stood his ground that he'd be glad to meet him in the parking lot. The league director was there and was able to descalate it but was quite a tense moment to watch.

Don't get why some people will go bonkers over a game. Have seen it many times in the rec league softball games I've played and it's just not worth it to engage with idiots that take it too seriously. We may get screwed on a bad call or something from time to time but in the big picture no one outside of the complex that night really cares if you won or lost so no point to take it personal. We just like having a couple hours of drinking beer and playing a game win or lose we have a good time.

This reminds me of how I stopped playing rec basketball due to my teammates' behaviors. We were easily one of the lowest levels and winning meant nothing. I just wanted to get up and down to get a work out and play some ball, and even told the guys I wouldn't take myself out (warrior!) so they just needed to flag me down if they wanted to sub.

Had guys kicking the ball down the court, throwing tantrums, getting in refs and opponents' face, etc. and I knew I was done my last season because I started taking myself out for almost the entire 2nd half.

It's a weird dynamic.

 

[BryceC]

Several years ago was waiting for the game before us to finish in our rec basketball league and not sure what happened during the game but a guy trying to play hero ball and shoot it over 3 guys at the buzzer got mad and started screaming at the ref for not calling a foul. Next thing you know he was inviting the ref outside to "beat his ass in the parking lot." Funny thing was the ref was a pretty big dude that I am sure would be doing the ass beating if they did fight and he didn't back down and stood his ground that he'd be glad to meet him in the parking lot. The league director was there and was able to descalate it but was quite a tense moment to watch.

Don't get why some people will go bonkers over a game. Have seen it many times in the rec league softball games I've played and it's just not worth it to engage with idiots that take it too seriously. We may get screwed on a bad call or something from time to time but in the big picture no one outside of the complex that night really cares if you won or lost so no point to take it personal. We just like having a couple hours of drinking beer and playing a game win or lose we have a good time.

It's probably been like at least 15 years ago now but there was an ump that got punched out, I mean knocked out cold, they had to bring an ambulance on the field for him during a co rec slow pitch softball game over in Altoona. They don't even let you drink there! I mean my mind was blown.

 

[madguy30]

It's probably been like at least 15 years ago now but there was an ump that got punched out, I mean knocked out cold, they had to bring an ambulance on the field for him during a co rec slow pitch softball game over in Altoona. They don't even let you drink there! I mean my mind was blown.

The umps were actually players umping after or before their own games and having beers while doing so (which shows how not serious it was which was fine) but the worst behaviors I've seen from teams was kickball around 14-15 years ago including from my own friends.

Kickball.

Great people to sit around a fire with for beers or whatever but you put them in that 'kickball' mindset and they lost their minds.

 

[NoCreativity]

Don't get why some people will go bonkers over a game. Have seen it many times in the rec league softball games I've played and it's just not worth it to engage with idiots that take it too seriously. We may get screwed on a bad call or something from time to time but in the big picture no one outside of the complex that night really cares if you won or lost so no point to take it personal. We just like having a couple hours of drinking beer and playing a game win or lose we have a good time

I had a guy want to fight me once in softball because he thought we were using an illegal bat(we werent).

I don't know why he decided to single me out, I was just playing third base minding my own business when the guy starts jawing something like "Why are you p****** using an illegal bat". right in my face.
It wasn't my bat and I wasn't the coach or anything either, I guess I jsut happened to be closest. I try to explain that we are there to drink beer and get away from our wives and kids 1 night per week but he thought it was Game 7 of the world series.

All he had to do was go ask the ump about it but instead people alwasy need to make a big scene and be disrespectful nowadays.

 

[CYdTracked]

It's probably been like at least 15 years ago now but there was an ump that got punched out, I mean knocked out cold, they had to bring an ambulance on the field for him during a co rec slow pitch softball game over in Altoona. They don't even let you drink there! I mean my mind was blown.

A similar incident happened not long ago actually. Didn't knock the ump out but a guy went too far and pushed one and was arrested for it. He was banned from playing in any league or tournament in the state for at least a year I heard.

Arrest Made After Softball Player Allegedly Assaults Umpire Following Ejection from Game | who13.com

Used to be video of it somewhere. The ump was an older man so wasn't exactly a good look for a nearly 30 year old guy to be knocking a guy twice his age down over a call in a rec league softball game.

 

[CYdTracked]

This reminds me of how I stopped playing rec basketball due to my teammates' behaviors. We were easily one of the lowest levels and winning meant nothing. I just wanted to get up and down to get a work out and play some ball, and even told the guys I wouldn't take myself out (warrior!) so they just needed to flag me down if they wanted to sub.

Had guys kicking the ball down the court, throwing tantrums, getting in refs and opponents' face, etc. and I knew I was done my last season because I started taking myself out for almost the entire 2nd half.

It's a weird dynamic.

Oh yeah, there were plenty of guys like that who thought they were playing professional league and I don't miss those days either. Same league there was another guy that you could tell even his team couldn't stand him because he was a ball hog and would just chuck up shots even with 2 or 3 guys guarding him and his own teammates would start to yell back and forth with him to pass the ball. I think I got more entertainment watching the games before us play sometimes. It's adult rec league and sometimes there are guys that forget that.

We had our own drama with an ump in our softball league a few years ago but we just let it go and filed a complaint against him after the game. One of our guys went to bat and the ump stopped the game to look at his bat. He told him it was illegal and he had to go get another one. This is one of those leagues where all the bats have to be examined and put a sticker on that verifies it is legal and his had that sticker. I grabbed my phone and went and pulled up both the list of banned bats and approved bats and calmly took it to the ump between innings to show him it was not a banned bat and he would have nothing with us. Meanwhile the guy who owned the bat was starting to get a little heated and I don't blame him because this ump has some history of starting drama with teams or guys he thinks he can get riled up so we made sure our guy didn't do or say anything stupid. Pretty much knew we were screwed the rest of the night after that because just about any close play at a base was not called in our favor and the strike zone became huge so you were basically swinging at any pitch you didn't have to leave the batters box for so he couldn't call you out on strikes. Even the other team commented to us that we were getting hosed by the ump. The league director heard about what happened and apologized to us the next day and assured us the ump union would be notified of the ump's behavior and commended us for being knowledgeable about our equipment to be able to provide documentation on the spot to prove it was legal and the ump should have used that to correct his mistake and allow us to continue to use the bat in the game. It's one of those things that it's not worth someone getting kicked out of a game even if they were right because the player will ultimately get the punishment and the ump will be back out there next week again. It's just rec league so not worth it

 

[heitclone]

Looks like another recent incident. This woman was kicked out for excessive cursing at a little league game and assaulted the umpire. Mom of the year.

Umpire recovering after being punched in the face at kids’ softball game

Kristie Moore, who finds umpires for tournaments in Mississippi, said it is difficult to find people willing to officiate the games.

www.kctv5.com

 

[TXCyclones]

If those were your kids/players (as a coach, admin whatever) would you have done something or would you have just strolled around (possibly not sure if the adult that strolls out late in the video is involved or not)? Someone with what should be authority is getting chased and beaten and no one does a thing and/or laughs.

That's a culture thing that is not happening anywhere I have ever been.

Here's a fat white guy in a DFW suburb (Denton) attacking an umpire. (but sure, it's "cultural" and not everywhere...)

VIDEO: Texas youth baseball coach assaults umpire

Video captured the moment a youth baseball coach from West Texas decided to attack an umpire at a game in Denton County. The coach was upset about a call. The umpire ended up hospitalized after being shoved to the ground.

www.yahoo.com

 

[heitclone]

Here's a fat white guy in a DFW suburb (Denton) attacking an umpire. (but sure, it's "cultural" and not everywhere...)

VIDEO: Texas youth baseball coach assaults umpire

Video captured the moment a youth baseball coach from West Texas decided to attack an umpire at a game in Denton County. The coach was upset about a call. The umpire ended up hospitalized after being shoved to the ground.

www.yahoo.com

You're right, this happens everywhere but the incident originally posted in this thread is easily the most disturbing and extreme I've seen. It's not comparable to what you posted.

 

[ISUTex]

Here's a fat white guy in a DFW suburb (Denton) attacking an umpire. (but sure, it's "cultural" and not everywhere...)

VIDEO: Texas youth baseball coach assaults umpire

Video captured the moment a youth baseball coach from West Texas decided to attack an umpire at a game in Denton County. The coach was upset about a call. The umpire ended up hospitalized after being shoved to the ground.

www.yahoo.com

That guy was black. Just sayin.

 

[TXCyclones]

That guy was black. Just sayin.

Ol' chubs has got him some pasty white legs then. Looks like he's wearing a dark gator face mask and some Timberlands with some bright white chubby calves.

 

[JM4CY]

Remember this? Look what Umps have to deal with!!!!

 

[NickTheGreat]

It's probably been like at least 15 years ago now but there was an ump that got punched out, I mean knocked out cold, they had to bring an ambulance on the field for him during a co rec slow pitch softball game over in Altoona. They don't even let you drink there! I mean my mind was blown.

I think you're thinking of the Geno Smith/Wally Burnham incident of 2012