I was standing near the doorway to the gym at Savio High School in Boston watching a girls basketball game one winter evening six or seven years ago when the official standing closest to me blew his whistle.
He signaled a traveling violation against the home team, and I said, “Good call,” just loud enough for a friend of mine, a fellow Savio teacher who was standing to my left, to hear me. To my right a woman looked at me like I had just insulted her family.
“What?” she said. “That was not a good call.”
I explained to the woman, an aunt of one of the girls on the team, that the player with the ball had shuffled her feet without dribbling and therefore committed a violation. Not only did the aunt disregard my explanation, but she was angry that I agreed with a call that was made against her team – which was my team as well.
Though I’ve never been a certified official, I did at the time referee youth basketball. I’ve probably done a couple hundred games, and I coached the sport at the youth level as well.
Despite my understanding of the rules – and despite seeing the player move her feet right before my eyes not more than 15 feet away – the unspoken premise that the woman would have me follow was that our team does no wrong and all the calls against us are erroneous (if not outright conspiracy).
Sports do strange things to some people.
I think of this anecdote when sitting amongst the crowd at sporting events – especially when some of the spectators seem to be losing touch with reality. Certainly the spirit that athletics brings out in people is a good thing, and the passion that arises for big games – or even small games, when the score is tied with just seconds remaining – can be exciting and uplifting and fun.
There are, however, some who let their emotions get the better of them. They criticize every call that the officials make against their squad, but tell the fans on the other side to sit down when they do the same. They shout obnoxious comments at the refs or at the opposing coach.
Last season I witnessed a hockey mom get in a shouting match with players on the other team who were in the penalty box.
Professional athletes, coaches and officials get plenty of dough to ply their trades, and taking criticism – even from a drunk fan in the bleachers – is part of the job description.
Our sons and daughters play for fun, the love of the game, to get in better shape and, maybe, to pursue the sport at the college level. Those coaching and officials are our friends, relatives and neighbors and, trust me, for what they’re getting paid they don’t deserve to be publicly lambasted.
This season I’ve witnessed a few instances of poor sportsmanship, but nothing too drastic. However, we’re coming to the home stretch: teams are trying their best to squeeze into the post-season, seniors are playing their final home games and gyms, rinks, pools and slopes are filled with excitement.
In the emotional moments that are sure to come, let’s not lose sight of our rational thoughts and of all the positives that competitive sports brings out in us.
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