I just got off work, and now I’m an off duty official.. It was the summer of 2017, and the Warriors were ready to revenge their historic loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Spring turned into the initiations of Summer, and this was the NBA Finals.
Buffalo Wild Wings was packed that night. The schism was tangible, as some were wearing the Crimson and Gold, while others were wearing Blue and Gold. Nonetheless, each fans, on each side, treated the refs the same way. They commiserated with calls that against their team-that-nights-way, depending on if the infraction was held against their team.
It was the third quarter, and Kyrie did his one in a lifetime dribble drive combinations, and went for a layup. Draymond Green greeted him to the rim, only to go straight up, and straight down. Kyrie was disturbed because he initiated contact, and Draymond didn’t bite. I’m not sure who he was mad at more at the no-call – Draymond, or the Ref.
“CALL IT BOTH WAYS REF.” – A Cavalier fan on Long Island.
20 seconds later, Steph Curry is found on the right wing, doing one of those flashy ambidextrous shows only he other than Kyrie can display. He leans in for a 3, trying to draw contact. JR Smith went straight up and down, but Curry tried to get into him. It didn’t work. The Warrior fans, in the building that night, were in disbelief.
“THESE REFS SUCK YO.” – A Warriors fan commiserating with other Warriors fans on Long Island.
And here I was, off-duty and all, looking at everyone unqualified to judge. Here, I saw American Idol play, but I didn’t see anyone singing.
“Well, I may be dreaming,
but still lie awake
Can’t we make this dream last forever?
And I’ll cherish all the love we share
A moment like this.” – Kelly Clarkson
These memories, hyperthemestically still ingrained in me, bore fresh in my mind from what I experienced on Sunday. I was at a championship Basketball game, an event I attend every year, an annual routine of attending it and envisioning me participating in it. On a side note, this was the first year I thought I could do the game, and not just attend the game. One day, I hope to get participation points.
That day, Sunday, I was inactively participating with one faction of parents as they cheered proudly, and rightly so;for their kids to do well in the championship game. But, I couldn’t stop laughing. It reminded me of the spirited banter that was in that NBA Finals game, but to the nth degree – after all, their daughters were participating for their respective conference’s championship. SOME OF THE RHETORIC INCLUDED:
“You put two on her, you’re RUINING THE GAME.”
“Call it BOTH WAYS PRIEST!”
“THIS IS HORRIBLE”
“NOW YOUR JUST GETTING IN THE WAY.”
Now I’ll say this: these are only examples of the things that were said that night. My concentration with trying to pick it up was vacillating back and forth between hearing such atrocities, and paying attention to my peers get down with the get down on the court. Never once did I agree with any of the things the parents were saying, because they were not taking into account a lot of the nuances that they do not know about. This includes:
What the Primary Area of Responsibility is depending on where the official is.
Where they are looking (off ball and on ball) during the course of the game depending on position.
We have a mandate in which we officiate based on the parameters of the rules.
It was interesting to hear it as an official in the stands. It was comical, and relentless. But I will say watching it, I never realized how big that part of the game is. Even though it may be difficult to hear it from my point of view, I find it easier if I were on the court, and I heard it faintly from afar. I encourage all spectators and fans to look into officiating, and realize how difficult it is. What keeps me calm is I try to envision the most boisterous fan, trying to officiate that game, right there, right now.
That’s what keeps me calm. Lord knows how much they would get yelled at, if they were thrust upon that situation.
Another post, Tomorrow
