THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE

I sometimes view the job of an official to be similar to a giant tropical storm better known as a hurricane. The elements involved are basically the same, the one hundred fifty mile an hour winds that swirl around the outside and cause the most damage are the players, fans and coaches. The “eye” of the storm is better known as the referee, and we continually must remain in the “eye” or we may get carried away.

One example from my experience occurred in the 2003-2004 season. Of all places, it took place during a game between two grade eight boys teams. The kids were great, they were playing their hearts out and my partner and I were giving them many breaks to help the game remain smooth and flowing. When suddenly, the home coach, his assistant and most notably; the fans questioned harshly one call that was made by my partner on an over-and-back. Did I mention that my partner was female?

I would like to omit the fact that my counterpart was a “she,” but unfortunately, the home coach and fans took exception and began to pick on her. I backed her up, as any partner should always do, and then the hurricane touched down in the middle of this school gym in “Smallsville” Oregon.

According to my partner, a female spectator shot her a look that was the equivalent of a death threat. She then instructed the Athletic Director (who happened to be the home coach) to ask the person to leave the gym. I stood back around the mid-court area, around the stunned players who were noticeably shaken up by the reactions of the home parents and faculty. Parents began “booing” and hissing at the job we had to do.

The woman was finally removed from the gym when the home coach began his tirade. He began to belittle and berate my partner on her call and asked me come over for my opinion. I told him I agreed with whatever call she had made and that was final. I was thinking, “Here it comes!” Boy, did it ever. As my partner walked away from the coach towards the center circle, he made a comment about her abilities in relation to her being of the fairer sex. I was standing right next to him when he blurted it out and immediately administered a technical foul.

The fans began to get more and more rowdy, the hurricane winds were picking up and I was looking for the “eye.” We got the game rolling again and I made sure to keep my partner on the far side of the coach for a while. The first technical foul is better known as the “seatbelt,” this is because when administered the coach must remain seated throughout the rest of the game. Apparently, the coach did not know this, I suspected he did with a temper like his; a technical foul seemed to be his calling in life. I reminded him of the rule and asked him to sit down.

Meanwhile, the kids were playing and mirroring their coach and parents in their reactions to calls being made. It was getting worse and the “eye” was hard to maintain with the swirling all around us. After several plays, the coach reacted again to a call my partner made.

“You’re both pathetic,” he said confidently while rising to his feet.

I immediately stood upright, hairs standing on the back of my neck and calmly said, “Technical foul on the home coach, that’s two, he’s gone.”

The scorekeeper, who I was telling this to was stunned and said, “You can’t do that.”

“Listen, if you cannot remain impartial to this game, I will just have to remove you. Mark it down, and move on.”

The coach lost it completely, he spouted all sorts of threats to call the commissioner and the board and all the regular garbage that comes out of an angry person’s mouth. I obliged him with the commissioner’s number and my name and said, “Sir, now if you’re done making a scene, you must leave this court or I will end this game now, your team will forfeit and we’ll still get paid. It’s your choice, you’ve got thirty seconds to make your decision.”

I was shaking on the inside, my hands were sweat soaked and my teeth were clenched. I was in the “eye” and I realized it for the first time, no one can touch you when you are in that zone. If you maintain control of your own faculties, you will not lose sight of the storm and you will not be drawn into it. That coach walked off that court in a hurry.

Funny, did I mention this was only the first half? Oh goodness, what a game! But you know, once that coach was removed, the visiting coach was my best friend and everyone, I mean everyone calmed down. The hurricane had left the building.

Be the eye of that storm when the stuff hits the fan,

David