The view from the cheap seats…
One interesting thing about sitting at a table in front of the crowd is what you hear – from fans, coaches, players and even the officials. On the first day of the 4A and 5A girls tournaments, several people who sat near me commented on how annoying/funny/offensive it was to sit there and listen to what gets screamed from the stands.
I asked my colleagues to come up with a few favorites…here they are! Happy cheering!
From prep writer John Coon…
Least favorite ref criticism from fans: “Call it both ways!”
Here’s a reality check, folks . . . you don’t really want a ref to call it both ways on fouls. Fans who clamor for a ref to call a game both ways actually want it called in favor of their team. At least be honest if you insist on shouting at a ref. Tell them to call it your way.
Worst cheer: “Rebound that basketball!”
Okay, I get it. Fans wants the opposing team’s player to miss his or her free throws. But do we have to hear this particular phrase from cheerleaders in every game, every time a player goes to the foul line, all season long?!
Best cheer: “I’m blind, I’m deaf, I wanna be a ref!”
I nearly doubled over laughing when I heard this chant from the Davis student section in their first matchup with Viewmont this season. Whoever came up with it deserves bonus points in the creativity department for referee inspired jeers.
From prep writer Michael Black
One of my least favorites is when the crowd chants “Over-rated”. To me,
this just means you think your team just beat an average team rather than propping up your own team saying it just beat a good team.
Also, Another favorite: How about when a parent yells at the ref, “C-mon,call it both ways.” Yeah right. What the parent really means is, “C-mon, call it my team’s way.”
To be honest, any parent yelling at the refs or at the other team at all
really gets under my skin. If you are going to yell, make it encouraging remarks directed toward their own team and it is OK.
The best insult Mike Petty, the supervisor of officials for the UHSAA, has ever heard was this:
He was officiating a game when a man yelled, “Hey, ref, what’s that popping noise?” He ignored the man for a while, but when he continued to as the question, Petty got curious.
“Okay, he said, what do you mean?”
The man quickly responded, “It’s the sound of you pulling your head out.”
Petty still laughs about that one.
Here are some that I heard Tuesday, as well as some I’ve listened to over the years….
Ref Insults:
1. Hey, ref, that’s not a lollipop in your mouth! (This is so funny I fell off my dinosaur and broke my arm.)
2. I agree with both my colleagues that while the officials may not always get it right, THEY ARE CALLING IT BOTH WAYS!
(Andy maybe fans can tell me why they think that yelling insults at the refs will endear them or their team to those wearing stripes?? When I’m trying to change someone’s mind, the last thing I want to do is insult them.)
3. Hey, ref, players don’t fall unless they’re pushed. (Actually, they do, all the time.)
As for the crowd…Grand prize for attendance is Bingham and Taylorsville. They filled the house and created a fantastic atmosphere for all. I didn’t like some of the personally insulting chants that the student bodies yelled. You can help your team, support your friends without making yourselves look rude and stupid. Keep it positive!
I loved the handful of boys who came from Lone Peak who cheered for their players the whole time. They were encouraging and funny. Nice Job!
And parents, I don’t understand yelling at the officials, but yelling insults at individual kids is particularly embarassing. Remember, you children are watching you!
We’ll add more of these as the other writers get time to send them in. I have to add that yesterday’s 5A tournament was the best first round of games I’ve ever seen in any classification. Six of the eight games were thrilling. I can’t remember such a competitive, hard-fought and exciting first day.
Congrats to all of the players for working hard and representing their schools so well!