2021-22 NOMINATIONS: "Cone of Shame"

[1972Shocker]

Geez Louise!

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

This is insane. Over a youth rec game. People need to get a grip.

[ShoxRoxMySox]

That's absolutely ridiculous, I hope they're charged to the fullest extent.

It's eye opening that the most respected refs also officiate one of the more brutal sports, rugby... The rest of the sports world needs to do better.

[shoxlax]

I put this in Track and Field but I am putting it here too because it is so weird. From the WSU Police Blotter:

22-0351

5/19/2022

12:43 PM

5/14/2022

05:00 PM

Battery

3425 E 21st St

Individual reports being intentionally stepped on by their athletic trainer at the AAC track meet at WSU

Assigned to investigations

[1972Shocker]

This is insane. Over a youth rec game. People need to get a grip.

And the official who was attacked by the coach and his wife and son did not even officiate their game.

[shoxlax]

I guess 72, Kel and I (and the person who stole it from me on Shocker Unfiltered) were the only ones who found the blotter entry to be odd beyond comparison. I’m pulling a Goodm** now, being an attention seeker.

[SubGod22]

And the official who was attacked by the coach and his wife and son did not even officiate their game.

I somehow missed that part. That should make this even worse for those that attacked. If he didn't work the game you can't even claim you got caught up in the emotion of the game and made a dumb decision. This would be going out of your way to attack someone that you obviously have ill will towards and would have to be much more premeditated.

We're also hearing about too many of these cases and a message should be sent by actually punishing these people in a relevant way. Perhaps seeing people held accountable, I know we don't care about accountability as a society anymore, might deter some of these from happening.

[Kel Varnsen]

I guess 72, Kel and I (and the person who stole it from me on Shocker Unfiltered) were the only ones who found the blotter entry to be odd beyond comparison. I’m pulling a Goodm** now, being an attention seeker.

I would love to find out the circumstances that led to that.

[1972Shocker]

I guess 72, Kel and I (and the person who stole it from me on Shocker Unfiltered) were the only ones who found the blotter entry to be odd beyond comparison. I’m pulling a Goodm** now, being an attention seeker.

What made it even more odd to me was that it occurred on May 14th but wasn't reported until May 19th.

Also, I guess it's possible this could involve an athlete and trainer from any of the AAC schools at the meet.

Perhaps the victim was talking to an attorney after the fact and was told if you want to pursue legal action you should file a formal report with the proper authorities.

Not sure if there is anyway to see the full report.

[1972Shocker]

I somehow missed that part. That should make this even worse for those that attacked. If he didn't work the game you can't even claim you got caught up in the emotion of the game and made a dumb decision. This would be going out of your way to attack someone that you obviously have ill will towards and would have to be much more premeditated.

We're also hearing about too many of these cases and a message should be sent by actually punishing these people in a relevant way. Perhaps seeing people held accountable, I know we don't care about accountability as a society anymore, might deter some of these from happening.

The ref (or one of the refs) that had worked the game was a gentleman named Shawn Rowe. According to Rowe, a friend of his and fellow referee Perry Woodward, who was not working the game, stood by him to make sure he could get out of the parking lot. The coach's wife lunged at Rowe, then moments later the target changed and the coach and his son ran towards Woodward and attacked him.

Very possible Woodward had some previous interactions on the court with this coach. Sounds like this coach may have had a rep. Whether that had anything to do with why the Coach and his son all of a sudden diverted their attention away from Rowe and attacked Woodward is hard to say but Woodward had nothing to do with this game.

That said I agree that some real accountability and consequences need to be delivered.

Here is an article form the Las Vegas Sun about this and the impact on attracting candidates for officiating games and the exodus of existing officials. Kind of the same thing that is going on with law enforcement officers except most of the ref's don't make nearly as much money not that law enforcement officers are getting rich.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/ma...0%7C%202%20a.m.

Is it worth the abuse?

Rowe walked into Woodward’s room at UMC on Wednesday and immediately became emotional. That could have very well have been him sitting there, Rowe reasoned, with his family distraught in the waiting room. And it was his young son Corey’s birthday.

“I could have left alone, but Perry stood by my side,” Rowe said. “It’s terrible what we are going through. I have such guilt that another person, my friend, is suffering in that hospital when it should have been me. I could have been in the hospital with my son visiting on his birthday.”

Rowe, a Rancho High School graduate, got into refereeing because he loves basketball and wanted to stay active in the sport when there was no longer a game in which he could play.

Unlike Woodward, who works in insurance, refereeing is Rowe’s full-time job. Between recreation games, summer leagues and tournaments, he averages working 20 games a week. One summer he worked 40 games in a week.

But when he got home Tuesday night, there was a tough conversation to have with his wife. There’s surely other jobs he could try, ones where his life wouldn’t be at risk for a questionable call.

“I still love this. Why wouldn’t I want to do this anymore?,” said Rowe, pausing to contain his emotions. “This is a way to stay connected to the sport we used to play and still love. We are paying it forward. For the most part, there’s great relationships with the coaches and players. That why we keep coming back.”

[shoxlax]

What made it even more to me was that it occurred on May 14th but wasn't reported until May 19th.

Also, I guess it's possible this could involve an athlete and trainer from any of the AAC schools at the meet.

Perhaps the victim was talking to an attorney after the fact and was told if you want to pursue legal action you should file a formal report with the proper authorities.

Not sure if there is anyway to see the furl report.

I think your are right on both accounts but this is nothing but a guess on my part. The matter is currently under investigation according to the report and it could be tough interviewing witnesses who could have scattered in the wind after spring semester. So it could be a while before a full report is done. Wonder what part of the person was stepped on (allegedly)?

[Kel Varnsen]

Somewhat related to the officiating discussion, but this was a fantastic two-part interview on Doug Gottlieb's podcast, All Ball. He talks with JD Collins, outgoing NCAA Officiating Coordinator. Some really good stuff here that I know ShockRef would enjoy.

https://www.stitcher.com/show/all-ba...ture-203482723 (Part 1)

https://www.stitcher.com/show/all-ba...nges-203561361 (Part 2)

[RoyalShock]

I have to wonder if the league/tournament organizers are doing enough to try and prevent these types of incidents. I know they probably have standard codes of conduct, but it's going to take more than just putting some things on a paper or in an email.

All coaches, players and parents should have to sign a form that lays out the expectations and consequences. The form should be posted clearly at the facility and communicated before each game.

I could see giving one warning for mild verbal insults. A 2nd occurrence gets them removed from the game. A 3rd and they're gone from the tournament/season.

Any verbal threat or physical contact is an immediate ban and report to law enforcement.

Incidents are still going to happen, but maybe that would keep them to a minimum. Refs should also have the authority to force a player to the bench via substitution to cool off if they see that player starting to get aggressive or overly frustrated.

[WuTheOne]

Sarion McGee, a Canisius basketball player, brought a shotgun, 2 handguns, and multiple high-capacity magazines to the basketball practice facility. Campus police were not amused and arrested him. The judge wasn't amused either and ordered him held without bail. McGee is facing 15 weapons charges and could spend 15 years in jail.

https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/national/article262642017.html

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

What an idiot.