[Purple Haize]

Now, everyone here knows I will defend referee's to the nth degree. So you will be happy/suprised/amazed at this post. (BTW, to explain the Radford/LU final seconds would take too long)
Last nite I was AT the IU/Arkansas game. (notice I was AT the game, ergo able to see the whole thing) I will start from the beginning.

A referee who I will refer to as Stilts (he was like 5 2) makes the first foul call of the game. It was against Ark and IU was at the line. The Ref reports and goes away. The IU player has the ball on the free throw line. The table confers with the closest official about who the fould was on. As the IU player is in his shooting motion Stilts blows his whistle. He re reports the foul and then says "1 Shot" That is crazy. If you blow the whistle while a player has the ball you re=administer the shot and in this case would STILL be shooting 2. Well Dakich wasn't to happy with that, he made a stink but after another official explained it he wasn't happy but let it go.
The next foul called on IU is a shooting foul and Stilts is the administering official. He bounces the ball to the shooter, as he back pedals to get into position he is glaring at Dakich, who is on the sideline, not even paying attention to the FT's. The official CONTINUES to stare at Dakich while the shot goes up and in. He repeats the same thing for the second free throw. Again, Dakich isn't paying attention. In the biz we call this "Baiting" a coach.
Later there is a dead ball and Arkansas brings in some subs and players are sort of milling about. The ball bounces to Dakich on the sideline and he walks on to the court looking for an official to give the ball to. None are close. Stilts is on the other side of the floor, one ref is bringin in subs the other is talking to some players. So Dakich is about 12' from the rim, looks around, takes a dribble and shoots. He missed. The whole arena starts laughing as do some players. A player corrals the ball and Dakich walks back to the bench. Well in comes Stilts with a "T". Are you kidding me?? I can not see ANY justification. The play was dead, he was not delaying the game, he was not trying to "show up" the refs, he wasnt heaving a half courter, he wasn't disgusted with the call. He was just having some fun that in NO WAY affected the game. The faces on the OTHER two officials was PRICELESS> They both had that "Oh no he didn't" look at Stilts.
Did it affect the outcome of the game? Not at all. But that, along with several of his "creative" signals to the table, were insultingly unprofessional and that what gets me mad. The most professional way to handle that is go over to the coach and say something like "You always were known for your defensive prowess, not so much your shooting. Let's not do that again" and have a smile on your face. AT WORST, give the team a delay of game warning and move on. But a "T" no excuse for that!!
OK, I am off my rant now. Overall the game was called very well. I had fun correcting the ignorant UNC fans around me about the rules so that made my night even if the Hoosiers didnt![/list]