Just happened to a fellow umpire

[Umpire in Chief]

Now this happened at a basketball game but the guy also does baseball...

During the game he called a travel,on the coaches son

Several minutes later when going to the table to report another foul, the coach wanted

to talk about past history (the travel call on his son)

The coach started doing the typical hand antics and ended up having to give the coach a technical foul when he wouldn't stop.

After the game he was walking to the table to give them the basketball.

The coach approached him and put a sweat band in his face.

The coach started telling him how bad he was

He pushed his hand away

He did it again and again he pushed his hand away.

The coach then picked him up and slammed him on the floor rupturing C4 & C5

He will have surgery tomorrow AM

Prognosis is 4 - 6 weeks for recovery

Holy $hit I don't know anything about legal action yet, but this is beyond crazy.

[dawg-man]

My thoughts and prayers will be this fellow official as he hopefully recovers. As far as the coach, I hope he loses everything he owns and enjoys prison with his fellow inmate big bubba. People like this have no place dealing with kids or officials. Keep us in touch as to how this all ends.

[jjb]

I forsee 2 years Probation, 100 hours Community Service and Court-Ordered Anger Mangement Classes. Waste of time...

The Civil Suit? Let's hope he lives in a big house....

[JaxRolo]

My Prayers are with him and his family.

This is why we can not put up with these RATS. Some say I am too quick to pull the trigger on a coach. But I want them out of there as soon as possible. Since I came back to Umpiring last fall coaches now know me and know that they won't stay in the game long if they start to argue.

[Stan W.]

certainly this is where a state needs to have laws that make assault on a sports official a felony........as some do...

[Big Red]

Warren,

Best wishes to your buddy to make a quick and full recovery. I hope that jack@ss was arrested...that's beyond insanity. Additionally, and independent of what happens to the guy, he should press for a restraining order.

And along w/ what Stan mentioned and in the FWIW column, only 18 states have specific crimes regarding sports officials, most w/ specific felony punishments for actual physical assaults, though N. Carolina doesn't:

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia.

Unless the guy has a previous record, jjb is most likely correct, but we can sure hope he has to face a modern day Judge Roy Bean!! :notworthy:

[jim knight]

Bad deal... hope all turns out okay for your friend. I did basketball for 20 some years and did feel more at risk than I ever have at a baseball game. Basketball guys are way too close to fans and coaches. I did learn to stay away from everyone after a BB game... same with softball and baseball... get out at end of game quickly... do not speak to coaches or players just go.... I see way too many guys go to get a water bottle or game balls / I say just get out of sight as quickly as possible at every level... nothing good can come from sticking around, right?

[Umpire in Chief]

This actually happened in VA where there are no specific laws or additional penalties. I don't know the guy well but have worked with him over the years a few times. The above is an email I received. I took out names and places.

I haven't heard of anything else about it but it is pure garbage.

[mstaylor]

keep track of what is going on in this case, the surgery, coach's punishment, the whole bit. This is crap tha should never happen.

[Kevin Finnerty]

My thoughts and prayers will be this fellow official as he hopefully recovers. As far as the coach, I hope he loses everything he owns and enjoys prison with his fellow inmate big bubba. People like this have no place dealing with kids or officials. Keep us in touch as to how this all ends.

Anyone who believes in our system of criminal justice is either utterly inexperienced with the system, or a downright fool. I am from a family and circle of friends that has been victimized numerous times, and NEVER has the justice system served us justly, properly or effectively. For it to continue to have believers is truly mystifying.

There is really no justice system. It's a system; just not a justice system.

Edited July 12, 2010 by Kevin Finnerty

[yawetag]

There is really no justice system. It's a system; just not a justice system.

I don't want to get political, but I'd rather have some people on probation than spending a year in jail on my dime.

[Paperipper17]

I don't want to get political, but I'd rather have some people on probation than spending a year in jail on my dime.

Nah. I get your drift, but IMO Big Bubba is the best form of crime prevention around.

However...I hope he DOES get community service and has to pick up trash on a roadside for 200 hours. Maybe we can work out a trade and he can do it down here. Its been 97+ the last 2 weeks. Heat index around 110. And apparently the fire ants are becoming a problem around here again.

Warren: Thoughts and prayers are with your friend and his family.

[constable]

Anyone who believes in our system of criminal justice is either utterly inexperienced with the system, or a downright fool. I am from a family and circle of friends that has been victimized numerous times, and NEVER has the justice system served us justly, properly or effectively. For it to continue to have believers is truly mystifying.

There is really no justice system. It's a system; just not a justice system.

Legal system. Not justice system. This coming from someone who earns a comfortable living working in the "justice" system. Kinda hard to do your job when you don't have faith in the court system to administer punishment.

[mstaylor]

Warren:

Anything further in this case?

[Umpire in Chief]

I don't know I'll have to ask.