04/26/24
November 06, 2020
SportsFilter: The Friday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I borrowed the Tubbs approach when I was coaching Boys U 10 soccer.
We were playing an away game in a small rural region known for its sharp elbowed trippers and jersey pullers, and for refs that were firmly hometown and laissez faire.
Our league had instituted a zero tolerance policy which forbade any interaction with the refs during the game, due to growing verbal abuse by both the team and spectator sidelines.
So when flagrant infractions began occurring that weren't called, I had no way to appeal to the ref. Some of my kids would stand around now and then, expecting a stoppage of play which never happened.
Eventually, a questionable play took place right in front of me with the ref and the opposing coaches nearby. My player stopped and the action continued around him. I called out to my player "Hey Cam, if the so called ref is not going to use his whistle and control the game, hang in there and keep playing till you do hear a whistle. This is just temporary. You'll have a real ref at home next Saturday."
posted by beaverboard at 06:42 PM on November 06, 2020
Ha!
posted by bender at 11:23 AM on November 08, 2020
LOL to Tubbs and Beaverboard. I don't think I saw the Tubbs moment the first time around. The crowd's delighted roar is one for the ages.
posted by rcade at 11:40 AM on November 08, 2020
RIP Billy Tubbs, Oklahoma coaching legend and noteworthy presence on the scene.
My favorite memory of him is apparently also the favorite of many other people.
I remember seeing the moment live when it happened and almost fell out of my chair.
"Regardless of how terrible the officiating is..."