Editor:

What are we teaching our children? I was one of the referees that worked the Evanston and Star Valley basketball games in Evanston on Jan. 25. I must say that in my 32 years of officiating, I have never heard the kinds of language directed at me and my partners from a student section at a game. It was truly heart wrenching.

What is happening in our society that we believe we can yell at other people, tell them that they suck and yell other vulgarities?! As an official, we know and expect reactions from the crowd, but what we heard the other night was above and beyond.

To start with, basketball is a very hard game to officiate. We are not perfect by any means, although the fans believe we should be perfect. It is probably the only profession where you are expected to be perfect. We all know that is impossible.

But when we are not perfect, in your eyes, that gives you permission to scream at and insult us. I’m certainly glad we don’t scream at our kids like this when they miss a layup or a foul shot.

I’m often asked, and I even ask myself, “Why do you do it?” The answer is always the same. I love the game and I love the kids! That night my answer truly was, “I don’t know why I do this!”

As I was driving home that night, 40 mph on the solid ice roads that we all saw as we left the gym, I had plenty of time to reflect on that game. I have also watched it on film a couple of times.

I do see some very hard calls, one of which I would have called differently, had I had the same angle as the camera. But, overall, I was very happy with our calls.

If you wonder why Evanston lost that game, I encourage you to watch the first 6 minutes of the 3rd quarter and you will see why Evanston lost.

The adults are certainly an issue, but the students, our children, are my main concern. They are our future! First, I want the students at the game and to have fun cheering for their team. I love kids. I love all kids. I love your kids! If not, I would not have done this for 32 years.

Isn’t it time to start treating everyone like children of God. That is what we are, people. We are the children of God. We are ultimately on the same team.

Tom Ness

Kemmerer