Technically Speaking

I’m just going to come right out and say it: Basketball refs should swallow their whistle when players express emotion. In college AND the pros.

Assessing technical fouls to coaches and players has been questionable and unwarranted in years past,  but this year, it’s the worst.

Can you imagine getting a technical foul, in life, every time you expressed emotion?

Mad your favorite sports team is losing? Technical foul.

Upset you missed your favorite TV show? Technical foul. Frustrated you couldn’t make it to the bank before it closed? Technical foul.

This season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a player to get T’d up for passing gas in a ref’s direction.

“Dude, we’re out of snacks. Bummer.” Technical foul!

Seriously though, it’s basketball people. Assessing a technical for emoting is laughable. You can’t expect athletes who are competing at the highest level of their sport to be emotionless. It’s the nature of competition.

Playing basketball fired up or with a competitive attitude is what helped many of these players get to where they are now, whether it’s the NCAA or NBA.

If a player throws a punch, T him up. If a player physically confronts another player, T them both up. If a Coach belittles a referee to a point of no return, T him up.

But don’t give coaches and players a technical foul for letting it out – whatever it may be.

There is nothing wrong with a facial expression, an expression displayed in the midst of a competitive battle. Emotion is one of the greatest components of sports. A sport’s atmosphere is fueled by emotion, palpable emotion. If you’ve been to college or pro basketball game, you know exactly what I’m referring to.

If some of the greatest emotional moments in a game are being confined by a whistle, there’s a problem. Let the players play, put the whistles away. It sounds more like a campaign slogan, but it’s true. Protect the well-being of players without being over-protective about the emotions they express during the course of a game.

Lastly, for those who think the referees in college and NBA hoops are doing a great job. Technical foul. Shocked I just T’d you up? Technical Foul, that’s two, hit the showers.

Photo Courtesy The Press Enterprise