The song's title is "All I Want," obviously.

I reffed intramural volleyball at UNC, which I was good at, because no one knows the rules to volleyball except people who have played it competitively, so I was always a step ahead of all the stupid players when they bitched at me. But I tried reffing basketball too and also quit after one game -- not because people were mean to me without cause, but because I quickly realized that though I knew the rules of basketball I simply had no ability to implement them quickly and smoothly. Which is to say, it took me five to seven seconds to make every call, and most of them were wrong. Woah, that sucked.
Dan K. | Homepage | 01.09.06 - 9:25 am | #

when i was 13 i ump'ed little league baseball for $5 a game - i'm behind the plate in a 10 year old league championship game (mind you, BOTH coaches requested me and the 2 guys in the field, who had worked that league all year with about 6-7 other guys). one manager, who i knew off the field as well (he had an older son that i played ball with) was just bitching EVERY ball and strike call, i thought he was just trying to be funny... anyway, there's a play at the plate, this guy's catcher gets the ball 2 beats before the runner gets there, but never gets the glove down, holds it still, in his lap - and the runner makes a straight slide, gets tagged on the hip long after his foot touches the plate. i call "safe", get the expected cheers and "awws", but then this GROWN man comes charging out of the duggout, telling me how i'm killing him all game, that now i've cost him the game.

funny, a few weeks later he's talking to me like it's no big deal (not about the game, just in general), but i never looked at him the same. and as the years go by, i think even less of him. i keep reminding myself to think of that when i'm in a similar situation in the near future (i have 2 young sons).
isired | Homepage | 01.09.06 - 1:49 pm | #

reffing is tough...i did some in college, too...generally people were pretty mellow, but one or two knuckleheads can ruin an evening...nothing is worse than reffing a basketball game when there is bad blood between the teams...throw in a couple physical players on both sides of the ball...ooh fun!

...a lemming or two can make it unfun to ref, or even to be out there playing for that matter.
Anonymous | 01.09.06 - 3:43 pm | #

Arguing with the ref/ump is part of the fucking game. When did this become sissypantsverbungle.com.

And when I was playing baseball, I referred to the Ump as "Blue" all the time and would talk to them all game. I always complimented the umps when they got a call right in addition to complaining when they got one wrong. I always thought it was funny to compliment them when they made a call that went our way. Kinda transparent, eh?
Joe | Homepage | 01.09.06 - 4:10 pm | #

my father once called a '3 second violation' in a girl's bball league game and the coach didn't know what that was.
pb dot c | Homepage | 01.09.06 - 8:31 pm | #

hey joe, did you play second base for copaigue high school in the mid 80's?? if not, that kid must be your 'separated at birth' twin.
isired | 01.09.06 - 10:24 pm | #

i have a question. doesn't everyone think there should be more on verbungle about how much the redskins rule?
pb dot c | Homepage | 01.09.06 - 10:29 pm | #