Earlier this week, a Germantown P.A. announcer went viral after a clip of him telling fans at a basketball game to “shut up” was uploaded to Twitter.
— Joe Chapman (@joechap32) January 28, 2023
The announcer had enough of the parents foolishness! The Refs didn’t even call anything yet! pic.twitter.com/xIQr6xIPaR
A local referee, Keith Bonde saw the clip and he had nothing but praise for the unidentified man saying “You have to applaud him because he knows there is a shortage of officials.”
Keith began his refereeing career in 1979 as a freshman in high school, and over his 43-year career, he has seen plenty of instances where fans and parents weren’t on their best behavior, even well after the game is over.
He recalled a run-in with an adult at a gas station as he and his crew were headed home from a game in Princeton.
Keith explained that she approached his team and began yelling at them, and telling them they “could have done a better job.”
He said there was “no physical altercation, but it was like…we walk out together.”
Bonde also spoke about how important it is to remember, without refs, the games can’t be played.
“Because I have already talked to some fans that I see were giving younger, newer officials a hard time,” he said. “I walk over there and say ‘Hey, you know that 15, 16-year-old? That was some of us many years ago. You don’t want to lose them.’”
He also issued a call for parents or fans to do exactly as the P.A. announcer said, albeit in a nicer tone of voice.
He said that if you are a fan of a sport, getting involved in refereeing that sport is not only a good way to stay active and in shape, but it is also a good way to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy it as much as you do.
