Combatant Camaraderie

I went to see my little brother's junior high basketball game last night and there was an absolutely classic moment, worthy of a painting or at least a stategic photograph.

Officiating at this level often is not very good. But that's to be expected, honestly, considering the experience and training that many of these refs have (or don't have). But these two were probably worse than most.

Of course, the coaches thought the refereeing was much worse than I thought it was. Especially the coach for the other team. He'd yell and stalk and raise his hands in wonderment.

During the game, at a particularly bad officiating stretch, both coaches were utterly flabbergasted with the calls, or lack of them. In disbelief they both turn and walk toward center court where they stew in their frustration and incredulity. Suddenly, they are both there, squatting down in front of the scorers table, face to face. They look at each other, shake their heads, shrug their shoulders, and raise their arms as if to say "What can you do in the face of such blatant ineptitude?" Though their teams were fighting tooth and nail to defeat the other, two coaches are united in the face of officiating incompetence.