Truth be told, I'm right 99.9% of the time. You know it and I know it. And, on the off chance that you don't know it, I'm bound to tell you.
Yesterday, at Jay's soccer game, the officiating was horrible. He's only 6 games into his varsity soccer career but I've already come to realize that high school officiating just stinks. Now that I think about it, it used to stink back when I played, too. At least, that's what I used to tell the refs who were on the field with me. You would have thought I'd know better, given that two of the guys who used to ref most of our home games at EFA were teachers at my high school. But, I just couldn't stop myself.
Anyway, now that I'm no longer on the field playing the game, you would think I'd be more relaxed. Not quite. I do OK at Jay's club games but the high school scene is altogether different. The refs don't run. They have no clue how to gauge offsides, even on a field that's lined for football! Best of all, there's absolutely no rhyme or reason to the fouls that they call. Boys get stomped on while they're down -- no call. Boys trip over their own feet -- direct kick. It's maddening.
After one particularly egregious offsides call during the second half yesterday, a call that thwarted a sure scoring chance for Jay's team, I had had it. I cupped my hands to my mouth and half-screamed, half-shouted "Booooooo!!!" I held it out as long as I could. Then, after taking a quick breath, I finished with a "You're horrible!" for good measure.
Kim was mortified. Now that I think about it, so am I. But, I have to admit -- it felt good. As much as I don't want to ever do it again, I'm not going to make any promises.
By the way, just 6 games into his varsity career, Jay's already won more games than me. We were 2-17 one year and 1-18 the next. He's sitting pretty at 4-1-1. I hope it doesn't go to his head.