I was watching the Kentucky and Georgia college basketball game recently played in Georgia and not only saw a great game, but one which tested the limits of sportsmanship. There were a couple of players on the opposite teams who jawed and clawed each other the entire game. Near the end of the game, the two got tangled up and tempers flared. Had it not been for a referee who was right on top of the incident, it could have gotten ugly.

The coaches on both teams each did a great job of keeping their bench players where they belonged, on the bench. Considering it happened right in front of the Kentucky bench, Coach John Calipari and his assistants immediately kept the bench intact.

Unfortunately in the past there have been times when various other scenes got ugly. As we enter into the baseball and softball part of the school year, just a reminder for fans, parents and grandparents to be on your best behavior.

I have been in the stands during football and basketball games for many years as a parent, sports writer and coach. I have seen and heard some ugly things, and I have heard them in probably every town in this county.

We all want the games to be officiated fairly and we want the best for our kids and our teams, but there has to be limits on how some people behave.

Back in the 1970s in one basketball season, I was in attendance when fights broke out on the court which escalated into fans rushing the court and taking a small army of Dallas ISD security and Dallas police to bring peace. One was a boys game and the other a girls game. In the boys game the gym was cleared and then teams played to an empty facility. In the other contest, the team ahead was determined the winner because the officials clearly indicated the fault belonged to one side.

Back when my Dad was president of Boys Baseball, Inc. in Dallas, we were at a playoff game when a father of a pitcher decided the plate umpire was not being fair. This man went to his car, got a baseball bat and stormed the field to go after the ump. Thank goodness coaches from both teams were able to stop him, or who knows what could have happened.

As we head into school competition in baseball and softball, may we be aware of being a champion of sportsmanship. Our coaches at all the county schools work hard for students to have the opportunity to enjoy the game they play. Most coaches head to the practice and game fields after a day of being in class teaching. They are classroom teachers first, coaches second.

I have been there. It’s not always the easiest thing for a coach to get everybody on the bus, get the game played, feed them on the long road trips, get home late, and I found out the hard way, stay at school until late hours waiting on a parent who “forgot” to pick up their own child. After that, it was midnight, but you had papers to grade and preparation for upcoming testing. And then you get a call from a parent who wants to complain about their child’s lack of playing time or questioning your motivation in strategy or if you know anything about coaching at all.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many things I miss about teaching and coaching, but there are definitely things I don’t miss at all.

Fans should respect the officials. Most officials work full-time jobs and become officials because they love the game and love to be involved with young people. When I was coaching, I was fortunate to have some pretty good officials over the years and there were a few I did not want to ever see again. You get to know these folks and they are people just like you and me.

The one thing I really detest is when I hear fans bad-mouthing players on the opposing team. There is no need for that. It’s also very cowardly to complain about your coach during the entire game. If you are so smart, then you become a coach. If you have a problem, meet with the coach in private to discuss your concerns.

Summer little league brings out the worst in some people. I would suggest you get involved with your local youth foundation as a volunteer coach, concession worker or even become an umpire. Find out how you can help your team.

I realize most fans are good folks and it is a minority who usually cause the problems. But I hope you all can remember it is just a game, and a kids’ game at that.

Let the kids play, and you sit back and enjoy!