Delta Kappa Epsilon, UNC Chapter
"The Objects of Delta Kappa Epsilon are the cultivation of general literature and social culture, the advancement and encouragement of intellectual excellence, the promotion of honorable friendship and useful citizenship, the development of a spirit of tolerance and respect for the rights and views of others, the maintenance of gentlemanly dignity, self-respect, and morality in all circumstances, and the union of stout hearts and kindred interests to secure to merit its due reward."
-The DKE home page
"Can you give me a detailed explanation of the events that happened in your game today at 6:00 pm?"
-The head intramural sports supervisor,
referring to a game I recently officiated
between the two intramural flag-football
teams "Delta Kappa Epsilon" and
"The Legion of Doom"
"The game began just like any other. Despite the weather forecasts of the day, the clouds hung overcast in the sky, spraying a fine mist that flailed in the gentle breeze.
"I conducted the captain's meeting and proceeded to chair the game from the head referee position. Play began smoothly enough with no noteworthy misbehaviors from either side. Towards the middle of the first half, DKE protested a defensive holding call made by the sideline judge. I explained the call to them and enforced the penalty, but after that call DKE seemed to openly dispute every penalty that went against them. It later came to my attention that after every successful tackle the player initially flagged for defensive holding would mock the sideline judge and ask if the previous play warranted a holding penalty. Many of the DKE players continued to outwardly protest every penalty they incurred, and at the end of the first half I warned them that if they continued their unnecessary complaints I would flag the offending player for unsportsmanlike conduct, a decision fully supported and reiterated by the field supervisor.
"The second half began without incident. As play continued, however, members of the DKE team began to complain again about the calls being made. Again I warned them against such behavior, but at one point one DKE player accused me of being racially biased against their team (composed entirely of caucasians), and I responded by flagging their team for unsportsmanlike conduct. This sent off a flurry of protest among the DKE players, demanding an explanation as to why I had flagged their player for unsportsmanlike conduct. I again stated that I had warned their team repeatedly against unnecessary complaining, and that their current behavior was unacceptable.
"Soon thereafter more complaints arose after calls that DKE found unfavorable (be it penalties, clock management, or lack of calls being made), and each significant tirade was met with penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. Finally there came an instance where DKE was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which was met with a veritable tantrum by the offending player, to which he was flagged again for unsportsmanlike conduct. At this point the offending DKE player and another teammate began shouting obscenities directed at the referees, and for this behavior they were ejected from the game. The players did not immediately leave the field, however, instead rushing up to yell directly to my face and demanding that I myself leave the field for poor officiating, to which I responded with a lack of acknowledgment and a restraint from laughter.
"Let it be noted that I understand the difference between voicing a legitimate complaint and arguing for the sake of arguing. Always I will address and legitimate complaints with reasoned responses and explanations of the call. However, DKE's reactions to the calls being made were comparable to that of a colic toddler, and I felt it necessary to penalize their behavior in an effort to maintain the normally social atmosphere of intra-mural flag football. Furthermore I cannot be criticized as being a hot-headed referee quick to penalize any who would object in the slightest, for I have never before flagged a team for complaining in over two years of officiating.
"Play resumed but quickly devolved again to more complaints concerning calls made or not made by referees, and again these outbursts were met with penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. After the final call for unsportsmanlike conduct, the offending DKE player began to shout obscenities at myself and the other referees, at which point he was ejected from the field of play. The game resumed until the clock expired, signaling the end of play.
"After the game, several DKE players came up to myself and the field supervisor, demanding a protest form for the game. They asked the officials' names and later the team captain spoke with me personally, apologizing for the behavior of his players and voicing his concerns over the lack of calls by certain officials and other officials making calls which he felt should have been made by referees who were closer to the action.
"It later came to my attention that one of the DKE reserves threw ice at one of the other referees from the sideline but denied it in spite of the fact that he was holding a cup of ice and chewing ice cubes. Furthermore other DKE players on the sideline began to spit ice onto the field of play, and when asked to stop by the field supervisor, the players responded by dumping out their entire cooler of ice onto the field, resulting in their team's indefinite supsension from league.
"I have no complaints against the Legion of Doom worth mentioning."
-My response
"Thanks Tim. It seems like you did a good job and could not avoid the situation that evolved. For your information, next time you work, 3 unsportsmanlike penalties on one team automatically ends the game."
-The intramural sports supervisor's response
