Jesus made it to the NJCAA tournament but got coded when His name was mentioned...
In a doubles match, one of the players said "JESUS" after he lost a point. The chair official immediately coded him for "unsportsmanlike conduct--language."
The code brought up some of the paradoxes that we have as officials:
* Table 15 of the FAC (Page 126) says to always penalize "references to deities when associated with curses." In our schools we teach that "if Jesus has a last name such as Christ, then code it; otherwise leave it alone." Sorry to disappoint you but Christ is not Jesus' last name...
* Table 15 also says to always penalize "words and gestures that are considered patently offensive to court personnel, players, or spectators." I guarantee you that many people (myself included) were offended when the player said "Jesus" in the manner in which he said it.
* God doesn't have a last name unless it is Yahweh. It sure isn't "dang" or "damn". We teach to code God-damn but not God-dang. And we wonder why our new officials get confused.
Personally, I would not have issued a code but would have given a strong caution that I didn't want to hear that again; however, some of the statements above seem to say that the chair official was justified in issuing the code.
BTW, one of the coaches said that he expected his players to be coded if they said "Jesus" in a derogatory manner...
Look below for a little more food for thought in today's DIVERSE OFFICIATING WORLD...
BUDDHA
(No last name to be found anywhere)
MUHAMMED
(No last name and no real life pictures to be found anywhere)
Now what do you do when a player shouts one of their names????
28 comments:
Given the number of Spanish speaking players in the collegiate game these days, how did the chair know the player wasn't just mis-pronouncing his own name?
I wouldn't code "Jesus" but I would code "God-Damnitt".
Lisa
Good situation to discuss. We discussed at our certification class this year. I would have gone with a soft warning and coded it the next time. I know the CW is not to code - I disagree. Hard for me to believe the word Jesus or God when used after losing a point is not associated with cursing - Not to mention I find it offensive and I am considered court personnel. The FAC supports a code. If the first name of a player is God or Jesus, you could rethink it I suppose. Haven't met any tennis players named God - there are some Jesus' out there though.
I am uncomfortable when I hear a player saying Jesus or Jesus Christ or God. I too would ask the player not to repeat it. However, taking a step back and looking at the larger picture, are we going to code all names associated with someone's faith?
If they holler "Pope" is that a code?
"Allah"?
"Budah"?
Where does it stop?
Please don't write back and tell me I'm crazy and that nobody says any of these names. I know they don't!!! My point is this: if we code a spiritual leader in one person's faith, we had better get ready to code everyone's faith! This is opening a can of worms that I don't think people should be doing.
I am coding any and ALL players for losing a point and saying any of the following… BUDDA, Jesus, Allah, and of course - Bernie West!
Allahu Akbar!!!!
Now CODE that!!!!
I don't like to hear it either. But the book does not say to code it. If we do, we're making up rules to suit ourselves . . . . and we already have one official in Texas that does that. We don't need more. And then there's Abilene . . .
I think if we go by the letter of the law, then we should code it. If we go by what is taught in our schools, then we shouldn't code it.
I'm leaning toward coding it because "Jesus" is a reference to a deity--whether or not you think He has to have a last name. Plus, I can't stand hearing someone say it in that manner. Seems they are quick to praise Jesus when they win, and then blame Him when they lose.
JJJEEEESSSSSUUUUSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does that mean I get a code?
GREAT TOPIC! It is a reflection on our society - WE ARE A CHRISTIAN BASED NATION... IF YOU DO NOT LIKE OR UNDERSTAND THAT FACT - LEAVE! It is like being told that the word F_ _ K is not a bad word in Europe - so, only caution the PRO player - well, if your here in the USA it is cuss word - so is Christ name in any VAIN – LIKE I SAID BEFORE… IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE COMMON DECENCY ALL OF US DESERVE –LEAVE!!!
The more I hear the more I believe that you either change the rule or code "Jesus".
He is a deity.
You will have to prove to me that Jesus was a real deity before you can code me for yelling his name.
Perhaps you should prove to me that He isn't a deity. I have an empty tomb to prove my point.
Empty means no evidence
Only to an athiest or an agnostic--of which I am neither.
Let's all take a step back and go back to sharing opinions about tennis. There are plenty of theological blogs out there . . .but this isn't one of them.
There are lots of readers who have yet to weigh in on this question. This is a very interesting topic. Come on folks, let's hear from you!
After OU's epic 4-2 win over TEXAS late last night in Georgia, Randy got a Code Violation when he heard the results. $#&*$#@*&!@# Sooners.
Don't you know Michael Center is livid after playing 4 singles inside and then the last two started later when they got two outside courts dried. Indoor likely favored OU. But UT has more talent and it should not have been a factor.
RE: the TEXAS vs. OU match. I'm pretty sure all matches were played outside. The first 4 matches went on together on the upper bank of 4 courts. The grounds crew then shifted to the upper upper bank of 2 courts and then put on the final 2 matches. #5. #6, once they were cleared.... OU won at 2, 3, 4, 6. Just a total ass-whopping.
As an adjunct to the coding of "Jesus", how about a blog on why the players who speak foreign languages get a "free pass" on obscenities? Unless the chair is fluent in the obscenitites of a given language the foreign player is allowed to say anything he or she wants and just get a (first time)warning from the official. This is nowhere near fair nor sportsmanlike. Additionally, the dialogue that goes on between a foregin player and his/her coach (again, unless there is a clear understanding of the obscenitites of the language they're speaking) is wide open for abuse. For all anyone knows on the court, the two could be saying anything they wanted about the opposing player or coach or, the chair official. I know collegiate tennis kowtows to the players for whom Enlgish is a second langauage, but this non sense is getting out of hand.
Nice point about foreign players and their coaches speaking in a foreign language.
What is your suggested solution?
It appears that you have lots of ITA experience. Surely you have thought of possible solutions. Please share them.
There are all kinds of dimensions to this issue. Here are a few:
* The ITA coaches write the rules so until they are willing to specifically address the issue, we will go with the status quo.
* Personally, I give them a "free pass" on the first outburst in a foreign language but caution them that the next one will result in a code--and then enforce it.
* I have had players complain that the other player and his/her coach are discussing or deriding him and we have few options. Since we normally don't code the personal communications between coaches and players, it is difficult to decide what to code. I do caution them about discussing their opponent but then who knows what they do.
* We have a lot of officials who ignore outbursts in a foreign language because they are afraid of "getting involved." As long as they are out there, we can't do much about personal conversations.
My personal feeling is that we need the coaches to be very clear about the rules on this issue--and then we can enforce it.
My suggested solution is not politically correct, and will be unpopular: Ban all foreign language on the court. If the official cannot understand what is being said, she or he cannot be "A person who helps ensure that any given tennis match is conducted under the fairest possible conditions". Certainly it isn't fair that a player speaking a foreign language can shout out whatever he wants without receiving any more than a "Warning" that the next outburst may be penalized; assuming, of course, he or she doesn't spout one of those few foreign language words we all know are codeable. As for player/coach communication, quiet, one on one, conversations in any language should be OK, but a coach calling out from near the net post to a player at the baseline in a foreign language should be banned.
RM, in his sagacious fashion, brings up a good point: I truly think we ITA officials should ask the coaches to revisit and revise the rules relating to foreign language on the court. And that brings up a good point: Is there a group or leader of ITA officials who bring up issues such as this one to the coacches for their review? It not, their should be some line of formal communication between the ITA officials and the coacches for just such issues.
Thanks for listening.
You make some very good points. But Sadly, most things ITA have to go through the self-appointed master guru Jane Goodman. If anything gets done, she will have to bless it first. Good Luck!!
That is just not true. The ITA coaches make the ITA rules. While there may be some coaches who might look to the lady in question for validation, I can assure you that the elite coaches of the elite programs in the country don't pay any attention to her. She may run some of the premiere events in college tennis (opinions on those events would make for a great blog topic), she does not control the enactment/revision of ITA rules.
So, back to the question: Is there a process in place for the officials to formally ask the "rule riters" to step up to the plate and either clarify or change a rule? Surely there must be some formal communication link between the officials and "rule riters". And, if there is a link, is the discussion of foreign language on the court worth bringing up to the powers that write?
Nothing usually happens in "rule writing" until an influential coach has something happen to him/her that they don't like.
Probably not the best process but its the one in place.
Soooo, there's no communication link between the officials that work ITA tennis and the ITA organization? Does that sound a little weird to anyone besides me?
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