The incident occurred Sunday afternoon. According to a story on Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB-TV’s website: “Police are investigating after a basketball referee was attacked by a group of young basketball players over the weekend inside a church athletic facility. Video of the incident that has since gone viral shows children and adults punching and kicking the ref.”
First, let’s soak in the news that a basketball referee was attacked by group of young people and adults inside a church gymnasium – in this case the Stronghold Christian Church in Lithonia, Georgia.
According to Channel 2’s web story, the television station’s Audrey Washington also learned, according to the story, that “the referee suffered serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital.”
Later, Stronghold Christian pastor Ben Gaither released the following statement: “It is truly unfortunate about the turn of events that took place during the basketball game held at our facility this weekend. While we cannot control people, it is our hope and prayer that those who enter our facility will conduct themselves in the best manner.”
It is truly unfortunate that anyone at a youth basketball game, especially one staged inside a church gym, would need to be controlled, that they have so little hold on their emotions that they act like undisciplined children in front of undisciplined children. What’s the old saying: Like father like son?