Castle Island wrote:
I have a memory of this one guy from Southie who was, indeed, a hard ass. But he didn't make a show of it.
He was ref at an intramural basketball game at my college and some of the players didn't like a call or two so they starting mouthing off/swearing at him.
He stopped play, holding the basketball under his arm and said something along the lines of "You're talking tough and swearing at me now, but if I says let's just take it outside right now and settle it, you'll all of a sudden want to be my friend. So, stop it right now or else we will take it outside and no, you're not gonna be my friend then."
The game continued without further protests from any of the players on any calls that he made. They had gotten the message.
Perfect.
Flip side is Micheal Herren in lay-up line at Durfee. Kids heckling him under goal. He makes his lay-up, keeps going and punches kid in head.
Story time:
I went back to run marathon few years back. Celts were home, so friends and I decided to go that night. After the game we were at T stop. Think we walked over to Haymarket and were waiting for train. I was still in running gear with sweat check bag, as I hadn't time to drop it off.
There were what looked like a group of twenty-something white ruffians looking at us and snickering. They looked Southie, Charlestown, you know..
It brought me right back, and I thought here we go. They will soon be giving me shit. And I'm getting uneasy.
Then the biggest of group says "hey man, did you break 4 hours?"
"Yeah".
"Good job" he says.