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College Basketball Referee Gets Knocked Out On Tip-Off (Video)

By Bryan Rose

Nov 29, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NCAA referee Rick Crawford is tended to as he lays on the court shortly after tip-off during the first half between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the La Salle Explorers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NCAA referee Rick Crawford is tended to as he lays on the court shortly after tip-off during the first half between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the La Salle Explorers at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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A college basketball referee was knocked out after throwing a game opening tip between Vanderbilt and LaSalle.

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So often you see fans complain about basketball referees and their inability to properly throw a successful tip.

It’s not exactly an easy motion to push a round ball up in the air with two grown men smashing you like a zebra striped sandwich, so given that it’s understandable as to why tips can occasionally be a little wayward. It’s also understandable as to why referees are often rushing out of the mild mid-air scrum as body parts quickly begin swinging as they did during a recent college basketball game between Vanderbilt and LaSalle.

Things looked completely normal to start the game as both teams were properly lined up and awaiting the tip which is where referee Rich Crawford made the toss.

Only problem? He was demolished by a elbow from one of the jumping players and quickly fell to the ground as he was knocked out.

Thankfully what looked to be a terrifying situation had a happy ending as Crawford, despite a nasty bump on his head, would recover just fine after a trip to the hospital.

Talk about scary. Damn elbows can be a trained weapon if you know what you’re doing, just ask Karl Malone.

/Oh no he didn’t.

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