THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD BLOW I.......

As a bearer of the stripes in the basketball courts of the high schools in SW Ohio, I've felt a little dogged at times.

Every official has had the mild or major misfortune for blowing his/her whistle for something he/she thought was happening or happened.

Houston coach Tom Penders collapsed on the sideline from an apparent heart condition during a play late in the first half of their loss to University of Alabama-Birmingham this past Saturday when a UAB player drove to the basket. This gave UAB the lead at 46-44. To top it off, a foul was called on Houston on the play with only :52 seconds left in the half.

The officials gave Penders a technical foul, thinking he was objecting to the call when he went down to his knees. When he didn't get up, the crowd was hushed.

Penders returned for the second half after receiving some oxygen.

This may be basketball's first technical foul assessed for a heart condition.