“Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?”/“Because it heard the referee was blowing fowls.”

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”/“To get to the other side” is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A basketball version is:
 
Q: Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
A: Because it heard the ref was blowing fouls (fowls).
             
The joke was posted on the newsgroup net.jokes on May 30, 1984, and has been printed on several images.
 
     
Google Groups: net.jokes
chickens, babies & linefeeds (may be unsuitable for younger or more sensitive readers)
Nate Stelton
5/30/84
(...)
why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
he heard that the ref was blowing fouls.
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
Why did the chicken cross the…
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
9/29/90
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
It heard the ref was blowing fowls
     
Google Books
Squeaky Clean Jokes for Kids
By Bob Phillips and Steve Russo
Eugene, OR: Harvest House Press
1997
Pg. 149:
Delbert: Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
Darlene: I have no clue.
Delbert: Because the referee called a fowl.
 
Google Groups: alt.jokes pentium 
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
Michael Parkes
5/31/98
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
Because the referee was blowing fowls.
   
Google Groups: rec.humor
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
j.roy.b
12/17/99
He heard the ref was blowing fouls on the other side.
   
YouTube
Jokes - Why did the chicken cross the basketball court? He heard the ref was blowing fowls.
jokesus
Published on Aug 19, 2015
Joke :
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?   
He heard the ref was blowing fowls.
 
Twitter
Brad Dean‏
@bdean47
Replying to @Globalgallop
why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
It heard the ref was blowing fowls
6:29 AM - 23 May 2016
 
Twitter
Daily Lifts‏
@daily_lifts
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court? Because he heard the ref call the fowl. #Jokes
8:49 PM - 24 May 2016
 
Twitter
Lia Matera‏
@liamatera
Unfortunately, I’m reminded of old dumb joke: Why did the chicken cross the basketball court? Because it heard the referee was blowing fouls
9:00 PM - 30 May 2016
 
Google Books
Sports Illustrated Kids Basketball Jokes!
By B. A. Hoena
North Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books, a Capstone imprint
2017 ©2018
Pg. 36:
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court?
Because the referee called a foul.
 
Reddit—Jokes
Why did the chicken cross the basketball court ?
submitted October 7, 2017 by steezycheesefries
Because the referee was blowin fowles