Perkins Ejection
 

I am sure some others are watching the game as well. Regardless of the debate of whether it was a foul/nonfoul to begin with, that seemed like a quick technical. Granted at the HS level, I do not care if a player is walking away or not, saying "that was a BS call" is automatic. In the NBA, I have just seen a lot worse that were not called.

Anyway, my thoughts...how good of a look to Eddie Rush have on the foul? From his angle I would think he would see the push, but he certainly signaled otherwise. He obviously did not realize that was the second T on Perkins as they did not eject him right away (where was the table crew on this one :)). Does he let that go if he does know he had one already? It was an interesting sequence that I think is the first time I can remember a crew botching administration procedures, which leads me to think it caught everyone off guard.

I loved the announcers saying that he should "man up" and admit the mistake and retract the technical. "Oh wait, you are right, that was a bad call, nevermind my whistle. In fact why am I even out here?" :)

Also just heard that was Perkins 7th technical of the playoffs, which means he is out for the possible game 6, if the league upholds the technical. Anyone want to wager that the league will rescind that technical?? If betting were legal and all.:rolleyes:

See Donaghey thread LOL

I'd be surprised if the NBA did not rescind the technical foul. To me, it appeared as if it was a heat of the moment reaction that resolved itself. Usually a heat of the moment reaction is allowed (within reason) if the player does not direct it toward the official and the situation resolves itself quickly (which I think he did a good job of walking away).

As to the call, Ed Rush called a hit which surprised me as I also thought he was calling a foul on the displacement. It's possible he saw something from his angle which they never showed.

On a side note, Perkins can mean mug with the best of them! :p

When did it become illegal? :D

According to SI.com
 

As stated above:

"Barring a reprieve from the NBA office, starting center Kendrick Perkins will miss Game 6 after compiling seven technical fouls in the playoffs."

Of the Davis injury, I found this quote from the article interesting -

"I know he blacked out on the floor," Rivers said of Davis. "I was just trying to get him back down on offense at the time. And Marquis, same thing. He blacked out as well. Lots of elbows."

Wow coach, so you knew at one point your player(s) was/were unconscious, but all you were concerned with was getting them back in the play? Thanks for your concern! :mad: Wouldn't fly in HS - especially with the recent emphasis.

Read More: Big-man shortage leaves Celtics in big trouble - Andy Staples - SI.com

My first thought was that the center official (Crawford) hit Perkins with the T. Perkins was walking away from Rush, who was the trail, but he was walking right at Crawford. My first thought was that Crawford whacked him for the antics, but I could never really see on any replay who actually gave the technical. Announcers said it was Rush, I assume it was him, but don't know for sure. Anyone know for sure it was Rush and not Crawford (the center official on that play)? Just curious...

I can neither confirm, nor deny....
 

This article says:

"With 36.1 seconds remaining in the half, referee Eddie Rush rang up Perkins a second time for what appeared to be some minor post-play grousing."

Another online source said:

"Then with 36.1 seconds left, Perkins and Dwight Howard were jostling in the post, and Perkins was whistled for his third personal. Perkins outstretched his arms and protested the call as he turned away from referee Eddie F. Rush, who apparently decided he went too far.

Rush called the technical, Perkins looked on with an expression of stunned disbelief, then slowly shuffled to the other end of the court and eventually through the tunnel to the Boston locker room."

Considering Rush reported the T to the table and you can see him start to whack him when the camera cuts away, then I am certain it was Rush.

Lots of elbows??? WTF is Doc talking about? Davis caught Howard's elbow on the nose when Howard was bringing his arm down in its natural motion on a shot. Daniels banged his face into Gortat's chest.

I love how none of this report what the player said as he was walking away. It is very obvious and one can read his lips in the video highlight. He deserved the T. Still I would bet that the NBE OFFICE will rescind it and let him play anyway. They want a show more than they wish to support their officials. Very sad. :(

Just in case there is any question about my criticisms, let me say they are directed at those in the league office, not the on-court officials. The league directors are the problem.

Agreed, and it will only add fuel to the fire of opinion that NBA refs are incompetent. The league will be trading long term benefit for short term gain.

[QUOTE=AustinRef;678708]
Anyway, my thoughts...how good of a look to Eddie Rush have on the foul? From his angle I would think he would see the push, but he certainly signaled otherwise. He obviously did not realize that was the second T on Perkins as they did not eject him right away (where was the table crew on this one :)). Does he let that go if he does know he had one already? It was an interesting sequence that I think is the first time I can remember a crew botching administration procedures, which leads me to think it caught everyone off guard.QUOTE]


How is it obvious he did not realize it was the 2nd T? A second technical foul does not need be accompanied by the "heave ho" signal. It's still just another technical foul. I'm sure the table crew was sitting somewhere courtside ;) Why would you let something go just because you've already given one technical foul. There is nothing in our rules that say the 2nd T has to be any more eggregrious sp? than the first one. In fact, I feel if you let them keep pushing you past what you have established as your line, it only shows that you don't have to guts to "man up" and handle business. Also, what administration did they botch? There was a foul, a technical foul, they shot the T, then played on from the original foul. Sounds like they handled it pretty well. Every official in that game has worked the NBA Finals, I'm pretty sure they can handle a simple foul/technical sequence. I don't really understand your reasoning behind all this. Please expound ;)

When did we get to the point that anything players say is OK?

If we have to live by the mantra of "You cannot quote silence," then why do players and coaches not adhere to the same issues? It sounds to me that no T would have been given if Perkins kept his mouth shut. Seems pretty simple if you ask me.

Peace

I didn't like the T at all, Rush seemed to get personal about it. Looked like a "gotcha" call. Yeah, Perkins said it was a BS call, but he said it as he walked away. He never stared down Rush either. Did he flail his arms? Yes, but he did it as he walked away.
Its an emotional game, I bet Rush wishes he could have that one back.

"The league will support the T in the interest of having a Game 7 in Orlando" - Tim Donaghy :eek:

I do understand that in terms of what is often let slide in the NBA and even NCAA levels this tech may be percieved as soft.

As an official, parent and basketball fan I'm glad he called it. Sure he was walking away, but walk away and be frustrated with yourself and talk to your teammates about the next possesion. Don't walk away whining and bi&^%ing. If this was the standard for all tech's you'd see a lot less barking and whining to officials and more basketball players worrying about playing basketball in the league. IMO

I get that their millionaires, its suppose to be entertainment too, and its an emotional and physical game. I'm ok with all that stuff in the context of playing the game. The whistle is blown, you are no longer playing the game you are waiting for the game to resume. PLayers worry about playing the game, officials worry about calling it.

Also I'm not convinced it was a great inital foul call based on what I saw, but having watched NBA games on tv and in person everyone is making hard contact with everyone from 15 feet in on every possesion so what is and isn't a foul is pretty subjective. Get over it.

Let me get this straight. I can say anything to you as I am walking away and that is OK? Can you show me any rulebook that says "Walking away" exonerates a person from unsportsmanlike penalty?

Didn't Dave Stern suspend an official for the entire playoffs for giving a T to Tim Duncan a couple of years ago? I guess that squashes that reasoning.

Peace

I based that off the fact that they shot the technical, then ejected Perkins from the game. Unless I am completely mistaken there. From what I saw, Rush signaled the foul, signaled the technical, then turned around as Crawford administered the free throw. Then it looked like Washington walked up to Rush and they realized it was the second T on Perkins, and then ejected him from the game. So, the sequence was telling me he was not aware it was his second, hence the comment about assistance from the table crew ;).

As far as a second T needing to be more egregious than the first, I completely agree with you that it should not matter at all. A T is a T, no matter what the end result. However, seeing that this is the NBA, it has always appeared to me that the threshold for behaviour that earns a T is much higher. There is also a perceived pressure from the league to keep players in the game during playoffs (hence why I believe the T(s) will be rescinded today). That's all I meant by that.

Does this apply in other facets of life:

• Employee/Boss
• Student/Teacher
• Child/Parent

Me: Son, clean up that room or you're not hanging out with your friends tonight.

Son (flailing arms and walking away): That's bullsh!t.

Me: Give me your keys, you're not going anywhere for the next week.

Son (through bloody lip :D): But Dad, I was only talking to myself, why are you punishing me?

Absolutely not! But Perkins saying "that was a BS call" on a pretty borderline call is one that I'll eat. IMO, his demostrative body language was more disrespectful than his verbal. I allow coaches & players a bit more pushback on questionable calls. Now if that was a clear cut, no-brainer then yeah, whack & toss.

You're right the rulebook doesn't mention walking away AT ALL. :D

The rulebook does not say anything about managing the game either :cool:

I'm sure you know all about; the game within the game, managing emotions, effective communication, situational refereeing (having a feel for the game) & the like.

Imagine this, Rush calls the foul then goes tableside T. After Perkins antics, he speaks with Rush on the first of two FTs. Rush tells him what he had & adds, if you stomp off like that again & I'll be forced to whack you & that will be a DQ. Dont put me in that predicament.

I believe it was Joey, but that was a totally different sitch.

+1

I don't see how walking away is relevant when you're cursing out an official. I was always taught to never do that.

At the levels you possibly played, that was extremely wise of you sir!
On to the next :rolleyes:

I hear what BNR is saying, but this is NOT a HS game! These are grown men, if you dont hear cursing every night in the league then you need to either invest in some higher quality electronics OR your speakers arent hooked up correctly.

In a student-athlete setting... yes!
In a professional, post-season, entertainment setting where you possibly called a ticky-tack on the losing team just before the half in a very emotional Game 5... ummmm NO!

I work with grown men, tref, and grown women.

Would you like to know the result if one grown adult cursed out his/her grown boss?

You can't use emotions to justify actions. If these are pros, they should act like pros.

Not a good comparison. Players/Officials Neither is the others boss.

First of all bad analogy if you want to convince me that this should not be called. You just proved my point and probably did not realize it. You are right the rulebook says nothing about managing the game. So his comments got him popped desirably so. Also this has nothing to do with managing the game. For one you do not know the other interaction that went on the game and Ed T. Rush had enough. That is his right to do so.

Here is what you need to do, stop listening to the media for your opinion. You did not talk to Rush or any of the other officials. You have no idea what was said or not said and why this was ultimately a T. This might have been the last straw. I know I have given Ts for things that were not just based on the immediate outburst. I have given Ts because this was a long line of things and my warnings were not adhered to. And this is this player's 7th T during playoffs, so he must know what to do to avoid getting a T.

I do know what game management means to me. But that does not mean that players can do whatever they like just because of the situation. And if a player does not want to get a T, they can keep their mouths shut and act appropriately.

It does not work that way. And if you knew that, then you would know that there is likely more to this call than what happen when the T was called. I have watched games in person while watching people I know officiate. Seen things called like a T, then not know what was said or the entire story until I talk to them after the game. Then the entire story or at least their story is part of the story, not what I assumed I saw or heard in incident.


That is interesting. Perkins got a T earlier right? Do you know what the officials talked about earlier in the game? I know when a player is a problem, my partners are informed and what was said. And that player is not going to get a free shot the next time. And in some cases we might go into the game that the jag offs are and have less rope with them, because their pattern of behavior is such that we are not going to allow them to act up all night. Neither you nor I know what was talked about in pre-game, but the league or even during the game. You must not know what those things mean if you think this was just a standalone T. Remember, this player has 7 Ts during this post season alone. Someone thinks he has a problem.

Not really.

Frankly, I'm growing weary of the constant whining with virtually every call made in the games. And, I'm beginning to believe its a rare NBA player who has actually ever committed a foul. Wasn't there an NBA poe a couple of years ago whose purpose was to stop all the moaning and groaning? It needs to be resurrected. Sheesh.

This IS professional basketball NOT professional bowling.

Lets get away from employee/employer relationships.

How about an adult gets pulled over by a cop (since we are more in that capacity). I'm sure "this is a BS ticket" will be handled in different manners based on the cop. Although some may arrest you for that, I'm sure the majority would just eat it.

Let's see...suspended for his 7th technical in the playoffs. Maybe he shouldn't have earned his other six technicals as well. Unless they were "cheap" also...

Fixed that name for ya & so true!

Hey JRut, thats what I tell my wife when we're watching games!

True & great stuff! I understand.

A fairer comparison, for sure. Although, off hand, I don't know the laws for cursing out a police officer. I'm sure they vary from place to place. In sports, they're considerably more clear.

IMO, it still comes down to choice of behavior. No matter where you are, if you control your emotions, you're far better off than vice versa. If sports indeed builds character (and reveals it, too), such building won't take place if we don't call each other on it.

Or maybe not..... ;)

What about the first T?
 

The second technical was questionable, but, probably based on Perkins' reputation as a whiner, and maybe what he said, might have been deserved, even if he was walking away. BUT, It was the first T that was completely undeserved, as Perkins was trying to give a hand to help Pierce up, his hand slipped, and his elbow flew back...don't even think there waqs much contact, if any. Bad call...this is the T the league will rescind.

It is? If that is the case we would not have some people calling this marginal and others calling it a no-brainer. Also I have never been told in a rulebook what is actually profanity and what is not. I would think a police officer has similar judgment to decide when certain laws are violated like disorderly conduct or even a speeding ticket. I know everyone does not get a speeding ticket for going one mile per hour over the speed limit, but if we are we are still guilty.

Peace

I had a buddy tell me once that profanity was anything you wouldn't say in front of your grandmother. He didn't know my grandmother. :D

I agree with Hugh Hollins. I think Rush didnt realize, at the moment, that it was Perkins 2nd.

The second T should, and I believe will, be rescinded. And I don't believe this NBA policy shows up its officials at all. Perkins still got tossed and didnt play most of a critical playoff game. To suspend him for another playoff game would be too severe IMO.

It's good that the have the rule on the accumulation of techs and also, in this instance, the rule that allows the office to rescind one, b/c Perkin's actions don't warrant sitting out an additional game. Again, IMO.

5 out of the 6 were part of dual technicals, which have nothing to do with yapping at officials, etc. Some of 'em were things like double elbows, etc.

And the NBA rescinded the second technical foul today, so Perkins avoided the suspension.

I just think the "walking away" argument is weak. "Walking away" doesn't make it all right to say whatever you want. Now, if you want to debate whether "flailing his arms" and the specific profanity are worth the T, that's one thing, but to say that "walking away" while doing so makes everything alright, well I find that to be a weak rationalization.

OMG, we must be related. Although she doesn't hold a candle to my mother in law!

Really? You let coaches and players ***** more about a call you weren't sure of than a call that your were sure of? If you weren't sure, why'd you make the call in the first place? This sentiment is nonsense.

From the guy who wrote a scathing post about us not supporting our fellow officials at that level and making fun of the league for its practices, I find this to be truly ironic.

Nothing could be more undermining than for the league to come out and rescind the technical foul and lift the suspension. The league is telling the entire viewing world that the official was wrong and they aren't backing him.

:(:mad:

Well, it's already been rescinded.

Another reason I have trouble watching NBA.

Same here.

Peace

I wonder how the other officials will look at any of Perkins' actions during the next game. I would probably have a short leash.

I think the problem is David Stern's god complex. If this was Dennis Rodman or Ron Artest I think the T would stand. But because of the situation it was certain to get lifted and it did.

On another note, from my TV Paul Pierce is one of the biggest jerks/cry babies in the league. I don't understand how he does the things he does on both offense and defense. I have always had a problem with players getting someone in the air and then launching their bodies into them. I especially don't like this when they (the offensive players) do this in a direction that isn't towards the hoop. It isn't natural for me to jump sideways while shooting. At least one of these plays should have been a play on last night.

I don't find it ironic at all. My beef is the way some people on this board choose to characterize the NBA game and it's overall officiating. Specifically referencing it as the NBE, comparing it to pro wrestling, and implying that what the officials are asked to do, and what they do, is somehow not officiating basketball.

I never said that individual officials are not open to criticism though that's what some tried to spin the discussion into. Personally, I feel that individual officials, just like any other human being, are subject to criticism. In this instance, I disagree with Rush's judgment in issuing the second T.

The fact that the NBA has a ruling calling for a suspension after a certain number of Ts is a good thing. And I also thinks it's a good thing to give the office the discretion to rescind a technical so that a player is not unfairly suspended. This does not, and should not, undermine an official. It's a fair policy that works in the best interest of everyone.

If someone from the league office came down at halftime and said the second T doesnt count and allowed Perkins back in the game that would be undermining Rush. But as I said in my earlier post, the T was administered, and Perkins got tossed. What the league policy does is allow the office to rescind a T for the sake of the accumulation toward a suspension, which IMO, is more than fair.

So my position here is consistent in that I support the NBA and its overall officiating process. Rush's T was enforced and the player got tossed. But given time and the advantage of replay to access the entire situation, the league made the correct decision, IMO, that a further suspension was not warranted. It's called common sense and looking at the big picture.

Got it. Doesn't really change things IMO.

Point taken!

Ummm excuse me, but questionable call & not being sure of a call are two totally different things. You're putting words in the my mouth.

1. When I said questionable, I was referring to the coaches/players/fanatics. Questionable to THEM.

2. I dont put air in it unless I'm sure.

Hope this gives you a better understanding of what "I" meant by questionable call.

My apologies... was not my intent.

Yes... and no offense but I believe your clarification is worse than the words I inadvertently put in your mouth. Are you (see... this is a question not a statement, to avoid putting words in your mouth) asserting that you give more leeway to coaches complaining when THEY think your call is questionable than when THEY don't? Well that doesn't make any sense at all. (And I'm wondering why coaches would complain about calls they didn't disagree with).

There is also the no-call where something appeared to happen but you passed because you were unsure while they felt something should have been called. You've already half agreed with them by conciously deciding to pass because you didn't get a good look. I'm going to give a bit more latitude on such situations....becasue they just might be right.

Since someone else already tossed in and apples/oranges (kids, coworkers) comparison, I'll throw one in there.

I'm glad football doesn't have such sensitive rules about complaining/cursing. I like seeing adult athletes getting fired up. I would hate to watch a game played with the passion of an accountant.

Ok Mike, let me break it down for you sir.

Questionable:
A3 takes it strong to the rack, the secondary defender B5 slides in front of A3. They get to the spot basically at the same time & both hit the deck. It can go either way (50/50) I count the bucket & put A3 on the line.
Team Bs coach wants to know why no p/c, I give him my explanation. He argues a bit, I say I understand & walk away.

Clear cut:
Same play but B5 is clearly still trying to get to the spot when the crash happens. If coach wants to argue this one he might get whacked or put on notice at the very least.

Say what?:confused:

NFL game officials sureshell never let any player curse them out. And imo they allow way less complaining than their NBA counterparts.

Others have noted that the he-was-walking-away argument doesn't hold water. I agree, but for different reasons. I think that Rush had already made the decision to whack Perkins due to the arm-flailing tantrum he threw immediately following Rush's first call.

It's interesting the way this worked out for Perkins. If he had never turned away, and just stopped the hysterics after the first series of gestures, then he wouldn't have had people running to dismiss his obscenity. Further, if he hadn't uttered the obscenity, it would have been much clearer to the masses that the gestures were what did the trick.

Another item I haven't seen mentioned is that Rush had just whacked the Magic's Matt Barnes a few minutes earlier, so everyone should have recognized that they were on notice.

Duncan and Pierce are the two biggest whiners I know of, but Perkins is the biggest cry-baby in the league. I have zero sympathy for him here.

I'm not aware of any laws that would allow for such an arrest. My guess would be any law that could be used for that would amount to such a stretch as to render the arresting officer a laughing stock among his colleagues.

'that's a bs call' gets a T from me every time, but I don't work NBA ball. It apparently is enough for a T from Eddie Rush.

And it's not as if this guy was looking at a suspension due to one T, he'd received 6 others in the post season; a total of what, 15 games so far? That's a pretty good clip.

and here

Disorderly conduct would be the charge though IIRC, it has to be because it would be a disturbance to others and not the officer himself.

Right, which wouldn't apply to the situation presented, where I tell the cop it's a BS ticket. Now, OTOH, such a statement would be highly likely to give the cop reason to hit me with every single violation he could find.

I really don't think you can put this comparison in a regular work place or adult interaction relationship.

The adult getting the speeding ticket or in the work place is not in front of millions of fans all over the world, being paid millions of dollars by a contract with conduct clause, engaging in an activity with rules explicitly requiring sportsmanship and supposedly acting as a role model.

I understand the NBA routinely lets its slide, but I'm ok with the whacking.

I have to admit I'm disappointed, yet not surprised, that the NBA rescinded the T. To me, it's the final nail in the coffin of the POE from a couple of years ago which led to a ton of Ts early in the season. It's not as if video replay showed the player didn't commit the infraction.

And FWIW, players should not get a bigger leash just because they've already been issued a T in the same game.

I hope that is what he is saying cause that is just good game management and understanding the emotions of the game. If it is a hard/close play, then we should understand a coach's Point of view and give him more of an opportunity rather than a play where it was blatantly easy in our eyes, then he gets less leeway.

That's not to say the coach never regains his composure or gathers himself together in a reasonable amount of time. In that case he will still receive a Technical foul.

The NBA allows a "Heat of the Moment" reaction to a call. As long as the player doesn't direct his reaction toward the official, such as an "air punch," and regains his composure rather quickly, a technical shouldn't be called. That's the NBA guideline and appears to be why it was rescinded.

I see NBA players say "That's BS" all the time. That's not usually enough to get a technical.

Also, I think there's a huge difference in what a 16 y/o HS player is allowed to say to an official versus what a professional basketball player is allowed to say. It's apples to oranges.

+1

Maybe that shouldn't be allowed. I would prefer that poor behavior be penalized at all levels.

Since I don't have access to their thoughts, I have to make an assumption. I assume NBA dropped the issue because the fans didn't like seeing their favorite players get rung up when the NBA instituted the zero tolerance policy a couple of years ago.

Too bad.

Business is business, you know. A dollar is always a dollar. Ultimately, in the NBA, that's what motivates decisions, because that's what motivates the business world.

In our amateur basketball world, that's something we won't have to worry about as much.

It wasn't that they didn't like seeing players receive technical fouls, many fans actually enjoy an opposing player getting whacked. It gives them the opportunity to give that player grief.

The issue was that fans were complaining that they paid to see so and so and that individual got 2 Ts and tossed in the 2nd quarter and the fan feels that he didn't get his money's worth from the show.

In a nutshell, that's why it's the NBE.

If BronBron or Kobe hadda done the exact same thing as Perkins in a key playoff game where each already had a "T", do you think that any official in the league(except for maybe Joey Crawford) is gonna give them a second "T" for doing exactly what Perkins did? Naw, don't think so. I've seen both of 'em get away with a heckuva lot worse so far in the playoffs this year.

I remember seeing and hearing Michael Jordan in his prime mofo an official up one side and down the other about a call that official had just made against the Bulls. Called him everything but a Republican. In his defense though, that official finally got pissed-off enough at MJ to give Dennis Rodman a "T".

That's why it's the NBE! :D

;)

Agree...with no smiley. Javie will take care of bidness. His injury hurt the league in this year's playoffs..

That is totally FALSE. D1 coaches do NOT get to scratch officials. You don't have your facts straight. Stick to the pro game.

And I agree also that the NBA is harder to manage and referee. But that's partially because of the star system involved. I can't believe that anybody could stand up and say with a straight face that LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are treated the exact same as the Kendrick Perkins of the world. My eyes tell me different. And I ain't a fanboy either. It's gotta be tough knowing that you have to go out there and apply different criteria than simply just calling the game.

The NBA created the problem. It's up to the NBA to fix the problem. And anybody that thinks that the NBA doesn't have a problem has their head buried completely in the sand.

JMO.

Gee, that's gotta be news for Bobby Knight and Ted Valentine. Knight tried like hell for years to get away from Teddy V. Never happened. And who supposedly had more stroke in the college game than Knight? And who ended up outlasting Knight?

Don't think so, Ben.

Respectfully disagree here with you Nev.

I know of a few mentors who tell me it does exist. Tim Floyd was notorious for scratching officials who didn't kow-tow to him.

Are those mentors also working as D1 assigners for the Pac-10 or another big conference?

Yes.

Also Bill McCabe will be named as the new Big West Supervisor of Officials; you heard it here first. ;)

If that is what you think that the term means, then we are not discussing the same issue.
My statement is that D1 coaches do not have a formal process in place to block individual officials from their games or their conferences. They simply do not possess this power.
However, I will not argue that they exert some influence and some of them may be able to informally request to the conference supervisor that they not have a specific official. It would be up to the supervisor of the conference whether or not he honors that.
The D1 coaches submit evaluations which are several pages in length on the officials following each game, but beyond that they do not have any formal input into the selection, hiring, firing, or assigning of the officials.
Anyone who says otherwise is full of it.
It is certainly possible that if you receive enough poor reviews that you will not be rehired for the next season, but that does not mean that you were scratched.

You speak of Teddy V now, but (and I'm just asking here) was Teddy V anywhere near the respected official at the time of the Knight incident that he is now? Perhaps to a certain degree, as he'd been around more than 10 years, but I can't imagine he was seen then as he is now. Hell, most refs now respect him because of Knight's opinion.

His point was not that Kobe would never get the boot; his point is that Kobe will not get the boot as quickly as, say, Kyle Korver.