NBA - Chris Paul Criticizing a Female Official

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

"Context is everything."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

"Context is everything..

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

People are certainly free to "read between the lines" when hearing comments made by another. However, they run the risk of being incorrect when they ascribe meaning to statements thru lens of their own viewpoint & perspective.

Chris Paul was complaining about the officiating...nothing more nothing less.

A famous person once said: "Context is everything."

Consider that: the Clippers complain more than any team in the NBA (may have the most T's this season) about officiating; received 5 T's in this game; Chris Paul is the Pres. of the NBAPA (which now has a woman as Ex. Dir.); & is generally considered a true "nice guy" in NBA circles.

When I heard those comments, I heard a frustrated player complaining about an unwarranted T he received by a rookie official....because THAT is exactly what happened. Nothing more - nothing less.

btw - there are 2 reasons you don't hear NBA players making comments about female NBA rookie officials: 1) 1997 was the last time there was a female rookie NBA official (there were two that season: Violet Palmer (still active) and Dee Kantner (fired in 2002)); and 2) it's only because the official in question is a woman that these remarks are being noticed.

Every season for the past 18 years (since Palmer & Kantner were hired), players, coaches, & others have complained about bad calls by rookie officials - this is no different, except that people are taking a fairly routine occurrence and turning it into something more than it really deserves.

Chris Paul will get fined by the NBA and I'll bet that the NBA doesn't even come close to mentioning gender in its statement in announcing the fine. This will go away if people will simply let Paul's innocuous statement stand on its' own rather than insert their own sensitivities to it.

I do not care if what is the context that you see it to be. I have every right to judge based on his actions and his comments. Again, I have yet to hear anyone give me a single case where an NBA player spoke personally about a rookie of any other gender or time or situation. I watch a lot of SportsCenter and cannot think of one case. Not a single one.

I also saw the Paul comments and just like any other comments, I do not believe him. I have the right not to believe him. He is trying to cover his behind IMO and he clearly to me was trying to rip her because she was an easy target. I doubt seriously that the entire conflict was only because she was a rookie. He did not like a woman telling him what to do and that is why he had to talk about her qualifications, not that it was just a bad call.

Peace

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

People are certainly free to "read between the lines" when hearing comments made by another. However, they run the risk of being incorrect when they ascribe meaning to statements thru lens of their own viewpoint & perspective.

Chris Paul was complaining about the officiating...nothing more nothing less.

Talk about running the risk of being incorrect...How can you possibly know this to be the case? You are doing EXACTLY what you describe in your post..."thru lens of their own viewpoint & perspective"

[Adam]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

The official is a rookie who called an un-warranted T and was criticized by a player....what else is new - happens often...

I haven't seen any of the game, but from those who have and are posting on here, you seem to be the only one who thinks the T wasn't warranted.

That said, it's not related to the question of whether his criticism is related to her gender. That's not as simple a question as it should be, IMO.

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

One would hope that the league would be consistent, but we all know that the fine would not be the same. This particular fine is about the NBA attempting to protect its newest female official. For several years now league has made it known that it has a desire to have a female official or two working games and is going to take whatever measures it needs to enact that. This is mostly PR and PC so the league can been seen as inclusive.

This is flat out wrong and an attempt to twist facts to fit your pre-determined narrative.

Originally Posted by VaTerp

"Paul, who also is head of the National Basketball Players Association, and several other Clippers players said after postgame interviews that their displeasure had nothing to do with Holtkamp's gender and everything to do with the calls she made on the court."

Replace "her" with "him" and he could have easily applied that statement to any other rookie official.

I think the fine will be around $25K, which is in line with most recent fines for public criticism of officials.

As I stated the day before the fine was announced, Paul's fine was in line with several other recent examples of fines levied for public criticism of officials.

[Toren]

I saw this documentary a few months ago called Summer Dreams. It features Lauren Holtkamp as the referee hopeful making her way into the D league. It's a fascinating look into her life.

If you want to know more about Lauren, that's a great place to start. I have no idea what Chris Paul said or didn't say. And I'm certainly not qualified to judge whether it was a good T or not. All I can say is she definitely belongs where she is and I'm happy for her. I've never met her but if I can be half the official she is, then I'm doing well.

[Rob1968]

I understand that Lauren Holtkamp had officiated at least one other Clippers game prior to the game in question. The greater onus is on Chris Paul for the scenario in question.

[Raymond]

I just think it is idiotic to imply someone is not ready for the NBA based on one technical foul call. Makes me question whether he is qualified to be in a union leadership position.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I just think it is idiotic to imply someone is not ready for the NBA based on one technical foul car Makes me question whether is qualified to be in a union leadership position.

Exactly!!!

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I just think it is idiotic to imply someone is not ready for the NBA based on one technical foul car Makes me question whether is qualified to be in a union leadership position.

I think's ridiculous to say that about any level. I'm tired of hearing officials need to get thicker skin rather than hearing that coaches and players need to behave like adults.

[jeschmit]

Originally Posted by Toren

I saw this documentary a few months ago called Summer Dreams. It features Lauren Holtkamp as the referee hopeful making her way into the D league. It's a fascinating look into her life.

If you want to know more about Lauren, that's a great place to start. I have no idea what Chris Paul said or didn't say. And I'm certainly not qualified to judge whether it was a good T or not. All I can say is she definitely belongs where she is and I'm happy for her. I've never met her but if I can be half the official she is, then I'm doing well.

I had the pleasure of working with her at camp last summer. She was phenomenal to work with! I'm glad to see she's doing well in her career because she's earned it.