By Lew Patton
Chris Paul is being criticized for his comments about rookie female referee Lauren Holtkamp after the Clippers lost to the Cavaliers last Thursday night.
The Clippers received five technical fouls in the game, making it seem like the officials were almost against them. After the game, CP3 complained about what led to his tech, and at one point he said officiating might not be for Holtkamp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cijqg7JUbp4
“I think we’ve got to show better composure, but at the same time some of ‘em was ridiculous. Like the tech I got right there was ridiculous. I don’t care what nobody say, I don’t care what she say, that’s terrible. There’s no way that can be a technical. We try to get the ball out quick every time down the court and when we did that she said ‘Uh-uh (no)’ and I said ‘Why uh-uh?’ and she gave me a tech. That’s ridiculous. If that’s the case then this might not be for her.”
Paul will likely be fined by the NBA for his comments because the league fines players who criticize the refs, but the larger question is whether or not Paul was being sexist with his comments.
While there is no doubt that CP3 was frustrated with the calls, he did seem to pick on Holtkamp in this case. His words are almost a way of trying to intimidate her into letting calls against him/the Clippers go. It’s not supposed to be that way and he (or anyone) who tries to influence referees about calls should hear from the league.
But one other issue is that CP3 had good reason to be frustrated; some of these calls were ridiculous:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc2js6UkxsE
