Insurance Spokesman, Clippers Point Guard Chris Paul Upset That a Girl Told Him What To Do; Slams Female Rookie NBA Ref Lauren Holtkamp

By Jaymz Clements (jaymz.clements@mstarsnews.com) | Feb 06, 2015 11:21 AM EST

Get the Most Popular Mstars News

LA Clippers point guard and insurance salesman Chris Paul has been embroiled in a sexism scandal after he slammed female NBA ref Lauren Holtkamp, calling her ridiculous and saying NBA refereeing "might not be for her." After the Clippers lost 105-94 to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Paul -- who is also the head of the NBA Players Association -- apparently upset that a GIRL told him what to do, lambasted Holtkamp's decision to call him for a tech in the third quarter of the game. Holtkamp is only the third full-time female referee in all of the major professional US sports (all in the NBA). Yeah. How dare a ref call a star who spends most of his games bitching and moaning at refs for a technical? 

As CBS Sports' RJ White explains, "The Clippers were hit with four technical fouls in the third quarter alone, and three in a 52-second span." Paul, says White, was hit with his technical when Holtkamp held up the the Clippers "as the team was attempting to inbound the ball and the guard questioned her."

According to ESPN, Paul -- seemingly after clearing the tears from his eyes after a girl told him what to do -- later told reporters that while he believed he and his team needed to control their emotions better, he didn't agree with some of the calls, and roundly criticized the rookie female ref.

"I think we have to show better composure, but at the same time some of [the technical fouls] were ridiculous," said Paul. "The tech that I get right there was ridiculous. I don't care what nobody says, I don't care what she says; that's terrible. There's no way that can be a tech. We try to get the ball out fast every time down the court, and when we did that, she said, 'Uh-uh.' I said, 'Why, uh-uh?' And she gave me a tech.

"That's ridiculous," he added. "If that's the case, this might not be for her."
SB Nation's Rodger Sherman points out that while "It's not clear what Paul said to Holtkamp," the star "said he didn't curse," yet Holtkamp's "reaction to penalize Paul was quick and decisive." As ESPN's Ramona Shelbourne explained though, he and fellow ESPN talking head Michael Wilbon are "hearing" that Paul meant perhaps refereeing wasn't for "her" because she's a rookie. Not because she's a woman.

Oh. 

Ok.

Yeah right.

That doesn't at all sound like a typical cop-out at all. "Oh, no; I meant it was because she was a rookie. It had nothing to do with my entrenched beliefs about gender and the fact that I was punished by a female referee. It was definitely because she's a rookie."

It's a bit odd, though, isn't it, that Paul has never gone out of his way to criticize a male ref in such a fashion?

Paul may have said the same about a male rookie ref. Unfortunately, however, he doesn't have a history of doing so... and he just did so to a woman who is only the third full-time female referee in all of major US sports. (Violet Palmer has been a ref since 1997, and Dee Kantner is no longer with the league.) 

As Sherman points out, "the gist of Paul's statement is that she isn't mentally strong or tough enough to call NBA games. Would Paul, a player who doesn't have a history of criticizing officials to the press, say that about a male ref in a historically entirely male field?"

Stay classy, Chris Paul. Perhaps State Farm offer cootie insurance

© 2024 Mstars News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Get the Most Popular Mstars News

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Follow Us Everywhere

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Music Times Network is always looking for well-versed, enthusiastic contributors and interns.
Submit your application today!

DON'T MISS

LATEST STORIES

MUSIC VIDEOS

Real Time Analytics