The NBA has fined Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert $100,000 for making an “inappropriate and unprofessional gesture” towards a referee and publicly criticizing their officiating. According to a release from the league, Gobert made a money sign at one of the officials during the Timberwolves’ 113-104 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. The French […]
When it comes to officiating, NFL fans — not to mention players and coaches — tend to remember the misses or mistakes, real or perceived, more than calls that were right, particularly in late-season games. Mike Pereira, who once was in charge of the folks in stripes making those split-second decisions, has a vivid memory of one particular correct ruling that helped determine the outcome of a Super Bowl. It came on Feb. 1, 2009, when Ben Roethlisberger connected with a leaping Santonio Holmes on a 6-yard touchdown pass in a back corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left, helping the Pittsburgh Steelers edge Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.
Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett was fined $25,000 by the NFL for “public criticism of officiating" after he made pointed remarks following last week's game against Jacksonville, a person familiar with the punishment told The Associated Press. Angered by the Jags not being penalized for holding him, Garrett called the officiating a travesty following Cleveland's 31-27 win and said it's time for the officials to be held to a higher standard.