Boy, it sure is snowing out there
Posted on December 4th, 2007 – 4:06 PMBy Michael Rand
Samari Rolle objects to that headline.
From the AP: The NFL is looking into a postgame comment by Baltimore cornerback Samari Rolle, who contends an on-field official called him “boy” during the Ravens’ 27-24 loss to New England. Rolle identified the official by his number rather than by name following the Monday night game, which was marked by several disputed officiating decisions.
“The refs called me a boy,” Rolle said, according to a transcript of postgame comments provided to the media by the Ravens. “No. 110 called me a boy.”
Both Rolle and the official, identified in the NFL official guide as head linesman Phil McKinnely, are black. The 53-year-old McKinnely played in the NFL as an offensive tackle from 1976-82. He spent five seasons with Atlanta and one each with the Rams and Chicago.
“I will be calling my agent in the morning and sending my complaint,” the 31-year-old cornerback added. “I have a wife and three kids. Don’t call me a boy. Don’t call me a boy on the field during a game because I said, ‘You’ve never played football before.’”
The Ravens were demonstrative after the game about the officiating, especially on the final drive that led to Tom Brady’s pass to Jabar Gaffney for the winning touchdown with 44 seconds left. After the touchdown, set up by a fourth-down defensive holding call on Jamaine Winborne, linebacker Bart Scott was penalized 15 yards for complaining and another 15 yards for throwing the official’s flag.
Thanks to Tuna Can for the reminder on this story. And thanks to Bart Scott for throwing that flag. It was awesome.
6 Responses to "Boy, it sure is snowing out there"
I also thought it was awesome. After the refs and fate itself test your limitations on play after play in that drive, someone is bound to let the frustration shine through. Who cares if he cost them 30 yards in field position. The way things were going you know something else fluky would happen on their posession and field goal attempt.
Very, very creative title. Boy, did that crack me up!
This isn’t the end of this story by a long shot. Somebody’s head should roll, but 10 to 1 the company line will be that Rolle didn’t hear the ref right.
Speaking of not hearing things right, is anyone else having trouble (9:28pm) getting on Access Vikings or is it the Star’s company line to practice some selective hearing (censorship) by blocking annoying bloggers (me) ?
Let me get this straight. A black player was insulted when a black referee called him “boy”? So it wasn’t a racist thing. But he admits saying to the ref ‘You’ve never played football before’ when he had played for 5 years. And Rolle is upset? What an idiot.
Rolle said “the refs called me boy”
Refs, plural. Who was the other ref? Who is on the grassy knoll?
Rolle is an idiot and a whiner, he’s on the right team.
Kat and Dave, (for once) I agree with you both. I play quite alot of b’ball in the summer whenever I go to my in-laws in Wisc !! and will nuke this news item to the one I grew I grew up with, a black kid, who has always been quite adamant in the conventional wisdom that a black can use the “N” word with a black but no white, even some lame wannabe hip comedian, should ever give that a try.
Now, I don’t what was said to Rolle and, just as importantly in a noisy stadium, what Rolle thought he heard, but it surely wasn’t the “N” word and coming from a black man probably many years older (and maybe wiser) than himself, I don’t see this as news. Yet, having said that, I still don’t think it right if the ref said anything like that knowing himself what “boy” means.
