Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner, the NBA's newly named
women officials, met the press yesterday and discussed their
appointment as the "first two women referees hired to
officiate in a major American professional sports league,"
according to Greg Logan of NEWSDAY. Logan: "But what people
really want to know is how they will handle questions of
sexual harassment in the workplace. Specifically, what
happens when an NBA player pats one of them on the butt
during a game?" Kantner: "If it's in the context of an
athlete patting you on the butt, this is not something we
would misinterpret. If the actions are condescending, I
think Violet and I will handle that and disseminate it."
Logan: "Both women indicated their surprise at the attention
their hiring has received, but the NBA has minimized the
possibility of a circus atmosphere." Yesterday's interview
was the only one the two will give all season (NEWSDAY,
10/30). Kantner called reports of sexism and criticism by
current players "sensationalism" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/30).
MORE TROUBLE? In L.A., Mark Heisler wrote that "as
many" as 15 NBA referees "are said to be at risk" in the
IRS' continuing investigation of officials. NBA Deputy
Commissioner Russ Granik: "We don't know. I am told other
indictments are possible." Heisler added that "many" refs
"are waiting uneasily." One veteran official said he has
"spent more than $50,000 in legal fees" (L.A. TIMES, 10/29).
EASY DAVE, NO, THE OTHER ONE: On the "Late Show," David
Letterman offered his Top Ten Complaints Of The New Female
NBA referees: 10) Have to share the ladies' room with
Dennis Rodman; 9) The new referee uniforms look
conspicuously like Hooters outfits; 8) Always go home
smelling like Ben-Gay; 7) Players so obsessed with sports
that they never want to just talk; 6) That "Lil' Penny"
guy always trying to look up your skirt; 5) Keep getting
faint and nauseous from Michael Jordan's cologne; 4)
Players keep asking if they can watch you inflate the ball;
3) Whenever you call a foul, they try to get out of it by
saying your hair looks pretty; 2) Husbands who keep beating
the 24 second clock; 1) Them dudes is sweaty (CBS, 10/29).
CHUCKIE'S BACK: Charles Barkley is quoted in today's
HOUSTON CHRONICLE as saying that he is "leaning toward
retirement" after fallout from Sunday's arrest in Orlando,
FL. Barkley: "If the league is not going to stand by me,
then I'll say, 'Thank you very much,' and move on." Barkley
said that the league wants to interview him to "begin its
investigation of the matter" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/30).
