Violet Palmer

[BaMcMing]

By far the single worst referee in the NBA today. For those who attended/watched the Laker game this week, you are a witness. I'm all for equal opportunity employers, but she should not have the priviledge of carrying a whistle.

That in mind, how are officials evaluated? Peer review? League review? A combination? However they evaluate I would be SHOCKED if Violet wasn't at the bottom year after year.

Thoughts?

[Sextuple Double]

100% agree. It's like she was involved in the Donaghy scandal. Giving Lakers the necessary calls to build that 20pt lead because there was no doubt about us coming back. We still should've won that game.

[dividend]

She's horrible. She doesn't even listen to players when they talk to her. She has the look on her face like "I'm the one with the whistle, I'm the one in charge."

[finalsbound]

Yeah, she sucks, but who's going to fire her?

She's the only woman ref. The NBA would take so much flak if they did away with her.

[MONON]

The only they get rid of her is by bringing in another female ref.

[MR. MEOWGI]

When she first started reffing she called a foul on Barkley and he told her "That's a girl call" and she almost threw him out of the game. That guy could be pretty funny.

[yobod]

Yeah, I've heard that Barkley story, but he definitely said something a lot worse than "that's a girl call" if you catch my drift. But yeah, at least Donaghy had an excuse as to why he was so bad....what's Violet's?

[krnxsnoopy]

She's horrible. She doesn't even listen to players when they talk to her. She has the look on her face like "I'm the one with the whistle, I'm the one in charge."

Hahaha... perfect.

Yeah sorta like those female judges and police officers, you guys know what I'm talking about..

[HAYJON02]

lets all send her a "get well with yo self soon" card.

i had two friends seperately mention her sucktitude in text messages during the lakers game.

[jello77]

i don't want to come across as misogynist or sexist or anything, but i don't really think there's a place for a woman ref in the nba. its a game that is played by men and imo should be reffed by men. for much the same reasons there never will be a female head coach in the league. i think the mlb just fired their only female umpire as well. again, not trying to start a d&d thread or anything.

and yes, violet palmer sucks balls. i think that's consensus around the league.

[topfive]

More importantly: MANY of the NBA refs suck. Why is it so difficult for them to find good refs? It's a big country -- surely there must be better qualified people out there for a high-paying gig such as this. And just as important: Why does the league go along with the unwritten rules saying superstars get more leniency and rookies get less? A foul is a foul. Just officiate the rules as written and the best players will still excel and keep the fans happy. It's distressing how a league that has so much going for it allows the officiating to continue to be such a joke year after year.

[A_3PO]

i don't want to come across as misogynist or sexist or anything, but i don't really think there's a place for a woman ref in the nba. its a game that is played by men and imo should be reffed by men. for much the same reasons there never will be a female head coach in the league. i think the mlb just fired their only female umpire as well. again, not trying to start a d&d thread or anything.

and yes, violet palmer sucks balls. i think that's consensus around the league.
I think a woman could be a good ref in the NBA. But Violet Palmer is so incredibly awful that she gives the cause a bad name.

[BigM]

i don't think it's a woman thing as being ref doesn't require physical skills that a woman wouldn't be able to handle. i think most referees are just terrible and she just happens to be one of the ones at the bottom.

[JD2010]

haha i said something stupid at that game "she needs to go back to the kitchen with that ****" i was totally wrong for saying that but i was just so pissed off about the officiating.

i believe one of the celtic commentators last year said the same thing i said.
it was wrong but SHE SHOULD BE A REFEREE IN THE CBA.

I HATED HOW SHE IGNORED SOME OF THE ROCKET PLAYERS WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO TALK TO HER.

[BaMcMing]

haha i said something stupid at that game "she needs to go back to the kitchen with that ****" i was totally wrong for saying that but i was just so pissed off about the officiating.

i believe one of the celtic commentators last year said the same thing i said.
it was wrong but SHE SHOULD BE A REFEREE IN THE CBA.

I HATED HOW SHE IGNORED SOME OF THE ROCKET PLAYERS WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO TALK TO HER.


I remember that from watching one of their games on league pass last year. Hilarious! He said something like, "the only place she belongs is in the kitchen...."

I couldn't believe it when I heard it, and I don't think he meant to say it on air. Surreal.

[Nuggets4]

She's awful, but I don't think she's necessarily the worst, she's just the most visible.

I'd be fine with 50% of the NBA refs getting canned and new blood brought in.

[Uprising]

She was terrible. I've seen 2 games with her refereeing, and she has made numerous bad calls...and no calls.

[KellyDwyer]

i don't want to come across as misogynist or sexist or anything, but i don't really think there's a place for a woman ref in the nba. its a game that is played by men and imo should be reffed by men. for much the same reasons there never will be a female head coach in the league. i think the mlb just fired their only female umpire as well. again, not trying to start a d&d thread or anything.

and yes, violet palmer sucks balls. i think that's consensus around the league.

Why stop there? Only men should be able to cover the game. Only men can bet on it, from now on. Only men should be allowed in the stadium to watch the game -- after all, it's a game played by men, so only a man could understand what is happening between the baselines!

Violet Palmer may indeed suck, but she's FAR from the worst NBA ref out there. There are dozens of younger referees whose names you'd never recognize that are far, far worse.

[Dave_78]

Why stop there? Only men should be able to cover the game. Only men can bet on it, from now on. Only men should be allowed in the stadium to watch the game -- after all, it's a game played by men, so only a man could understand what is happening between the baselines!


Now you're talking!

But the cheer leaders have to stay!

Seriously, Violet Palmer is pretty bad but I agree there are worse refs in the league. And at least she is consistently. She doesn't seem to favor certain players or be out to get other players like some refs we know. *cough* Joey Crawford.

[kaleidosky]

she's terrible, and Dee Kantner was worse

[count_dough-ku]

I was at the Laker game on Wednesday. I'd heard she was bad, but I never paid close attention to her calls before that night. When the whistle started blowing constantly over the first few minutes, I noticed the ref making every call had long hair so I figured it was Violet Palmer.

I've seen some awful refereeing having watched the NBA for about 15 years, but that was quite possibly the worst officiated half I've ever witnessed. And clearly I wasn't alone. The crowd was all over her and she deserved it. I'm frankly amazed some of these refs still have jobs after the Donaghy scandal. You'd think David Stern would wanna clean up that aspect of the game.

[weslinder]

It's been a couple of years, but someone (maybe Mark Cuban) published a serious study of referees in the game and ranked them on accuracy of their calls. Violet Palmer was in the middle of the 3rd Quartile (1st being best). Dick Bavetta was the worst then.

(Apparently Covers.com does referee profiles (http://www.covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/referees/referees.html&t=0). I don't know what to get out of these, though.

[Zboy]

It's been a couple of years, but someone (maybe Mark Cuban) published a serious study of referees in the game and ranked them on accuracy of their calls. Violet Palmer was in the middle of the 3rd Quartile (1st being best). Dick Bavetta was the worst then.


Bavetta can be excused because he has gone senile.

I am not sure how to excuse Palmer.

[KellyDwyer]

I was at the Laker game on Wednesday. I'd heard she was bad, but I never paid close attention to her calls before that night. When the whistle started blowing constantly over the first few minutes, I noticed the ref making every call had long hair so I figured it was Violet Palmer.

I've seen some awful refereeing having watched the NBA for about 15 years, but that was quite possibly the worst officiated half I've ever witnessed. And clearly I wasn't alone. The crowd was all over her and she deserved it. I'm frankly amazed some of these refs still have jobs after the Donaghy scandal. You'd think David Stern would wanna clean up that aspect of the game.

Where, pray tell, do these new refs come from?

Every year around February and March I actually deign to watch NCAA hoops, and am gobsmacked by how horrifically bad the referees are.

Why can't people understand that it's just a damned impossible game to call?

[BaMcMing]

Every year around February and March I actually deign to watch NCAA hoops, and am gobsmacked by how horrifically bad the referees are.

Why can't people understand that it's just a damned impossible game to call?

Nice vernacular.

Kelly, do you know how they are evaluated? I know they can email the legaue after games to get feedback on certain calls, but I'm interested to know the structure of their performance evaluations...

[TMac640]

Why stop there? Only men should be able to cover the game. Only men can bet on it, from now on. Only men should be allowed in the stadium to watch the game -- after all, it's a game played by men, so only a man could understand what is happening between the baselines!

Violet Palmer may indeed suck, but she's FAR from the worst NBA ref out there. .

I love it. When can it be implemented?

[richirich]

Why stop there? Only men should be able to cover the game. Only men can bet on it, from now on. Only men should be allowed in the stadium to watch the game -- after all, it's a game played by men, so only a man could understand what is happening between the baselines!

Violet Palmer may indeed suck, but she's FAR from the worst NBA ref out there. There are dozens of younger referees whose names you'd never recognize that are far, far worse.

Kelly, then why is she the one who most consistently pisses me off when I am watching a game and has me up out of my seat and ranting? She is also good for more bad calls in a single game than any other ref I have ever watched. And I have never watched a game reffed by her where I thought she did even a passable job. She even has me sympathising for the other team at times her calls are so bad.

She just plain sucks.

[Nuggets4]

Kelly, then why is she the one who most consistently pisses me off when I am watching a game and has me up out of my seat and ranting? She is also good for more bad calls in a single game than any other ref I have ever watched. And I have never watched a game reffed by her where I thought she did even a passable job. She even has me sympathising for the other team at times her calls are so bad.

She just plain sucks.

I'm not Kelly, but the reason she most consistently pisses you off is probably the same reason that she most consistently pisses me off -- I know who she is. I'm sure there are other refs that are worse, but it's hard to keep middle aged white guy #4 and middle aged white guy #37 separated in my mind.

[IamTHEwhoISthat]

As bad as Palmer may be, anyone watching the celtics/magic game right now should agree there are at least 3 officials worse than her :D

[Deckard]

I'm not Kelly, but the reason she most consistently pisses you off is probably the same reason that she most consistently pisses me off -- I know who she is. I'm sure there are other refs that are worse, but it's hard to keep middle aged white guy #4 and middle aged white guy #37 separated in my mind.
That's a good point (not that there's anything wrong with that!), and I'm sure that's why she's noticed. As Kelly pointed out, it's almost impossible to ref the game without screwing up some calls, and many of the refs simply suck. Violet simply sucks, but is more noticeable because of her sex. She is a woman, right?? :eek:

[Hayesfan]

As bad as Palmer may be, anyone watching the celtics/magic game right now should agree there are at least 3 officials worse than her :D

And do we know any of their names? I didn't even catch their numbers but I did notice they were terrible!!

I notice Violet because every time she refs Chuck is one of the first ones in foul trouble. Then its Yao. Every time.

I wonder how difficult it would be to get a listing of all their games for the year. Each of the refs does 82 games just like the players correct?

Edit: I had to look it up and see who was doing the Celtics game tonight.. here's the three refs... #62 B. Forte, #32 E. Rush, #34 M. Davis

[richirich]

I'm not Kelly, but the reason she most consistently pisses you off is probably the same reason that she most consistently pisses me off -- I know who she is. I'm sure there are other refs that are worse, but it's hard to keep middle aged white guy #4 and middle aged white guy #37 separated in my mind.

I still think there is more to this - perhaps her hard nosed attitude - because it seems like when white guy #4 makes a bad call and the crowd rips him and probably the coach rips him, etc. then he seems to calm down, think about who might know which hotel he is staying at, realize its just a game and then maybe even give a call back to the team he just fluxed. So he doesn't make the same bad call multiple times, or screw the same player multiple times in a game. But Palmer seems to have attitude and will keep making the same bad calls against the same people all night - almost as if she says in her mind "ok you wanna mess with me, I will show you who is boss!" Besides her calls seem to be particularly stupid calls.

Now, do I track the men who make non-calls on people slamming Yao and knocking him down? No, but if someone wanted to start a site and track bad calls and non-calls by refs it could be a lot of fun. I'm sure the NBA or a casino might buy out whoever was running it.

[jello77]

Why stop there? Only men should be able to cover the game. Only men can bet on it, from now on. Only men should be allowed in the stadium to watch the game -- after all, it's a game played by men, so only a man could understand what is happening between the baselines!

Violet Palmer may indeed suck, but she's FAR from the worst NBA ref out there. There are dozens of younger referees whose names you'd never recognize that are far, far worse.

so do you think a woman coach could get respect from the players in the nba? do you honestly think that? so why do you think a woman referee would get respect from a bunch of testostorone-fueled athletes? i played high school basketball, and i know the reactions teams have when we had a girl ref. fair or not--that's how it is. and you know this.

im not some caveman sexist--ive had this conversation with a group of people when watching a violet palmer officiated game live. ive heard girls say that they didnt think a girl should be reffing an nba game. do you think violet palmer has a job because she is a good ref, or because she is a woman?

but i guess this simple but non-pc opinion means im a meathead sexist who thinks girls don't understand sports and should stay in the kitchen. there's nothing i can say on the subject that won't make me look bad, but i think there are more people who agree with me than a lot of people might think.

and guys, we can have this discussion without getting personal. i'm a fan of your writing kelly--i dont want you anyone else to take anything i say personally.

[ABTRocketfan]

Shes has been by far the worst ref since i can remember and its not like a scandal or anything she just doesn't have a clue. When shes reffing a game she for sure affects the quality of the game and also the outcome.

[aussie rocket]

had to bump this thread for mentioning Palmers effort in the Boston Miami game today.

Did anyone see this?

Ray Allen bends down to gather the loose ball and Udonis Haslem full throttle tackles him, wraps two arms around him and ploughs into his back sending Ray hurtling forward....

and good ole Violet calls a JUMP BALL!!! :D :o

JVG made mention that the Dolphins could sure use Haslem right now!! :)

[Kwame]

had to bump this thread for mentioning Palmers effort in the Boston Miami game today.

Did anyone see this?

Ray Allen bends down to gather the loose ball and Udonis Haslem full throttle tackles him, wraps two arms around him and ploughs into his back sending Ray hurtling forward....

and good ole Violet calls a JUMP BALL!!! :D :o

JVG made mention that the Dolphins could sure use Haslem right now!! :)

JVG also praised Violet Palmer and called her "a good ref."

[R0ckets03]

had to bump this thread for mentioning Palmers effort in the Boston Miami game today.

Did anyone see this?

Ray Allen bends down to gather the loose ball and Udonis Haslem full throttle tackles him, wraps two arms around him and ploughs into his back sending Ray hurtling forward....

and good ole Violet calls a JUMP BALL!!! :D :o

JVG made mention that the Dolphins could sure use Haslem right now!! :)


I saw that and could not believe it. Sorry, but a woman has no business reffing a men's game.

[Butterfingers]

JVG also praised Violet Palmer and called her "a good ref."
No jew, No jew.

[BayAreaG510]

Violet Palmer is a complete IDIOT!

[ndnguy85]

had to bump this thread for mentioning Palmers effort in the Boston Miami game today.

Did anyone see this?

Ray Allen bends down to gather the loose ball and Udonis Haslem full throttle tackles him, wraps two arms around him and ploughs into his back sending Ray hurtling forward....

and good ole Violet calls a JUMP BALL!!! :D :o

JVG made mention that the Dolphins could sure use Haslem right now!! :)

someone blind could have made that call!

basically Haslem hugged him from the back and threw him on the floor..accidentally "touches" the ball...and she calls a jump ball!!!!

how can the nba seriously keep her? i mean i am all about equalilty but wow..

[IamTHEwhoISthat]

3 more Refs who I would say are worse than Violet Palmer if I remembered their names after today:
#57 Greg Willard
#63 Derek Richardson
#59 Gary Zielinski

That brings it to 6 so far :rolleyes:

[scv_rockets]

Violet Palmer just has this arrogant look on her face at all times when she officiates. It's like she not enjoying being out there.

When a player comes up to her, she either....
--refuses to talk to the players
--brushes them off and ignores them
--and, has that body language that speaks volumes. Like, "I'm the official and I can do whatever the F I want."