Iberian Charms

Many assume that one American aspect I must adjust to is female referees. Not so! We have a 5% female referee amount in FIBA. Many of these officials are German and Russian. This works to the advantage of my Spanish mates and myself. There has yet to be born the Teutonic maiden who can withstand Iberian charms.

But with consternation, I have noted this is not the case here. Por ejemplo, Violet Palmer is one of the NBA referees. She is excellent! I enjoy her fearlessness and lack of fear. But there was a foul called by Ms. Palmer on me against the Clippers that was most unfair. When I made my pleading to her, she said, “C’mon now, that’s weak sauce.”

My sauce is weak? When Sergio discovered this exchange, his laughter was of great duration.

Male or female, a challenge in my face is that referees believe all Europeans are acting out high drama on court. This is stereotyping. It is true that if I am hit, I jerk back as if an assassin shot me from the upper deck. But that is just good basketball.

Another act of stereotyping is that Europeans' outlooks on the genders may be more sexist than Americans. This may have some of the truth in it. Notice the logo for FIBA's women basketball teams. It smacks of the cheesecake.