NBA Ref Suspended for Season

Veteran referee Joey Crawford has been suspended for the season for his hot-tempered ejection of Spurs star Tim Duncan, who was disciplined for laughing at a foul while on the bench.  As Russ Bengtson points out, Crawford has a history of taking the actions of players somewhat personally.

Bengtson runs off a litany of unseemly behavior by the temperamental zebra, including a classic technical foul levelled against the Rockets' Dikembe Mutombo.  "He was mocking me with his smile," Crawford told the coach.  "He undoubtedly loves the game," says Bengtson, "but it’s about time he stopped hurting the one he loves." (More NBA stories.)