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NFL Gets First Female Ref

Shannon Eastin to officiate amid lockout

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 6, 2012 12:10 PM CDT

(Newser) – With NFL referees locked out since June amid a collective-bargaining dispute, a new batch of officials will be calling the shots in upcoming games—and for the first time, one of them is a woman. Shannon Eastin, who has refereed small-college and high school games, will officiate at a Green Bay Packers vs. San Diego Chargers exhibition game on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reports. But the replacement refs have had a shaky start: In last night's Hall of Fame game, an official had to correct himself after announcing the wrong coin toss outcome, the Washington Post notes.

Green Bay Packers running back Alex Green tries to elude linebacker Jamari Lattimore during  an NFL intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis.
Green Bay Packers running back Alex Green tries to elude linebacker Jamari Lattimore during an NFL intrasquad scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis.   (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 55 comments
fractal
Aug 6, 2012 4:04 PM CDT
In the sixties, there would have been a big outcry about Blacks umpiring football.  You know, their brains just don't think like the rest of us----or some sort of stupid shit. No different now.  Misogynists just don't like women in positions of power over men. TOO BAD, SO SAD. If you don't like it, take your balls and go home crying to mommy.
SPHeroid
Aug 6, 2012 4:01 PM CDT
The strike will be resolved before the regular season... This is strictly a PR stunt by the NFL to bolster TV ratings for meaningless games.....
queensmet
Aug 6, 2012 3:59 PM CDT
The NFL needs to save the money for the lawsuits about concusions and Vilma' Defamation of character lawsuit,so instead we can watch 3rd rate refs try to cover the game. The reffing was bad before,now they can't even get the coin toss right. The fact that they are using women means nothing, they will also be using fat old men. I expect we will see a few referee heart attacks on the field, too 
 

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