Kyle Lowry Charges Won’t Be Distraction
Reports surfaced this weekend that point guard Kyle Lowry, widely considered the face and leader of the Houston Rockets, was charged with misdemeanor assault charges in Las Vegas for an alleged incident at a September basketball game.
Lowry reportedly taunted a female referee, Infini Robinson, as a result of perceived bad calls during a Sept. 22 game she officiated. According to the complaint, he threw a ball at her torso and cursed at her. Robinson also said she was hit by another ball directed at the officials that she claims would have broken her nose if she wasn’t bent over.
Lowry, who is scheduled to appear in court February 2nd, isn’t commenting, and neither is G.M. Daryl Morey. He didn’t play at Oklahoma City last night due to a bruised heel he suffered in practice. Lowry did apologize to Robinson after the incident, which I believe is immature and inconsiderate but hardly devastating for his career and image.
In 2011-12, Lowry is undeniably the best all-around player on the Rockets roster, averaging a near-triple double and providing a constant source of hustle and leadership. This news definitely comes as a surprise, and it should serve as a wake-up call to Lowry that, as an athlete of elevated status, he cannot behave like a spoiled child and self-entitled brat, as he did during the basketball game.
Maybe the calls were bad, and maybe Robinson was unfair. It doesn’t matter. Lowry’s actions would still be unacceptable. But this isn’t assault, and Lowry shouldn’t be punished with anything but a fine and community service. Honestly, I don’t believe the charges would even generate such media attention if the referee victim wasn’t a woman. It is true that men, including athletes, should be held to a higher standard in the treatment of women than they should for their fellow male. It is commonly held in our society that physical behavior or aggressive language that may be acceptable between males is not between males and females, and that is okay.
But what happened between Lowry and Robinson is something that would likely result in a slap on the wrist, a fine, and a technical foul or ejection if it happened between males. With much deserved increased sensitivity toward the treatment, both sexual and otherwise, of women in the workplace, especially a male-dominated workplace like NBA basketball, I believe the charges are getting increased attention to reflect that sensitivity.
Lowry behaved like an unruly child, and he should be punished for it. But not with jail time or assault charges. Lowry’s bruised heel is currently much more of a concern than these charges.
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If you can’t catch a basketball, don’t be a referee.