[SBR Lou]

I believe it. This must be what made the dude so angry.

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BALTIMORE -- The NFL is looking into an accusation made by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle that an official called him a "boy" during Monday's night's 27-24 loss to New England.

"The refs called me a boy. No. 110 called me a boy," Rolle said in the locker room after the game. "I will be calling my agent in the morning and sending my complaint. I have a wife and three kids. Don't call me a boy. Don't call me a boy on the field during a game because I said, 'You've never played football before.' "

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Tuesday the league is looking in to the situation.

No. 110 is head linesman Phil McKinnely, a former player for three NFL teams during the 1970s and '80s. McKinnely, who played collegiately at UCLA, is black, as is Rolle.

The Ravens were demonstrative after the game about the officiating, especially on the final drive that led to Tom Brady's pass to Jabar Gaffney for the winning touchdown with 44 seconds left. After the touchdown, set up by a fourth-down defensive holding call on Jamaine Winborne, linebacker Bart Scott was penalized 15 yards for complaining and another 15 yards for throwing the official's flag.

"In a game of this magnitude, you don't make that kind of call," Rolle said. "Let the players decide the outcome of the game. You can crown them champions now. I'm not taking anything away from them. They are a great team. They're not asking the refs to help them, but it's just an empty feeling."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3141124

[etothep]

this wouldn't be an issue had the ravens won...hes just still mad about the come from ahead tankjob

[Sportsgirl]

I think "boy" would be an issue either way.

[outdrawed]

I really just kind of laugh when I hear them bitching about the holding call, and how you don't make that call and let the players decide the game.

You can't decide the game when you're being mauled by a defender, guys. I mean, come on.

[ShamsWoof10]

It was a touchy call no doubt about it but he was called a boy>???? SO F*CKIN' WHAT... These guys play a rough game and cry about being called a boy..? I was pushing for the Ravens but after b*tching about something like this he should have called him "little" boy...

By the way it's so stupid to hear "you don't make those calls in a big game like that"... Well when are you supposed to make them when it DON'T matter..???

[patsfan2727]

It was a touchy call no doubt about it but he was called a boy>???? SO F*CKIN' WHAT... These guys play a rough game and cry about being called a boy..? I was pushing for the Ravens but after b*tching about something like this he should have called him "little" boy...

By the way it's so stupid to hear "you don't make those calls in a big game like that"... Well when are you supposed to make them when it DON'T matter..???

I could see if the ref was white, as it would be a racism issue. But if the ref was black, I don't get it.

[hanco21]

I could see if the ref was white, as it would be a racism issue. But if the ref was black, I don't get it.

Race has nothing to do with it, he is challenging his position as a man. Very unprofessional as ref, definitely will be some kind of suspension.

A ref is paid to call a game not insult players while he is working regardless what happened on the field. The ref made it personal which is a no-no if your a ref.

[Redchevy]

I wouldn't be surprised if the ref said "Let's keep playing boys'" and was taken out of context or not heard properly at the moment. That ref has NFL playing experience and has probably heard the same statement said to him since he was in pee-wee football. I'm also sure, a hell of a lot worse has been said on that field in the heat of the moment. The Ravens players self-destructed and to be running off after the fact doesn't make them look good.

[Starion]

When I heard about this on the news I assumed the ref must have been white for it to be an issue. I'm stunned to hear the official was black. Rolle is just whining because he lost.

[greek]

Very Un Called For I Could See If He Called Bradleysnyder A Girl Or Picoman ,then It Definetly Be Ok !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rugbybdyb]

I have played sports all my life and one thing that would irritate me more than anything is if the ref rassed a player no matter what caused it. If Rolle had done anything that upset the ref he should have handled it within the confines of the rules with a penelty or throwing him out of the game, you dont resort to name calling.

On another note what kind of balls does it take to call a huge man in pads a name when you are only wearing a whistle?

[idontlikerocks]

"I'm gunna go home and tell my mommy,,,,,,oops sorry make that "I'm gunna go call my agent.........

[IWishIWasRich]

Maybe it was because he was acting childish??? It should not have been said but is really "no big deal". Too bad it was not a white official, that way we could have Al Sharpton weigh in etc.

[Seattle Slew]

Maybe they should arrest the ref, since the player might have taken it as a threat (see Internet poster busted for Columbine comment).

[paul Mordeeb]

Media runs with stuff and tells one side. Rolle first told the ref "did he even play football?" This over 50, ex football player responded by saying " Just go play, Boy!" I really don't see a problem here.

[Doc JS]

Media runs with stuff and tells one side. Rolle first told the ref "did he even play football?" This over 50, ex football player responded by saying " Just go play, Boy!" I really don't see a problem here.

With you on this one paul...just dont see what the BFD is about this?

Ref is black and played in the NFL, right? Then Rolle needs to GTFOI....

[ShamsWoof10]

It's amazing how everyone is trained white and black to react to a situation and apply race to it...

Calling someone a boy has absolutely NOTHING to do with race so why on earth would it matter if the offical was white..... because we as a society are trained that way...

[regularguy]

I'm a man!!!! I'm 40!!!

[Tchocky]

Some guys are just too sensitive to that sort of thing. If the ref was white, then I can understand it being an issue. This is getting blown way out of proportion.

[ShamsWoof10]

Some guys are just too sensitive to that sort of thing. If the ref was white, then I can understand it being an issue. This is getting blown way out of proportion.

Why would it be an issue if the ref was white..? You people keep saying that but you don't say why...

[louis]

Seems to me like this guy is just making up excuses to deflect attention from the 30 yards in penalties at the end of the game.

[ShamsWoof10]

There is no doubt about it... We do the samething in this forum... We cry about loses all the time on here...

Anyway I thought it was funny as hell when he threw that flag... That was absolutely hilarious... I can see myself doing that and have always wondered why that hasn't happened before...

[regularguy]

I think "Boy" has long been used as a derogatory word for a black man. It goes back to at least the Jim Crow era, I suspect probably further. I'm guessing it goes back all the way to slavery. I seem to recall that the protagonist in the classic novel "Black Like Me," by Richard Wright, dealt with that.

Also, see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/derogation.

And, compare: "White Boy" "Jew Boy"

All this said -- and I may be insensitive -- but it still strikes me as funny ... a pro football player whining because a mean man called him a bad name. This year, we've now had controversies in pro football over running up the score and name calling. Geeezzz. They just have such terrible manners.