‘I’m Not Just a Kid Who Did Something Wrong’

By BY JERÉ LONGMAN from NYT Sports A high school football player in Texas became infamous when he did the unthinkable, leveling a referee. With grace from the ref, the player is seeking a new start.https://nyti.ms/3r3Q8Yc

Secrets of the Most Thankless N.B.A. Job: Referee

By BY SOPAN DEB from NYT Sports A 17-year veteran N.B.A. referee discusses blown calls, player beefs and the timeless question: Do superstars get special treatment?https://nyti.ms/3hUSbI0

Stung by Discord Over Officiating, the N.F.L. Puts a Coach in Charge

By BY KEN BELSON from NYT Sports Perry Fewell, a former defensive coordinator who won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants, was chosen to manage officiating as the league shelved reviews of pass interference plays.https://nyti.ms/2AlZ44I

M.L.B. Will Investigate Umpire’s Tweet About Trump Impeachment

By BY THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT Sports In a tweet that was deleted, the umpire said he planned to buy a firearm because he believed the impeachment inquiry into President Trump could lead to a new American civil war.https://nyti.ms/35Zz2Qi

A Transfer Market Parable

By RORY SMITH from NYT Sports Summer moves at Juventus were the latest example of a broken economy in which teams are selling players they should keep, and keeping players they would prefer to sell.https://nyti.ms/2z8WJGv

Lionel Messi Suspended 3 Months and Fined $50,000 for CONMEBOL Criticism

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE from NYT Sports Messi will not be able to play for Argentina for three months after accusing the South American soccer governing body of corruption. The ban will keep him out of some friendly matches.https://nyti.ms/2KcoiFe

France Gets Big World Cup Assists From Video Review

By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports The home team, which finished round-robin play with a 3-0 record, benefited twice from the Video Assistant Referee system in a 1-0 win Monday over Nigeria.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/sports/world-cup-france-var.html?partner=IFTTT

He Traded His Yellow Flag for a Microphone. Another Super Bowl Awaits

By KEVIN DRAPER from NYT Sports Gene Steratore, a former N.F.L. referee, is the CBS rules analyst, which just might be a harder job than making calls on the field. Really.https://nyti.ms/2WxoRxC

Chiefs Fans Sound a Familiar Refrain: Blame the Refs

By VICTOR MATHER from NYT Sports Did the Rams get preferential treatment on Monday night? Maybe it’s just because they were the home team.https://nyti.ms/2AfclZw

What Do N.F.L. Zebras Chat About With Lions and Giants and Bears?

By BILL PENNINGTON from NYT Sports Officials and players have an intricate relationship, and game days bring gabfests that tend to be as collegial as the kinds held in any other workplace.https://nyti.ms/2Ol0eic

Referees’ Battle Against Abuse From the Sidelines

By ROBIN LINDSAY and SAM MANCHESTER from NYT Sports Referees in youth sports are frequently subject to nasty jeers and even violence. One of them is fighting back, using videos meant to publicly shame the offenders.https://nyti.ms/2zQfqly

Parents Behaving Badly: A Youth Sports Crisis Caught on Video

By BILL PENNINGTON from NYT Sports Belligerent parents have caused a severe shortage of referees. Now some of them are being publicly shamed.https://nyti.ms/2ms3OMi