You probably heard the announcers single him out early in the game as being highly experienced and one of the NBA's better refs. Hmmmm.

The game account from ESPN disagrees with you.

"Houston stayed in control for the entire half and Bryant's frustration boiled over near the 2-minute mark.

With Ron Artest blanketing him near midcourt, Bryant appeared to shove Artest and earned a technical foul. The temperamental Artest, ejected from Games 2 and 3, ran away to avoid a confrontation and Brooks sank the free throw for a 47-31 Houston lead."

And this is ESPN, who loves generating ref-related controversy more than anyone in the world.

I didn't watch the game, but this account sure makes it look like there was nothing phantom about it. Did you miss something? (And did you notice how I questioned your judgment on this matter without calling you incendiary names?)

Here's where you can find the referee assignments the day of the game (before the game):

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html

With Ron Artest blanketing him near midcourt, Bryant appeared to shove Artest and earned a technical foul.

I've mostly agree on this one. Bryant is a hothead, fouls often, and is often quick to spread blame when things aren't going his way (his teammates, the refs, even the basketball air pressure on several occasions). Artest frustrates the heck out of Bryant.

but there was a recent aggregation of data that showed when Bryant publicly/vocally complained about refereeing, he and his team got around 34% more calls the next game. I'll try and find it.

The only thing worse than Jack's whining about the ref's is that he's going to censor my comment. posted at 12:39pm.

(And did you notice how I questioned your judgment on this matter without calling you incendiary names?)

Ah yes, circle the wagons and protect the incompetent.

Ah yes--ignore the arguments and engage in more ad hominem attacks.

Ahem. Calling a person "incompetent" is not ad hominem.

Continuing to argue tangential points is not the sign of a good ref.

Wunderlich is either crooked or incompetent. The videos prove it. Don't kill the messenger.

Calling my own refereeing abilities into question...well, that -is- an ad hominem attack.

My one point--which is not tangential, and is the only one I'm making--is that at least one media outlet says that video shows Kobe Bryant pushed Ron Artest. I still haven't seen the play, but it looks like someone else saw it Wunderlich's way.

The only question I've asked...and which you haven't answered...is this: given that's one media outlet's take on the play, is there a chance you've gotten it wrong?

Care to answer this time?

I still haven't seen the play,

And yet here you are blowing your whistle on me. Truly Wunderlichian.

I saw it, from several angles. It was not a technical foul -- not even close -- as the television commentators agreed.

Be wary of listening to commentators. I have a list of their screwups regarding rules and calls as long as any list of ref errors. And even if you do trust the commentators, ESPN saw this "phantom" call. To me, that makes it a borderline call, not an egregious miss.

I just watched the play. Tough call at full speed with one chance to make it. If it looks like a fistfight will break out (your words), a ref has to call something there. It certainly can't be let go. (Did you have a no-call?)

After one look, I think I have a regular foul on Kobe rather than a T. But that doesn't make me right.

Thanks for answering my question.

After one look, I think I have a regular foul on Kobe rather than a T. But
that doesn't make me right.

Watch it another 1,000 times. You'll make the same call.

The fistfight risk I referred to was the whole atmosphere on the floor for several minutes following the needless technical call. Instead of having a word with the two players involved, Wunderlich blew the ridiculous T and walked away. He did zero to defuse the tension -- he just added to it.

Please, more Joey Crawford and less Mark Wunderlich.