1.   The referee gave a blast on his whistle and we were off.

2.   The referee gave a free kick for handball.

3.   The referee gave him the benefit of the doubt.

4.   The referee has given a penalty.

5.   A better referee would have given fouls against Dowie most of the game...

6.   But the Celtics got a break when referee Bennett Salvatore gave possession to Boston.

7.   Fleury continues to complain that NHL referees are not giving him a fair shake.

8.   In five games since then, referees have given Ranger opponents more than twice as many power plays as they have given New York.

9.   Larry Bird says the referees give Michael Jordan special treatment.

10.   Perhaps the referees gave him more leeway, at least to a point.