The men in the middle got their due praise on Friday when the league announced its adidas Referee and Assistant Referee of the Year awards.
Veteran Kevin Stott earned the 2010 adidas Referee of the Year honor. The 43-year-old officiated in 17 games this season, dishing out 62 yellow cards and just two red cards — the lowest tally for referees that worked 15 games or more. He whistled an average 22.2 fouls per game.
Under his watch in 2010, an average 3.1 goals were scored, which was the highest for any center official in the league this year. The 15-year veteran most recently worked the Western Conference Semifinal first leg between Dallas and Real Salt Lake, in which Javier Morales and Atiba Harris were ejected for dangerous play.
Stott represented the United States as a 2006 FIFA World Cup support referee in Germany.
Craig Lowry was named the adidas Assistant Referee of the Year after working 22 games on the sideline.
