Verbal protest has a long tradition in Western civilization. Speaking truth to power continues to seduce young people, empowering them to rail against perceived injustices across the world.

At some point, though, college ends and you realize change doesn’t come from dragging homemade signs through protest marches to pick up women. (Different goal. Noble but different.)

(When you want to scream and cry, you must zip it)

Not everyone, though. The following charmers spent the last few days decrying the cruel treatment they suffered at the hands of the mean-spirited referees. Thanks to their snit fits at just the wrong time, each of their teams suffered mightily. However, now we all know about the mistreatment that life has thrust upon them and can, like, give them a hug or something.

First up, Liverpool of the English Premier League kissed farewell any reasonable chance of locking up a Champions League spot early this season with the full-on tantrum thrown by Javier Mascherano Sunday. His ejection in the first half of the match against Manchester United sealed the game’s fate and could cost the team tens of millions of pounds in Champions League cash.

After gathering his own yellow early on, he could not resist rushing the referee to protest another yellow card against a teammate (for not shutting up, which should have been a clue). Mascherano ranted and waved his arms and carried on even after his second yellow card, having to be dragged off the pitch. Classy, son.

If Javier had been taught to read or listen, he might have known about an outcry earlier in the week about referees being abused by EPL players culminating in an Ashley Cole face job a week ago. If Javier had half a clue, he would have known the referee he chose to pick a fight with considers himself quite the sheriff, doling out frontier justice.

Now he’ll be suspended for at least one more match; league officials are considering steeper penalties for Being a Dumbass in a Time of Crisis. Brilliant.

Stanford coach (and all-around great guy; just ask him) Trent Johnson beat Mascherano to the punch Saturday, getting himself tossed from the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday for chasing a referee around the court to voice his displeasure about not getting his own way all the time and not being allowed to eat ice cream at midnight or some such.

His team immediately fell far behind Marquette and only pulled out an overtime win because of a Brook Lopez half-hook, half-luck shot with a few seconds remaining.

After the game, a flaccid Johnson responded, “The bottom line was the responsibility was on me, and I was out of line. Just leave it at that if you would, please.” As you wish; after all, it’s all about knowing when to quietly move on.

Andres Nocioni joined a long list of Chicago Bulls this weekend that don’t understand this concept, kicking his feet and throwing his elbows in disgust at a coach that won’t even be there in a few months because he’s not getting enough playing time love. Pobrecita, Andres!

His swearfest, combined with the towel-kicking and locker room trashing, was the most impotent act of the weekend because Andres’ ridiculous 5-year, $38m contract signed last summer will secure his future much stronger than interim coach Jim Boylan’s, who just hopes to hook up with ex-coach Scott Skiles at his next gig.

Still, kudos to Nocioni for identifying one of the world’s ills and baring it to the world so we could act appropriately. After that melodramatic yawn, we can flip the sports page on all three bad actors.