Danny Ferry Releases Statement On Deng Appraisal, Hawks Continue Implosion

The Atlanta Hawks continue to be the schleprock of the NBA currently, and you know it's bad when Ray Rice is the only thing in the news keeping you from being the lead...

Hawks COO Steve Koonin maintains that President/GM Danny Ferry will keep his job after he read the backgrounder on Luol Deng aloud two years ago and the word crept out that this event actually did happen.

Ferry released a statement about his mea culpa:

"In regards to the insensitive remarks that were used during our due diligence process, I was repeating comments that were gathered from numerous sources during background conversations and scouting about different players. I repeated those comments during a telephone conversation reviewing the draft and free agency process. Those words do not reflect my views, or words that I would use to describe an individual and I certainly regret it. I apologize to those I offended and to Luol, who I reached out to Monday morning.

In terms of the email that Bruce sent, the situation is disturbing and disappointing on many levels and I understand Bruce's words were offensive.

I am committed to learning from this and deeply regret this situation. I fully understand we have work to do in order to help us create a better organization; one that our players and fans will be proud of, on and off the court, and that is where my focus is moving forward."

Co-owner Michael Gearon, Junior wanted Ferry gone right then and there and told anyone willing to listen that the guy should be out on his ear. A letter dated this June expressed his grave concerns for the franchise if the word got out. The letter was sent to television stations in the market and authenticated anonymously.

The minority partners made their peace in the next-to-last paragraph and the irony oozes from the words on the page:

"If Ferry's comments are ever made public, and it's a safe bet to say they will someday, it could be fatal to the franchise. All of our partners have worked and spent a lot of money not just to make the Hawks winners, but to make our city and region proud of the organization. As lifelong Atlantans with a public track record of diversity and inclusion, we are especially fearful of the unfair consequences when we eventually get thrown under the bus with Ferry."

The HQ has a good idea who made the letter public and it's a safe play that they weren't fans of Ferry's hire in the first place... or Levenson's place as majority owner, either.

And when the I-Team over at MyFoxAtlanta gets a hold of this, you know you're not in a good place.
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Wojcik Fired From College of Charleston After Abuses Investigation

((HT: WCIV-TV Charleston))

College of Charleston head coach Doug Wojcik was fired from his position after two separate investigations centered around alleged abuses of basketball players during practices and games.

The college had suspended Wojcik for the entire month of August and required him to undergo counseling and behavior monitoring.

"I am writing today to let you know I have made the decision to terminate Head Men's Basketball Coach Doug Wojcik's employment at the College of Charleston for just cause, pursuant to the terms of his contract, effective immediately," school president Glenn F. McConnell said in a statement.

Wojcik, in a statement through his attorney, thought the school didn't go about their investigation in a proper manner:

"The College became so desperate to invent a reason to fire Coach Wojcik that it had some of the young men on the basketball team sign sworn affidavits, which we believe contain materially false statements. The College even got one of the incoming freshmen, who has never even played for Coach Wojcik, to swear under oath that he was physically abused by Coach Wojcik. The College's so-called second investigation was so focused on finding a way to avoid its contractual obligations, that the College completed the investigation and began termination proceedings against Coach Wojcik without even looking at the video of the incidents of alleged physical abuse. We were forced to release the video to the public to show that there was no physical abuse. There are many other examples of the College's attempt to create a reason to avoid its contractual obligations. They will come out at the appropriate time."

Here's Scott Eisberg with defense from Wojcik and his attorneys before today's dismissal
WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Sounds like Wojcik is far from done in a legal sense...

AD Joe Hull will be responsible for the program for the foreseeable future.

Mexico Futbol Director Defends Indefensible Racist Chants

((HT: ESPN))

Earlier today, ESPN's John Sutcliffe interviewed Team Mexico's Director of National Teams Hector Gonzalez about the FIFA investigation of racist chants raining down from fans of El Tri in the Cameroon match.

The investigation centers around the use of the word "puto" - a gay slur that you'll have to look up yourself.

Gonzalez actually defended its use in stadia


Not to be outdone, team coach Miguel Herrera agreed- to ESPN:

"About the chants, we don't have anything to say, we are going to concentrate in working hard, that is what corresponds to us," Herrera said. "We support our fan base. They just do it to put pressure on the other goalkeeper.

"That chant was invented in the Mexican league by one team and all the Mexican fan base has adopted it, therefore I don't think it is something that serious.

"I think for us there is more important stuff to solve than a chant that is just an expression to put pressure on the other goalkeeper that has been taking place in Mexico since a long time ago."

The Mexican Federation is ultimately responsible for fan behavior and it looks like FIFA may come down hard if they can prove the words were used.

Or, to be more accurate, if FIFA want to find the evidence...

Saturday PM Sterling Update: No One Is Happy About It...

((HT: KABC-TV))

And let the spin begin...

The opinion is, from the Sterling camp, is that it is all the fault of Stiviano- who is being charged with embezzling almost $2-million- and that the Clippers owner is not the kind of person portrayed on the tape released to TMZ Sports...

Melissa Macbride is in the Satellite Center to read full screens


Doc Rivers, representing the team, was not pleased...
((HT: ESPN))


Chris Paul, the Executive Director of the NBPA, says the matter is going to be handled by the players in a timely fashion...

"On behalf of the National Basketball Players Association, this is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively," it read. "We have asked [Sacramento] Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. As players, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and a drive to the Finals."

No lie... for this part of irony...

Sterling was to be honored in May with a lifetime achievement award by the NAACP in Los Angeles. The prganization is monitoring the Clippers situation right now as well...

Smart Gets Three Games For Incident, Superfan Done For Year...

((HT: CBSSports))

Marcus Smart got three games worth of suspension for his response to Texas Tech fan Jeff Orr the other night...

Orr says he didn't use a racial slur in the incident. Smart maintains Orr did... but Orr also says he will not go to any more Red Raiders games this season...

He volunteered that he said something he shouldn't have to the OSU forward and he also was the one who decided not to attend anymore games in the 13-14 season... kind of a self-imposed punishment...

The HQ does wonder how big a booster he is, though...

Doug Gottlieb, via his Twitter, revealed a conversation Orr had with a friend of his

saying it got out of control (pictured right from Gottlieb)

"I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies to Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, Tubby Smith and the Texas Tech Men's Basketball program. My actions last night were inappropriate and do not reflect myself or Texas Tech - a university I love dearly.

I regret calling Mr. Smart a 'piece of crap' but I want to make it known that I did not use a racial slur of any kind. Additionally, I would like to offer my apologies to Texas Tech fans that have been embarrassed by the attention this incident has created."

But, it wasn't the first time, Orr has been caught on tape responding for his Raiders the way he has...

Go all the way to the end of the video...

It's a very superfannish reaction...
((HT: ESPN2))


But, it was time for Smart and the school to address the issue- any internal discipline will come from coach Travis Ford. Smart wouldn't answer questions, but did offer this to start:

"I want to apologize to the fan, whose name is Jeff Orr, I want to apologize to him, my teammates, my coach. This is not how I condone msyelf. I just can't let that happen again. It's a lesson I'll have to learn from; it's all on me. I truly apologize to all those that are important to me. I feel I let my teammates down."

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby released this statement from the league office:

"Mr. Smart's actions were a clear violation of the Big 12 Conference's Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy. Such behavior has no place in athletics, and will not be tolerated. I appreciate the efforts of Oklahoma State University athletics director Mike Holder in addressing this matter, and believe this is an appropriate response to an inappropriate action."

Here's a part of the presser from our friends at KFOR-TV

OSG High: Stay Classy, Pittsford High... Students Chanting About Slurpees To Indian Student...???

((HT: USA Today through the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle/Prep Rally))

Cam Smith gave us a heads-up on this one, and it's pretty stupid...

In New York state, Brighton and Pittsford school district supervisors held a press conference to discuss the story that broke on Friday. There was talk that Pittsford kids from Sutherland High allegedly chanted "We want Slurpees" to a Brighton High basketball player who was of east Indian descent.
((HT: DavyV))


The student who initiated the chant was removed from the game is, apparently, the leader of the Pittsford's Super Fan section. And as a result, the fans have been removed from a local competition highlighting fans and fan bases...

The two districts issued a statement:

"We were very disappointed to learn of this incident. We have been working with our colleagues in both districts throughout the weekend to address intolerant and unacceptable fan behavior. That work continues today. The students involved took full responsibility for their behavior, and attempts are being made to right this wrong between the students and to address the long- term learning that can arise from the disappointing behaviors of a few."

Here's word from the joint presser...

OSG High: Mass. HS Mom Now Questioned In Racial Graffiti Incident

((HT: NECN/Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise/Boston Globe))

You'll remember a few weeks ago the story we posted about the Massachusetts high school football games that had been cancelled because of racist graffiti painted on the side of one of the player's houses...

Well, we now have an interesting turn in the story...

The mother of the high school football player who was the target of the graffiti is now a "strong suspect" in the case...

Andrea Brazier is white. Her husband, Anthony Phillips, is black. And their son, Isaac Phillips, who played on Lunenburg High School's freshman and junior varsity teams, is biracial.

Chris Camire's article in the Fitchburg (MA) Sentinel and Enterprise newspaper says that Brazier has been uncooperative in the investigation and came up with multiple answers for why police found two cans of spray paint in a fire when they came to investigate...

From Abel and Ellement's article in the Globe...

“Andrea stated ‘OK,’ ” according to the affidavit filed by Detective Jeffrey Thibodeau of the Lunenburg police. “Andrea just kept answering ‘OK’ and that she wanted everything to end and that we did not understand.”

At the Lunenburg Police Department Wednesday, Lieutenant Mike Luth said that Brazier was the only active suspect in the case and that his officers are working with the Worcester district attorney’s office and the US attorney’s office “to plan a course of action that’s best for the situation.”


Here's a copy of the search warrant... and this is not looking good for the family...

Did Incognito's Run Of Words Extend To Staff...???

((HT: WSVN-TV))

NFL investigator Ted Wells had his first day on the Miami Dolphins campus today trying to get answers in the Richie Incognito situation...

Wells has started interviewing players and should do so for the next two days or so...

The National Football Post is reporting that Incognito and another Dolphins player mocked a Dolphins staffer and his ethnic wardrobe that he chose to wear to the offices...

From NFP:

A second source said that at least one other player joined in on the antics, creating an extremely uncomfortable environment for the staff member.

Worse, Incognito said on a number of occasions that the staff member’s wife had sexual relationships with several members of the team.

Here's the story from Davie...
WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miam Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco

In the college ranks, this is called a "lack of institutional control..."

And this seems to be spiraling in a bunch of different directions...
Which is not good- even as Wells has barely started his question-and-answer sessions...

Riley Cooper Apologizes For Slur, Fallout In 3, 2, 1... (UPDATED With Vick Responses)

((HT: CSNPhilly))

First, here's the apology...


Let's work backwards...
Cooper was at a Kenny Chesney concert and had a run in with security...
((HT: CrossingBroad))


The first half the HQ can't make out, but the second half has a "hard -er" and not a "soft -a" where that word is concerned...
Which means there is no term of affection used here at the concert...

Cooper admitted he was fined for his remarks by he team and the league wasn't too fond of his shenanigans either:

"The NFL stands for diversity and inclusion. Comments like this are wrong, offensive, and unacceptable."

And here's the statement from Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie's statement:

“We are shocked and appalled by Riley Cooper’s words. This sort of behavior or attitude from anyone has no role in a civil society. He has accepted responsibility for his words and his actions. He has been fined for this incident.“

PM UPDATE: Marcus Vick, who the HQ has no idea what he's doing these days, decided to put a bounty out on Cooper when all of this went public...

"Hey I'm putting a bounty on Riley's head. 1k to the first Free Safety or Strong safety that light his (expletive) up! Wake him up please...."

Marcus has since deleted his Tweet...

But, to his credit, brother Michael came out and said that he didn't agree with his brother's assessment:

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Michael Vick said, "I don't agree with what my brother is saying."

AC Milan's Boateng Walks Off Pitch After Racial Slur

That's what AC Milan is saying after what happened below...
((HT: Youtube))


AC Milan is claiming that Boateng did what he did because of the Pro Patria fans that he kicked the ball towards...

The AC Milan website had this as its entry in the 26th minute:

"AC Milan leaves the pitch after racist abuse by a minority of Pro Patria fans at Boateng, Niang, Emanuelson and Muntari. The rest of the fans in the stands disassociated themselves from such racist events."

The Italian Football Association came down hard (and very quickly) on the events and are starting an immediate investigation.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told reporters at: "We are disappointed and saddened by what has happened. Milan play for the right to respect all players. We need to stop these uncivilized gestures."

Allegri also apologized for the team walking off as they did, but they were not going to stand for what went down...