Mutumbo heckler banned

[Stillers#1]

Heckler banned for season after alleged racial slurESPN.com news services


The NBA and the Orlando Magic on Monday banned for the season the fan whose alleged racial slur incited Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo at a preseason game last week.

Season-ticket holder Hooman Hamzehloui allegedly called Mutombo a "monkey" Thursday in the third quarter of the Rockets-Magic game. Mutombo yelled back at Hamzehloui and gestured from the court.

Hamzehloui was ejected from the game. The league said Hamzehloui is also barred from attending games at any NBA arena this season. Orlando said it will refund his season-ticket payment.

"I will not say that I am happy about it," Mutombo told Fox 26 in Houston. "It is out of my hands. I have done my job. I have forgiven him. Whatever the commissioner and the league does, that's not my area."

According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, Hamzehloui sent the Rockets center a letter of apology. Hamzehloui was contacted late Sunday by the newspaper and said he didn't know "using the word 'monkey' was bad."

"I would like to take a moment of your time to offer a complete and unconditional apology for my poor behavior, and in particular, my poor choice of words last Thursday night while attending the Houston-Orlando basketball game," the letter reads.

"I am by no means a racist, and if you only knew me better you would never begin to have those thoughts. What I am guilty of is poor judgment in the use of words while doing what I do to many of the visiting team's players, 'heckle them.'"

Mutombo said after the game he would go into the stands next time even if he got fined for it.



NBA spokesman Tim Frank said no action was taken against Mutombo and the matter was closed.

Hamzehloui also wrote that he would not attend another Magic game until Mutombo gives the team his approval and that he would donate $5,000 to a charity of Mutombo's choice.

Hamzehloui also wrote that he wished to apologize in person.

"That meant a lot to me," Mutombo told Fox 26 of the apology letter, but added that Hamzehloui's offer to personally apologize was not necessary. "I don't need that."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

I can't say I disagree with the way they handled this. However, would the punishment be as swift if this was a black man calling a white player a ****** or cracker? I don't think it would. It has become socially acceptable to make racist comment towards white's. If the NBA is going to be serious about this, they need to crack down both ways.

[SteelCityMan786]

The guy was crazy to even do that in the first place.

[Stillers#1]

Originally Posted by SteelCityMan786

The guy was crazy to even do that in the first place.

I dunno, I have heard a lot worse, even at high school football games. I'm not sayin he is right, I agree with what the NBA did. I do think though, that had the situation been reversed, they would not have reacted in the same manner. This is kind of like the douchemanzedah "punk ass white boy" comment.

[SteelCityMan786]

Originally Posted by Stillers#1

I dunno, I have heard a lot worse, even at high school football games. I'm not sayin he is right, I agree with what the NBA did. I do think though, that had the situation been reversed, they would not have reacted in the same manner. This is kind of like the douchemanzedah "punk ass white boy" comment.

I aggree as well. The NBA made the right move. If he comes back in the 2007-2008 Season, and does like wise, he should be permanantly banned.

[83-Steelers-43]

Guy deserved the banning.

[sumo]

there is a double standard - like Paul Rodriguez said after the Kramer incident - "if you use the "N" word and you're not black, you're gonna have a lot of explaining to do.." - this is a bad slippery slope - I have heard worse than this at every professional sporting event I've been to - what are they going to do - just sift out the racial slurs that are offensive to African Americans?

[83-Steelers-43]

Strange you brought that up Sumo. Maybe I should have posted this thread in here.....

http://forums.steelersfever.com/showthread.php?t=12588

[steelfan 92]

they should not let any racial slurs go. that's the problem. it should be unacceptable to slur any race, that is why racism will continue to exist. you have people good, bad, and indifferent of all races. comes down to judging a person based on how they treat you. i think the fan got what he deserved.

[sumo]

Originally Posted by 83-Steelers-43

Strange you brought that up Sumo. Maybe I should have posted this thread in here.....

http://forums.steelersfever.com/showthread.php?t=12588

Wow - I didn't have a chance to look at this thread yet - you make some excellent points - I also started a thread on Kramer, didn't ESPN fire Rush Limbaugh over something like this? I'm not a big fan of Rush - but what Rush said isn't as bad as what Irvin said to Dan Patrick...

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by sumo

I'm not a big fan of Rush - but what Rush said isn't as bad as what Irvin said to Dan Patrick...

I remember that - Rush said that McNabb was overrated because "the NFL is desirous to have a black QB do well." Not nearly as bad as ALOT of things I've heard Barkley say on the NBA studio show on TNT on pretty much any given night it's on.