Posted on 12/07/2004 1:42:23 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
MINNEAPOLIS -- The NBA suspended Timberwolves swingman Latrell Sprewell on Tuesday for one game without pay after reviewing comments he made to a female heckler during Minnesota's overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Tim Frank, vice president of basketball communications for the NBA, said the league senior vice president Stu Jackson reviewed the tape of the incident and then ordered Sprewell suspended for Tuesday night's game against Dallas.
He said league policy prohibits directing obscenities at fans. "Our policy is that you can't do it," he said. "When you do it, you're going to get suspended."
During the game, Sprewell responded to the female heckler with a sexually vulgar term, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis first reported in its Tuesday editions.
The comment was picked up by a courtside microphone and was broadcast by Los Angeles television station KTLA and by the Timberwolves' broadcast on KSTC-TV in Minnesota.
A call to a Timberwolves spokesman was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.
The incident is the latest controversy for Sprewell. Last month, he received a misdemeanor citation after arguing with a police officer during a traffic stop. Sprewell, who was a passenger in the vehicle, claimed he was treated unfairly.
The 34-year-old Sprewell also demanded that the Timberwolves either extend his contract or trade him, saying, "I've got my family to feed." The comment by Sprewell, who will make $14.6 million this season in the final year of his deal, drew criticism from NBA commissioner David Stern.
Okay, anyone know what he actually called her?
"You filthy Hillary, you"...? :)
Nothing that can be printed here.
The report said "sexually" . .. please tell me Hillary isn't the first woman that pops into your mind when you hear the word "sexually"!!!! LOL
Let it go. At least he didn't choke her out.
At least he didn't try to choke her.
I'm just wondering how harsh it actually was. I'd say the NBA is being a little more sensitive and trying to look more fan-friendly as of late.
How was the TV station able to get away with airing it?
That has to be just about the most vile, arrogant thing I've heard in a month or so. Somebody slap him for me, will ya?
Boy, am I getting sick of NBA basketball! Never much of a basketball fan, I have little interest in watching hugely-overpaid buttheads run up and down the court. I do enjoy watching High School basketball and, marginally, college ball, but I can't remember the last NBA game I bothered to tune in.
Sprewell can disappear, as far as I am concerned, along with all the rest of these spoiled brats.
I thought he might have called her 'Sprewell,' but that would have been scatological.
Unless this jackass has more kids than Mel Gibson, I don't his little ones are gonna starve...
"... some of them even legit ones, if you know what I mean..." :)
Cute
Latrine Spewal.
Probably "bitch," or "'ho."
"Somebody slap him for me, will ya?"
Paging any Indiana Pacer.
After the choking incident, I'm surprised this guy is still in the league. How would you like to be his coach?
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