Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Phil Jackson Reprimanded by NBA for 'Brokeback Mountain' Joke to Reporters
Editor and Publisher ^ | 11/14/07

Posted on 11/14/2007 8:07:28 PM PST by LdSentinal

LOS ANGELES Coach Phil Jackson said he deserved the reprimand he got from the NBA on Wednesday for making a sexual reference in a comment following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss in San Antonio.

The Spurs made 13 3-pointers in their 107-92 victory on Tuesday night, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters. “We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts,” Jackson said. “It was one of those games.”

The 2005 film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

“But in retrospect, it wasn't really funny,” Jackson said before the Lakers played Houston on Wednesday night. “When you take it out of context, it wasn't funny. It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA.”

Still, Jackson couldn't resist making another joke as he apologized. “If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize,” Jackson said.

Jackson thanked beat writers and other journalists who covered Tuesday's game for dismissing the comment as an innocent joke. He said several of them laughed when he said it.

The NBA did not.

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said: “The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future.”

Jackson admitted he should've known better – that coaches can't get away with the jokes that Jay Leno and David Letterman do for a living on their late-night talk shows.

“It's societal right now,” he said. “Some people can do it. Some people can't. That's something that's appropriate for certain categories.”

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president Neil G. Giuliano issued a statement saying: “Phil Jackson's been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers' performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: basketball; brokebacklash; jackson; nba; phil; pooftersnit; wellinever
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last
To: A_Former_Democrat

Screw ‘em.


21 posted on 11/14/2007 9:02:35 PM PST by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal

“brokebacklash”

LOL

Good keywording!


22 posted on 11/14/2007 9:26:56 PM PST by canuck_conservative (beer + pizza + cigarettes = Breakfast of Champions)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: canuck_conservative

Thank you.


23 posted on 11/14/2007 9:29:09 PM PST by 50mm (Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist - G. Carlin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president Neil G. Giuliano issued a statement saying: “Phil Jackson's been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers' performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes.”

And here I thought he was reprimanded for calling his players homosexual.

24 posted on 11/14/2007 9:31:41 PM PST by ModelBreaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

You did? Was Phil Jackson playing for the Knicks at that time?


25 posted on 11/14/2007 9:37:10 PM PST by upsdriver (DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT!!!! The steakiest steak in the race!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal
“If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize,” Jackson said.

Now that's funny

26 posted on 11/14/2007 10:57:28 PM PST by orlop9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal

I’m glad he apologized to the horses.

If anybody saw Jackson on ESPN giving his ‘apology’, you could tell that he was even more condescending to the media and the GLAAD group for having to forced to even comment on this. There was no actual apology and he has the money to just pay the fines and not give up his dignity.


27 posted on 11/15/2007 2:12:09 AM PST by bpjam (Harry Reid doesn't even have 32% of my approval)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ModelBreaker
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

If Giuliano really wants to fight defamation, he needs to quit speaking in code. Call them what they are, i.e. homosexuals.

Oh wait a minute; that would give the whole thing away now wouldn't it?

28 posted on 11/15/2007 3:40:14 AM PST by Banjoguy (The stench that surrounds us, emanates from Washington, D.C.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC

I personally don’t find much humor in two men sodomizing each other either.


29 posted on 11/15/2007 3:49:10 AM PST by ItisaReligionofPeace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal
“But in retrospect, it wasn't really funny,” Jackson said...

Wha...? It's funny now. Jeesh. The NBA has a Team Owner that produced a film that will create more terrorists to kill American soldiers and civilians AND they reprimand a 'Brokeback Mountain' joke? Political Correctness is a suicide pact and I'm not signing up.

30 posted on 11/15/2007 4:15:58 AM PST by Jabba the Nutt (Just laugh at them!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC

how about save us from jokes that are just plain bad...

this coach was guilty of poor writing.

The headline should have been “Writer’s Strike Impacts NBA” of course it is all Bush’s fault...


31 posted on 11/15/2007 4:26:22 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: RichInOC

In the future there will be no jokes which can offend anyone in any way whatsoever......at least this is the aim of the PC Police.


32 posted on 11/15/2007 5:46:16 AM PST by Red in Blue PA (Truth : Liberals :: Kryptonite : Superman)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal
Still, Jackson couldn't resist making another joke as he apologized. “If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize,” Jackson said.

IOW, "Sorry you queers are so easily offended."

33 posted on 11/15/2007 5:48:46 AM PST by airborne (Proud to be a conservative! Proud to support Duncan Hunter for President!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: silentreignofheroes

Getting really,really,really close.


34 posted on 11/15/2007 5:51:29 AM PST by Harrius Magnus (Pucker up Mo, and your dhimmi Leftist freaks, here comes your Jizya!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal
I really don't see what the problem was, Phil didn't say anything worse than Gays say (and do) to each other.

Is this the start of the If-your-not-gay-you-can't-make-gay-jokes crap?

I thought it was very funny and his "apology was even better.

Put me down in the NBA=NO group.
35 posted on 11/15/2007 5:55:36 AM PST by The Louiswu (Never Forget!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ItisaReligionofPeace
"I personally don’t find much humor in two men sodomizing each other either."

I think he was trying to be funny by being ridiculous.

There is no humor in homosexuality and there was no humor in the way his defense played.
36 posted on 11/15/2007 5:57:40 AM PST by The Louiswu (Never Forget!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal

I had read somewhere once that Phil Jackson is a devout socialist. This just makes it kind of funny to me to see a leftist (if it’s true) make a statement that they accuse the conservatives of making.


37 posted on 11/15/2007 6:01:00 AM PST by Preachin' (Enoch's testimony was that he pleased God: Why are we still here?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: upsdriver

No, he was done with the Knicks. He was coaching The Albany team for the Continental basketball league. Right after that he went to Chicago. This was 1982 or 83, I believe.


38 posted on 11/15/2007 6:42:41 AM PST by Hildy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: LdSentinal

I thought it was pretty funny.


39 posted on 11/15/2007 6:43:14 AM PST by Hoodlum91 (I support global warming.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: puroresu
Not really Orwellian since private organizations like the NBA have a right to set speech codes for their employees while they’re on the job.
40 posted on 11/15/2007 7:59:17 AM PST by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson