SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker apologized Monday for a newly surfaced photograph that shows him making the same gesture with anti-Semitic connotations that French soccer star Nicolas Anelka displayed while celebrating a goal this weekend, creating an uproar in their home country.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker apologized Monday for a newly surfaced photograph that shows him making the same gesture with anti-Semitic connotations that French soccer star Nicolas Anelka displayed while celebrating a goal this weekend, creating an uproar in their home country.
The photograph shows Parker and a French comedian making a gesture known in France as a “quenelle,” which critics describe as inverted Nazi salute. Parker said in a statement released through the Spurs that the photograph was taken three years ago.
Parker, who was born in Belgium but raised in France, said he didn’t know at the time that “it could be in any way offensive or harmful.” He said he thought it was part of a comedy act and said he apologized for any harm.
“While this gesture has been part of French culture for many years, it was not until recently that I learned of the very negative concerns associated with it,” Parker said.
The photo surfaced on social media after Anelka made the same gesture celebrating a goal in an English Premier League game Saturday, causing an outcry in France.
Anelka’s club, West Bromich Albion, issued a statement Monday saying that Anelka has agreed not to perform the same gesture again. The English Football Association has also begun an investigation and could punish Anelka with a five-match ban.
Anelka has defended his actions, saying he was merely expressing his support for French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, who performs the gesture on stage. Dieudonne claims the salute, which involves pointing one straightened arm downward while touching that arm’s shoulder with the opposite hand, is anti-establishment and not anti-Semitic.
The photograph of Parker also shows him posing with Dieudonne.
Parker did not speak with reporters after practice Monday. He said in his statement that he would never repeat the gesture again.
Horford to have season-ending surgery
ATLANTA — Hawks center Al Horford will have season-ending surgery today to repair his torn right pectoral muscle.
Hawks spokesman Garin Narin on Monday night confirmed plans for the surgery.
Horford, the Hawks’ leading scorer and rebounder, suffered the injury in the first overtime of Thursday’s 127-125 double-overtime win at Cleveland. An examination on Friday in Atlanta revealed the complete tear of the muscle. Horford explored his options before deciding on the surgery.
He is averaging 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his seventh season.
Former NBA player Connie Dierking dies
CINCINNATI — Connie Dierking, a longtime NBA player who was part of the trade that brought Wilt Chamberlain to Philadelphia, has died. He was 77.
His death was announced Monday by Cincinnati’s WKRC-TV, where daughter Cammy Dierking is a news anchor. It was confirmed by the University of Cincinnati, where he starred in the 1950s.
WKRC reported that Dierking fell in November. No other details were released.
The Brooklyn-born Dierking played with Oscar Robertson for the Bearcats in 1957-58.
Dierking averaged 10.0 points and 6.7 rebounds in his NBA career. He averaged a career-high 16.7 points in 1969-70 for the Cincinnati Royals.
The 6-foot-10 center was a 1958 first-round pick of the Syracuse Nationals, who became the 76ers.
In 1965, he was among three players traded to San Francisco to bring Chamberlain to Philadelphia, a move that helped the 76ers build an NBA champion.
By wire sources