Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban apologized Thursday to Trayvon Martin’s family over his choice of words in a videotaped interview in which he addressed bigotry and prejudice. ADVERTISING Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban apologized Thursday to Trayvon Martin’s family over
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban apologized Thursday to Trayvon Martin’s family over his choice of words in a videotaped interview in which he addressed bigotry and prejudice.
Cuban even revealed some of his own prejudices in the interview with Inc. magazine, and said he believes everyone has “prejudices and bigotries” on some level. But after his words — which came with the NBA still dealing with the fallout over racist remarks made by now-banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling — created a stir in social media and other circles, Cuban took to Twitter to offer his apology.
“In hindsight I should have used different examples,” Cuban wrote. “I didn’t consider the Trayvon Martin family, and I apologize to them for that.”
Cuban also said he stands by the substance of the interview.
Martin was the black Florida teen who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in February 2012. Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt — commonly called a “hoodie” — that night, and that particular piece of clothing became a rallying cry for those who demanded justice.
Zimmerman was eventually acquitted.
“We’re all prejudiced in one way or the other,” Cuban said in the Inc. interview. “If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it’s late at night, I’m walking to the other side of the street. And if on that side of the street, there’s a guy that has tattoos all over his face — white guy, bald head, tattoos everywhere — I’m walking back to the other side of the street. And the list goes on of stereotypes that we all live up to and are fearful of.”
When shown that excerpt of the interview Thursday, Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat cringed.
“It’s just a sensitive time,” Bosh said.
Cuban has not revealed how he will vote on June 3, when NBA owners are scheduled to cast ballots on a motion to oust Sterling and force him to sell the Clippers. Cuban has called the comments made by Sterling “abhorrent,” adding that there is “no place for racism in the NBA, any business I’m associated with.”
Cuban has, however, cautioned that the Sterling matter is a “very slippery slope.”
“While we all have our prejudices and bigotries, we have to learn that it’s an issue that we have to control,” Cuban told Inc. “It’s part of my responsibility as an entrepreneur to try to solve it, not just to kick the problem down the road because it does my company no good, does my customers no good, does society no good if my response to somebody and their racism or bigotry is to say ‘It’s not right for you to be here, go take your attitude somewhere else.’”
Source: Cavs want to interview Gentry
CLEVELAND — A person familiar with the situation says the Cavaliers have asked the Los Angeles Clippers for permission to interview assistant coach Alvin Gentry for their head coaching position.
Gentry has not yet set up a meeting with the Cavs, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the team is not commenting on its search. The sides are working through some details.
The Cavs are looking for their third coach in three years after Mike Brown was fired — for the second time by owner Dan Gilbert — following a 33-49 season.
Pacers limit George to no contact
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers kept Paul George out of contact drills Thursday because of a concussion.
It’s still uncertain whether he will be cleared to play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday in Miami. George was diagnosed with a concussion, less than 24 hours after he told reporters he had “blacked out” and had blurred vision following a collision with Miami’s Dwyane Wade near the end of Game 2. The series is tied 1-1.
After practice, coach Frank Vogel reiterated George never described his injury to the doctors the same way he did to reporters. George returned to the game following a timeout.
At practice, George wore a red jersey, took shots and even dunked a ball before leaving the court. He did not take questions.
Carter-Williams leads rookies team
NEW YORK — Michael Carter-Williams has been unanimously chosen to the NBA’s all-rookie team.
Chosen 11th overall in the draft, the Philadelphia 76ers guard was the only unanimous selection to the first team, which also includes Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, Utah’s Trey Burke, Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee and New York’s Tim Hardaway Jr.
The voting was done by 125 writers and broadcasters in the United States and Canada.
Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds, joining Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only rookies in NBA history to average at least 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
The second team was Boston’s Kelly Olynyk, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Minnesota’s Gorgui Dieng, Charlotte’s Cody Zeller and Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams.
By wire sources
