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.”
All the more reason to not support the NBA.
God save us all from the humorless.
The NBA taking a wide stance on this issue..........
Yes it was.
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.
Proof that Jackson didn't mean his first statement.
Stopped watching the NBA when they hit the “50% of players with criminal convictions” mark. I think they’re up to over 50% felons now.
As a fan of the NBA Mavericks, I’m offended by the GLAAD organization’s name.
The word gay covers gay men, women and women who look like men who date women. My point is, drop the lesbian. Gay is gay.
Funny as hell.
If one WANTS to be offended, one will find a way to be offended.
I’m ready to Pass On for my Belief,,are you ready to die for yours..
It was kind of funny.
Where’s nygopgal? PHIL JACKSON...my old boyfriend folks! Dated him when I was in college...yes, he’s VERY TALL!!!! And very nice.
absolutely right. I myself haven’t payed any attention to the NBA since the great Jerry West retired in ‘74. what I see out there on the floor now (during an occasional TV surf moment) is not what I like to see in sports. obviously my views are in the minority as I understand the NBA is still a very profitable business so diff. strokes I guess. the players are incredible athletes, no question, but it is the other BS they pull that turns me off.
I weep for our country.
I think it was pretty funny.
America grows more Orwellian by the day.
It made me laugh and I don’t even like Phil Jackson!
LOL, that was funny. The hell with those politically correct humorless douchebags who have a problem with it.
NBA is so bad I doubt even the gays watch it. Nobody to really offend.
Yup, and Phil has offended the Industry of the Perpetually Offended. Now he has to pay.
He, who has spent so much time in the La La Land of the Perpetually Offended, should have known better.
Shame on Phil. Off to the work camp with him!
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.