A CBA coach was suspended for making anti-Semitic remarks and a gay slur. Albany Patroons coach Micheal Ray Richardson, a former NBA player, was suspended Wednesday by the team after telling the Albany Times Union that he had ”big-time Jew lawyers” working for him. In referring to Jews, Richardson told the newspaper in an interview Tuesday, ‘They got a lot of power in this world, you know what I mean? Which I
think is great. I don’t think
there’s nothing wrong with it. If you look in most professional sports,
they’re run by Jewish people. If you look at a lot of most successful
corporations and stuff, more businesses, they’re run by Jewish. It’s
not a knock, but they are some crafty people.”Later that day, Richardson responded to a heckler at a game using an epithet and a gay slur. He will sit out the rest of the Continental Basketball Association’s best-of-five championship series, and will be barred from watching team practice and games while the league investigates the matter.”It’s
terrible and I don’t think it’s fair,” Richardson said. ”But I want
to make an apology if I offended anyone because that’s not me.”The Patroons issued an apology Wednesday. ”We will not tolerate – and the league will not tolerate – bigots,” owner Ben Fernandez said.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.