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Jackson accuses Utah fans of racial slurs

http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_5873816

Quote:

Golden State's Stephen Jackson criticized fan behavior during Game 2 of the Warriors-Jazz series Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena, saying he was the target of a racial slur.
According to a story in The San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, Jackson said, "I just thought people would carry themselves in a better way. They're always worried about how we're going to act toward the fans, but they never consider what we have to sit there and take."
Jackson did not pinpont the nature of the alleged slur, telling a reporter, "If you can't read between the lines, you don't need to be asking these questions. If I say too much, it's going to be a problem."
Asked if the slur was a six-letter word, Jackson said, "Yeah, exactly."
Golden State team president Robert Rowell told The Chronicle he had not heard any previous complaint from his players.
"We will certainly look into their comments," Rowell said. "From what I observed, the fans in Utah are well-behaved and passionate. [But] there is no place for inappropriate fan conduct in the . . . playoffs."
Jackson told the newspaper, "It's cool. I don't mind taking it. But at the same time, it is aggravating and you want to do something about it. But you can't."
Jackson's teammate, Jason Richardson, told The Contra Costa Times he also heard the slurs.
"That was something new," he said. "It shocked all of us. We weren't expecting that. I mean, they were trying to get into our heads any way they can. But I couldn't believe anybody would stoop that low. It's nonsense."
Jackson told the newspaper, "I'm John Gotti in Utah."
At the Jazz's shootaround Friday, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams told reporters they did not hear any slurs directed at Jackson, Richardson or anyone else.
"I am really surprised," Boozer said. "I don't know if that happened. I wasn't aware of it. I didn't hear it happen. So, if it did happen, I feel sorry for the people who said it and I feel sorry for Stephen Jackson."
Williams, the Jazz's second-year point guard, said, "I've never heard any racial slurs at any arena I've been to. I try not to really pay attention to the crowd."
Boozer has been a victim of slurs in the past, but "not in the NBA. . . . Being an African-American, you hear it everywhere."
In 2004, Jackson was suspended 20 games for his part in the infamous brawl during an Indiana-Detroit game at the Palace of Auburn Hills. He went into the stands behind then-teammate Ron Artest and punched a fan.
In Golden State's first-round series against Dallas, Jackson was ejected from a game and later fined $50,000 by the NBA for failing to leave the court in a timely manner.
In Game 2 against Utah, Jackson scored 18 points, but he made only four of his 18 field-goal attempts as the Jazz took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 127-117 overtime win.
Contacted Friday morning in Oakland, Jazz vice president of communications Linda Luchetti said team officials had already heard about Jackson's allegations and investigated the situation.
"If that was the case, we would take appropriate action," Luchetti said. "The Utah Jazz won't tolerate anything along those lines, in regard to fan behavior. We take something like that very seriously.
"But we have looked into it and at this point - as far as we can tell - there's nothing there. . . . Nobody heard any thing - none of the other fans, our [security] people in the area, the referees, nobody."

This doesn't help Utah's already racist image. I guess thats what happens when only 4% of your states population is a visible minority. Who else is not surprised :confusedshrug: