I think it'd depend on what the fan said as well. Utah fans have started to build a rep with some of their language - particularly of the racist variety. .
it doesn't depend on anything
You can call me any racial or derogatory slur in the book. I respect peoples freedom of speech, so I'd never threaten anyone's life or physical well being. If someone threatened my life, then id have to defend myself but words like those aren't threats
This is just another unprofessional moment in the life of Westbrook, guy with history of being trashy with fans and media
Westbrook isn't going to follow through with taking someone's life, so wouldn't his words just fall under freedom of speech too? Or do the goalposts get moved for him?
yeah. Ron Artest was never going to go attack fans either
because Malace at the Palace never happened
Ron Artest and Russell Westbrook are two different people with two different histories. False equivalency.
I truly don't understand your point. My point is that the law clearly states threats of physical violence are not legal, whether its from a player like Artest, Westbrook, Yabusele, or Brian Scalabrine
You're saying "Westbrooks always been a nice guy, so the cops should let him threaten people"
If you're trying make a legal argument, you'd have to prove intent. That wouldn't get very far. You can't say Russell Westbrook is likely to commit an act of violence because Ron Artest did 20 years ago. Based on Russell's actual history - in which he has been known to run his mouth - its significantly more likely he's speaking in the heat of the moment than he is to attempt to take a fan's life.
I'm sure he'll be reprimanded, but so should the fan. Freedom of speech gives you the right to say anything, but it doesn't remove consequences. We recently had an issue at my company in which we were negotiating a job offer to a candidate, but their background review turned up racist and homophobic social media posts. We withdrew from negotiations. That didn't impede on their right to say what they want, but we didn't have to cosign it. Jazz can make a similar decision with this fan.