Celtics ban fan for two years for verbal abuse toward Boogie

[Roy H.]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

[deadtired]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

it's like ****ography, you know it when you see it.

[RPGenerate]

So there was no evidence that the guy said anything racially charged? And they still gave him a 2 year ban? I don't know how I feel about that...

[nickagneta]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

Strange he said she didn't say here. Boogie claimed the n word was hurled in his direction but no one else can confirm this.

If the n word was used there is question, that's racial, verbal abuse. I have heard nor read any alternative for what might have been said.

Is anyone claiming it was simple heckling like fans would do normally?

[jambr380]

I don't know why, but I watched 'The Jump' and 'High Noon' on ESPN today and this came up on both shows.

On 'The Jump', they discussed everything in Roy's post and had a fairly articulate, responsible conversation about it emphasizing the reason it wasn't a lifetime ban.

On 'High Noon', they discussed none of the points in Roy's post, stated that a Boston fan called Cousins the n word and only got a 2-year ban because it was Boston. Nothing about not being able to prove anything or that it was a minor (not that age really matters much in this instance).

It is really disappointing that you can have two back-to-back shows have such different levels of information being presented to the public. I didn't watch Highly Questionable, Around the Horn, PTI, or [gasp] anything with SAS on it, but I imagine it didn't go well for Boston, overall.

[ozgod]

Couple of reporters doing their best to get Kyrie to say something bad about Boston in relation to the banning of this fan for the alleged racial slur but he wasn’t biting 

[SparzWizard]

Doesn't look good for the city of Boston, where their reputation is known for "racism" according to the media.

[OnPoint]

Unfortunately, this is looking like an Adam Jones 2.0 situation here, where a sensitive, thin-skinned player, accuses an opponent's fan of racially charged verbal abuse. Then, despite no corroborating witnesses or video/audio evidence, the media plows through the details and pushes the narrative that gets clicks.

There is now an entire industry built up around selling racism. It's so infrequent in 2019, they literally have to make it up every chance they get.

[ozgod]

Doesn't look good for the city of Boston, where their reputation is known for "racism" according to the media.

The reporters did their best to try to get Kyrie to say something about this but he wasn't going to throw his city under the bus

[SparzWizard]

Doesn't look good for the city of Boston, where their reputation is known for "racism" according to the media.

The reporters did their best to try to get Kyrie to say something about this but he wasn't going to throw his city under the bus

Good on him I suppose.

I'm a Boston sports fan but I don't live in Boston, though I do have relatives that live there. My supervisor from Los Angeles notices my support in the Patriots and Celtics and she asks me "is it true that Boston is a racist city though?" I mean during my time there to visit a couple of years ago I had a pleasant experience with the people there and all. I simply told her "IDK, you'll have to go find that out yourself if you ever visit there long enough."

[ozgod]

Doesn't look good for the city of Boston, where their reputation is known for "racism" according to the media.

The reporters did their best to try to get Kyrie to say something about this but he wasn't going to throw his city under the bus

Good on him I suppose.

I'm a Boston sports fan but I don't live in Boston, though I do have relatives that live there. My supervisor from Los Angeles notices my support in the Patriots and Celtics and she asks me "is it true that Boston is a racist city though?" I mean during my time there to visit a couple of years ago I had a pleasant experience with the people there and all. I simply told her "IDK, you'll have to go find that out yourself if you ever visit there long enough."

Being biracial just speaking from my own experience I can honestly say I haven't experienced any racism myself. I'm sure there are some like any city but I don't think it's any worse than any other American city.

But sports arenas are places where otherwise normal, well adjusted people can become raving fools, whether assisted by alcohol or not. I've been to TD Garden, Gillette and Fenway Park and I've heard plenty of abuse yelled at players, or just yelled in general. Never heard anything racial but some of it was pretty bad, especially taking into account that there are usually families with kids around. People seem to think they can leave their manners and their decorum at the door as long as it's a sports arena they are entering. Barracking for teams is one of the great things about being a fan, especially if you can be witty and funny in your ribbing. But too often people think that their ticket entitles them to dehumanize players or other fans.

[Fan from VT]

Unfortunately, this is looking like an Adam Jones 2.0 situation here, where a sensitive, thin-skinned player, accuses an opponent's fan of racially charged verbal abuse. Then, despite no corroborating witnesses or video/audio evidence, the media plows through the details and pushes the narrative that gets clicks.

There is now an entire industry built up around selling racism. It's so infrequent in 2019, they literally have to make it up every chance they get.

Hi,
If you want to help counteract the idea that Boston is a racist sports town, when something like this happens, just say “good, that language has no place here” and leave it at that.comments like yours contribute to the perception if racism.

[SHAQATTACK]

suspect there is at least one disrespectful kid in every American town .  Not surprized Boston has one too. 

[Silky]

The Boston Celtics issued a statement Friday explaining their decision to ban a fan for two years for being verbally abusive toward Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins at the game between the two teams at TD Garden in January.

"On January 26, we were alerted by DeMarcus Cousins that a fan had used racially offensive language towards him. Immediately upon receiving the complaint, the fan, who was a minor, was ejected," the team said in the statement. "The following day, per our policy regarding any reported fan behavior complaint, the team initiated an exhaustive investigation of the incident that included reviewing video from multiple angles and identifying and interviewing numerous fans, security personnel, and police in the immediate vicinity.

"In the course of this investigation, we were able to conclude that the fan had been verbally abusive toward the Golden State bench, but none of the interviewed parties were able to verify the use of racially offensive language, and video evidence proved inconclusive. Based on our investigation, the fan was issued a two-year ban from all Celtics games, and is also subject to lifetime probation pursuant to our policy. The punishment for any corroborated discriminatory language used towards any player, employee, or fan at a Celtics home game is a lifetime ban.

"We were in contact with the Golden State Warriors through this process, sharing our action plan and the final discipline. We express the deepest regrets that this incident happened to DeMarcus, as such behavior violates everything the Boston Celtics have always stood for."

It’s going to be interesting to see where the line on “verbal abuse” vs. “permissible heckling” gets drawn.

This potential problem is what I brought up in the jazz thread.

This will end up chamging the entire experience as a fan and will eventually destroy the concept of homecourt advantage

[Celtics4ever]

Racial Slurs should not be tolerated and this is the right move.   This  stuff just reinforces the negative image folks have of Boston