Wednesday 3 April 2013

Rutgers Basketball Coach Mike Rice's Behavior Under Review In Wake Of Video


NEWARK, N.J. — Rutgers said it would reconsider its decision to retain basketball coach Mike Rice after a videotape aired showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs during practice.The videotape, broadcast Tuesday on ESPN, prompted scores of outraged social media comments as well as sharp criticism from Gov. Chris Christie and NBA star LeBron James. The head of the New Jersey Assembly called for Rice to be fired.The Miami Heat's James weighed in with a tweet: "If my son played for Rutgers or a coach like that he would have some real explaining to do and I'm still gone whoop on him afterwards! C'mon.He said: “In the end, I am not going to look back and say shoulda, woulda. All I can do is figure out going forward the decisions I can make to fix the problem for Rutgers.”In a statement on behalf of Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, his press secretary, Michael Drewniak, said: “Governor Christie saw the video today for the first time, and he is obviously deeply disturbed by the conduct displayed and strongly condemns this behavior. It’s not the type of leadership we should be showing our young people, and clearly there are questions about this behavior that need to be answered by the leaders at Rutgers University.As much as Rice may have benefited from the sensitivity training he received after Pernetti was presented with evidence of behavior that had been taking place over two years, Rice obviously is unable to control his behavior. And somehow he was allowed to subject his players to it.If his actions are acceptable, it’s natural to wonder if Pernetti would allow his own children to play for Rice.Mike Rice’s behavior cannot be excused. Yet Rutgers continues to enable him.

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