Amar'e Stoudemire has been fined
$50,000 by the NBA for hurling an anti-gay slur at a fan on Twitter.
Calling Stoudemire's language offensive
and derogatory, Stu Jackson, the NBA's executive vice president of
basketball operations, announced the fine in a statement released on
Tuesday.
Stoudemire, who plays as a power
forward and center for the New York Knicks, fired back at a follower
who criticized the Knicks' record.
After Stoudemire tweeted that he had
just finished an off-season workout, @Bferrelli, identified by The
New York Daily News as Brian Ferrelli, messaged:
“@Amareisreal you better come back a lot stronger and quicker to
make up for this past season mannnnnn deadasss!!!”
“Fuck you. I don't have to do
anything fag,” Ferrelli claimed Stoudemire, 29, wrote in a direct
message.
“Just got a DM from @Amareisreal
after I told him to step his shit up so the Knicks will get further
next season..pussy,” Ferrelli messaged along with a link to a photo
of Stoudemire's message.
Stoudemire apologized in a second
direct message to the fan.
“I apologize for what I said earlier.
I just got off a plane and had time to think about. Sorry bro!! No
Excuses. Won't happen again,” Stoudemire messaged.
The player added in a statement: “I
am a huge supporter of civil rights for all people. I am
disappointed in myself for my statement to a fan. I should have
known better and there is no excuse.”
Last year, the NBA fined Joakim
Noah $50,000 and Kobe
Bryant $100,000 for using similar language.