Cavaliers are investigating racial taunts aimed at Spurs’ Patty Mills during Sunday’s game
The Cleveland Cavaliers are investigating an incident during a game against San Antonio on Sunday afternoon, during which a fan could be heard shouting racially insensitive taunts at Spurs point guard Patty Mills.
“We are looking into it to see if an identification is possible,” a Cavaliers spokesman told ESPN on Monday.
The incident occurred while Mills was shooting free throws during the fourth quarter. On the ESPN broadcast, a male fan can be heard shouting, “Hey Jamaica called, they want their bobsledder back! Hey Mills, Jamaica just called, they want their bobsledder back!”
Mills was born in Canberra, Australia. His mother is an Aboriginal Australian and his father is a Torres Strait Islander. He was not asked about the taunts after the Spurs’ 110-94 win, but responded later in a tweet.
“I am a proud Islander. Like my Jamaican Brothers, me & my family in the islands of the Torres Strait have experienced racial slurs for decades,” he said in a tweet directed toward the person who tweeted out the video that contained the taunts. “Hope your efforts will enlighten this confused, hateful fan.”
According to ESPN, the Cavaliers’ investigation will utilize video monitoring and interviews with people sitting behind the basket.
Twitter: @chewkiii
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