|
 The 31-year-old Childress, who plays for Sydney Kings in
Australia's National Basketball League, was suspended for one game
for unduly rough play after rushing at and striking Perth Wildcats
forward Jesse Wagstaff with his forearm in an ugly incident during a
game on Saturday.
The former Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets player was
subject to a torrent of abuse on Twitter, some of it racial, with
several posters telling him to leave the country.
"I have no issue with people who want to condemn Josh's action last
Friday," Kings chairman Hudson said in a statement on the team's
website (www.sydneykings.com).
"However, I find it disgraceful that certain individuals would use
social media to racially abuse Josh.
 "Josh is an outstanding individual with great integrity and
tremendous character."
Childress apologized for his hit on Wagstaff, which occurred seconds
after he was heavily blocked by the forward. Wildcats won the game
84-63.
"The incident itself was extreme and unnecessary," he said. "The
game was very physical, and when you feel it's one-sided, you get
frustrated.
"I over reacted and did something that was very uncharacteristic,
and I apologize for any harm caused."
[to top of second column] |
Childress was charged with striking with an elbow, unduly rough play
and bringing the game into disrepute but the first was dropped and
the third amended to a charge of 'public criticism of referees'.
Former Australia captain Andrew Gaze was critical of the one-game
ban and said Childress should consider himself 'very lucky'.
"In my recollection it's hard to find one (an incident) more extreme
and it sends a poor message to the rest of the basketball
community," Gaze said on local radio station SEN.
(Writing by Ian Ransom; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
