Cavs’ Pollard apologizes for on-air remark
30 03 2007Okay, so we’ve got a video source now:
(Original Post: The Ides of March @ 20:33)
Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers center Scot Pollard looked into the camera during a recent game and said, “Hey kids, do drugs.”
Pollard was sitting on the bench in street clothes when he made the remark during a 20-second timeout Sunday against Indiana. The Cavaliers didn’t find it funny.
“We have spoken with Scot and certainly do not condone his actions,” general manager Danny Ferry said in a statement Wednesday. “He regrets his mistake, using inappropriate humor, particularly when he has always been very involved in the community, projecting positive messages to our youth. We will handle the issue internally.”
“It was a bad joke,” Pollard said in Thursday editions of The Plain Dealer. “That’s all it boils down to. There are a number of things people could say about it, but it just turned out it was a bad joke. Obviously, I don’t believe that.”
Pollard, who has played in only 17 games this season, was not available Thursday. He would be at practice Friday, the team said.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Pollard has always been an idiot, now we know why!
sure not funny and I hope there’s a heavy fine for his “joke”
now, when will the media pick up on Leno’s almost night “jokes” with Kevin over dope smoking???
This is an outrage! Kids DO do drugs because or role models like him!
This is totally inexcusable! To directly address children and tell them to do something wrong!!!??! And then to say it is a “Joke” ?! Why would someone joke about something they “obviously” don’t believe in?! His apology is not enough!
As athletes are often idolized by the young, I pray that they will rise to a new level of consciousness, remembering that all their public statements and actions must be carefully considered as the world is continually watching.
As my son is a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers, I certainly hope this will be appropriately addressed in a way that will ensure that players will understand the negative ramifications of irresponsible remarks against the whole team.
That attitude toward drugs in the NBA has driven many fans away from Basketball and professional sports in general. I hope he doesn’t have a plan for a career in broadcasting!
What horrible editing.
Forget Pollard, the NBA needs to fire that whole production crew. Pollard, as big an idiot as he is, couldn’t have figured that would have been aired.
Seriously, how many times would you have cut away from this shot?