The team has reportedly banned two fans this week for racial verbal altercations with the Oklahoma City star.
Gail Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz, addresses the crowd at Vivint Smart Home Arena before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. By Jacob Bogage Jacob Bogage National sports writer and blogger Email Bio Follow March 15 at 1:57 PM Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller delivered a powerful message to her team’s fans Thursday after a verbal altercation earlier in the week between a spectator at Vivint Smart Home Arena and Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook.
Miller read prepared remarks from center court before Utah’s game against Minnesota, chastising the individual, whom she called a “quote, ‘fan,’ ” and reminding others the arena’s personal conduct policy would be strictly enforced."This should never happen. We are not a racist community. We believe in treating people with courtesy and respect as human beings. From time to time, individual fans exhibit poor behavior and forget their manners. Some disrespect players on other teams.
“I don’t confront fans; fans confront me,” Westbrook said during the playoff series. “Here in Utah, man, a lot of disrespectful, vulgar things are said to the players here with these fans. It’s truly disrespectful. [They] talk about your families, your kids. It’s just a disrespect to the game, and I think it’s something that needs to be brought up.
Members of the Jazz have reacted strongly this week to the incidents. General Manager Dennis Lindsey called Sam Presti, his counterpart in Oklahoma City, to apologize to the organization. Utah guard Donovan Mitchell said the incident was “not indicative of our fan base.”
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