New information continues to surface regarding the Atlanta Hawks racism scandal. Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski obtained a partial transcript of the conference call that included the racist remarks from Hawks general manager Danny Ferry regarding Luol Deng, further detailing what he had to say about the free agent forward. Here are the additional quotes from Ferry, as reported by Wojnarowski:
Hawks, Danny Ferry ‘Luol Deng’ conference call quotes, transcript emerges
A partial transcript of the conference call that included racist remarks regarding Luol Deng reveals further comments made on the forward.
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
On Deng, Ferry said: ”... For example, he can come out and be an unnamed source for a story and two days later come out and say, ‘That absolutely was not me. I can’t believe someone said that.’
“But talking to reporters, you know they can [believe it].”
Ferry kept going on Deng: “... Good guy in Chicago. They will tell you he was good for their culture, but not a culture setter. He played hard and all those things, but he was very worried about his bobble-head being the last one given away that year, or there was not enough stuff of him in the [team] store ... kind of a complex guy.”
Minority Hawks owner Michael Gearon Jr., who brought attention to Ferry's statement with Hawks ownership, was quoted comparing Ferry's phrasing to former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling during the conference call, reports Wojnarowski:
On and on, Ferry started about how Deng “has got some African in him” and proceeded to make a comparison to Africans with phony facades selling counterfeit goods.
As soon as those words left Ferry’s mouth on the call, Gearon responded in a dramatic way in the background of the tape recording, according to a partial transcript of the call obtained by Yahoo Sports.
“Oh my God, that comment sounds like Sterling on TMZ,” Gearon said.
Deng has since responded the comments, stating he is "saddened and disappointed" by the racist comments made about him. The full statement can be read here.
Ferry denied the controversial remarks were his own, stating he was reading a scouting report gathered from numerous sources. The Hawks have since issued an unspecified punishment to Ferry, while Hawks minority owner Bruce Levenson has moved to sell his shares of the franchise.
Hawks CEO Steve Koonin has gone on record stating Ferry will remain general manager of the Hawks until further notice. Koonin was expected to hold a meeting with Atlanta civil rights leaders Wednesday, but postponed the meeting, leading to a sit-in protest.
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