Football
Associated Press 17y

Fan banned for allegedly making racist remarks to Mutombo

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The fan who allegedly directed a racial
slur at Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo was banned for the
season Monday by the NBA and Orlando Magic.

Season-ticket holder Hooman Hamzehloui allegedly called Mutombo
a "monkey" Thursday at a preseason game between the Rockets and
the Magic. Mutombo -- a native of Zaire, which is now called the
Democratic Republic of Congo -- yelled back at Hamzehloui and
gestured from the court.

Hamzehloui was ejected from the game. The league said Hamzehloui
is also barred from attending games at any NBA arena this season.
Orlando said it will refund his season-ticket payment.

Mutombo said after the game he would go into the stands if it
ever happened again, but told Houston television station KRIV on
Monday that he has already forgiven Hamzehloui.

"I will not say that I am happy about it," Mutombo said about
the NBA's decision to ban Hamzehloui. "It is out of my hands. I
have done my job. I have forgiven him.

"Whatever the commissioner and the league does, that's not my
area."

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said no action was taken against Mutombo
and the matter was closed.

Hamzehloui sent Mutombo a letter of apology obtained by The
Associated Press. In it, he promised $5,000 to the charity of
Mutombo's choice and vowed not to attend any games until the
7-foot-2 center gave his blessing.

"I am by no means a racist, and if you only knew me better you
would never begin to have those thoughts," Hamzehloui wrote.
"What I am guilty of is poor judgment in the use of words while
doing what I do to many of the visiting team's players, 'heckle
them."

Hamzehloui asked to meet with Mutombo to apologize in person.

Mutombo told KRIV that Hamzehloui's promise to make a charitable
donation "meant a lot" to him but a personal apology was not
necessary.

"I thoroughly respect you as a player and as a human being and
my only motivation when I have my fun at the games is to 'get under
the player's skin' no matter what color that skin happens to be,"
Hamzehloui wrote.

A message was left seeking comment from Hamzehloui late Monday
afternoon.

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