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Johnson calls for Ferry to go in racism row
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MAGIC Johnson, the retired National Basketball Association star dragged into the Los Angeles Clippers racism controversy, called on Tuesday for the Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry to be fired over unrelated racist remarks.
It was a photo of Johnson with the former girlfriend of then-Clippers owner Donald Sterling that led to racist comments from Sterling that later saw him banished from the NBA for life and the Clippers sold.
Racist remarks by Ferry in June regarding African-born British NBA star Luol Deng were made public on Monday.
It has emerged those remarks led to an investigation that uncovered racist comments in 2012 by Hawks owner Bruce Levenson, prompting him to announce at the weekend that he was selling the team.
Hawks chief executive Steve Koonin has punished Ferry — the exact punishment has not been revealed — and Ferry has apologized.
But Johnson, a former Los Angeles Lakers star, wants Ferry out.
“I’m happy to see that Bruce Levenson is selling his share in the Atlanta Hawks after making racist comments,” Johnson wrote on Twitter. “Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry should step down after making racist statements about NBA player Luol Deng.
“I feel bad for my good friend and Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, who has been put in an awkward position by the comments from Levenson and Ferry.”
Meanwhile, Deng said on Tuesday he was saddened and disappointed in remarks made about him by Ferry.
“Concerning my free agency, the focus should purely have been on my professionalism and my ability as an athlete,” Deng, 29, said in a statement.
“Every person should have the right to be treated with respect and evaluated as an individual rather than be reduced to a stereotype. I am saddened and disappointed that this way of thinking still exists today.”
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