During a post-game interview, 48-Year-Old UC-Irvine basketball coach Russell Turner revealed that he referred to one competitor, 19-year-old Oregon freshman Louis King, as “queen” to his face, and instructed other UC-Irvine players to do the same to get under King’s skin during the game. The only problem: It didn’t work. Not at all.
In his interview, Turner said that “queen” was a play on King’s last name and a back-handed way to compliment him for being his team’s most valuable player, like a queen on a chessboard.
“I was saying double team Queen to try to see if I could irritate him. And I did…. it bothered [King] … He started thinking about me. But he came back and finished the game really strong. And he’d had a thing or two to say to me during the game, and I wanted to let him know that what I’d done was out of respect.”
Yes, there’s nothing more respectful than using a thinly veiled homophobic and misogynist insult to screw with someone’s confidence. Did we mention that King led his team to defeat UC-Irvine 73 to 54. Stuff that in your basket, Turner.
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King’s mother (and much of Twitter) noted Turner’s crappy behavior, and called on him to apologize.
Since Russel Turner decided it was ok to try and publicly humiliate my son by calling him queen although he doesn’t get fazed by it. Me and his dad as his parents would like for him to publicly APOLOGIZE to louis. It was in poor taste. The incident is trending all over Twitter
— Ativea King (@AtiveaG) March 25, 2019
Turner did.
Statement from UC Irvine Head Men's Basketball Coach Russell Turner | https://t.co/Cbbc5MECdx pic.twitter.com/WpMx1h1oAi
— UC Irvine Athletics (@UCIAthletics) March 26, 2019
His apology reads in part:
I would like to address my post-game comments. I recognize my actions were inappropriate and insensitive…. I have spoken to Louis, his parents, and to Oregon’s head coach Dana Altman. They have graciously accepted my explanation and apology.
I take seriously my responsibility as a campus and community leader, and I regret that my actions during the Oregon game did not meet the standard of leadership I should consistently set…. I accept full responsibility for my ill-considered actions, and I will learn from this situation to be a more thoughtful coach and competitor.
Coach Turner reached out today to express his apology to Louis and the King family, as well as the staff and program for in game comments. He reiterated they were not meant to offend. All parties accepted the apology and are moving past the issue.
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) March 25, 2019
A 2015 study found that 33 percent of straight male athletes and over 50 percent of gay and lesbian athletes have been personally experienced homophobic harassment by opponents and teammates.
As Outsports pointed out, “[Turner’s insult suggests that] being associated with a woman is weak. And in the minds of closeted young LGBTQ men in the stands, on the bench and dribbling on the court, it tells them they do not belong anywhere in that arena.”
Related: Jocks who use antigay slurs aren’t actually homophobic, says new study
Is it any wonder that no professional U.S. sports team has an openly gay male player in it? Taunts like Turner’s only contribute to sports’ homophobic environment.
Kieran
Let’s not pretend gay-shaming isn’t popular among many gays themselves. Look at all the “Miss Lindsey” put downs.
Kangol
Miss Lindsey IS an allegedly closeted gay who works against gay people. That’s what he and his supporters like you should be ashamed of. It’s another thing altogether for an allegedly straight jackass like this coach to try to gay-shame an opposing player, whatever his sexuality, and then encourage his team to do so. Stop defending homophobes!
Kieran
DIVIDING the gay community over politics is just DUMB—–PERIOD. It’s also self-defeating. You think Lindsey Graham is more likely to come out by being taunted as “Miss Lindsey” by morons in the gay community? The only thing gays have in common is that we are attracted to people of our own gender. Beyond that we are all different individuals. Gay people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, political persuasions etc. etc. Demanding that we all march in lock step like little fascist robots behind a particular political agenda is never going to work. Diversity is GOOD and should be celebrated. That includes diversity of political opinion within the gay community.
PoetDaddy
Another BS apology! What does he mean his comments weren’t meant to offend. Of COURSE they were meant to offend! They were mean spirited and calculated and come from the Jurassic Era of homophobic sports coaching. He should be fired, UC-Irvine!
Kangol
Oregon got the best revenge by defeating this creep’s team. UC-Irvine, a public institution, should probably reconsider keeping this homophobic jackass on the payroll.
Mack
Personally I think he should be fired for “conduct unbecoming”. He should be setting an example to his players and he failed miserably. His apology should be offered with a resignation.
Brian
Seriously, this should initiate some sort of employment action. A written reprimand would be appropriate, and after two or three such reprimands, he should be fired (not allowed to resign with benefits). That’s how most of the larger, private corporations work these days. Celebrities and people in entertainment (including sports) aren’t aware of how lucky they are to be in such forgiving industries.
Rocinante
I would take a baseball bat to his knees. He wouldn’t ever walk again
Jack Meoff
Another case of the only thing he’s really sorry about is getting caught and called out for his behaviour. not for the behaviour itself. When are people going to stop accepting these non-apologies?
wizbang_fl
Now doing his foot tap in your local public bathroom, I give you Crotch (sorry Coach) Turner.