Recording of Danny Ferry's comments on Luol Deng surfaces
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has obtained an audio recording of Danny Ferry's racially insensitive comments about Luol Deng in a free agent scouting report read to minority owners.
By
Matt Moore
•
1 min read
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has obtained a copy of the conference call in which Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry made the racially insensitive comments regarding Luol Deng.
"He's a good guy overall ... but he's not perfect. He's got a little African in him. And I don't mean that in a bad way," Ferry said, before going on to describe him as a shady shop owner who represents one thing and does another. Ferry also described him as a "locker room lawyer" in that he would create animosity towards coaches or front office people behind their back and then act completely supportive when "the coaches were around."
The Hawks have maintained that Ferry was reading from a scouting report listing several sources and that the comments were not attributable to him. However, it seems to me the audio itself does not absolutely reflect that Ferry is reading. Listen for yourself. Furthermore, whoever recorded the call can be heard saying "That's going to wind up on TMZ tomorrow" and laughing as Ferry tried to defend the comment.
Minority owner J. Michael Gearon Jr. sent a letter on behalf of the other owners following the call to Bruce Levenson, urging for Ferry's dismissal. Deng responded Tuesday to the comments. Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that Ferry should not be fired.
