Minnesota Rep. Pat Garofalo says crime rate would go up if NBA folded
Minnesota state representative Pat Garofalo has some questions to answer Monday after he sent out a tweet Sunday night that many people took as racist. The tweet:
Let’s be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime— Rep. Pat Garofalo (@PatGarofalo) March 9, 2014
Many people on Twitter perceived Garofalo’s tweet as a shot at African Americans, since the majority of players in the NBA are black.
Hold everything, Garofalo, a Republican, says. In an email to Kevin Draper of the Diss, Garofalo defended his tweet:
“I was talking about the NBA’s high arrest rate and that their punishment for positive drugs tests are weaker than other leagues. No intent beyond that. The culture among many pro athletes that they are above the law is the problem, not people like me pointing that problem out.”
What do you think about the tweet? Vote in our poll and let us know.
ALSO:
Clippers find escape route to beat the Hawks
U.S. skiers felled in hard crashes at Sochi Paralympics
Did Jimmy Butler kick LeBron James in the head on purpose?
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
