School Tenders Apology for Slurs

Crescenta Valley High administrators issued prompt apologies after players and coaches from Muir discovered racial epithets written on their locker room blackboard following Muir’s 86-68 Pacific League boys’ basketball victory Tuesday night at Crescenta Valley.

Gary Talbert, Crescenta Valley’s principal, said Wednesday he issued verbal and written apologies to Muir’s coaches, players and administrators. Talbert also reported the incident to the Southern Section office.

“We don’t tolerate or condone this in any way,” Talbert said. “Nobody knows who did it, but we’re investigating. If we find the people culpable for this, I will recommend expulsion.”

Talbert and Bob Canfield, Crescenta Valley’s athletic director, spoke with Muir players and coaches immediately after the game. Talbert said Muir players were gracious.

Janet Donnelly, Muir’s athletic director, said the team and the Pasadena school were satisfied with the apology.

“It’s regrettable,” Donnelly said of the incident. “But we’ve talked with our kids and we’re very pleased with how they handled themselves. They didn’t do anything retaliatory.”

Donnelly, an administrator at Muir for 10 years, said it is the first such incident she can recall between the schools. Talbert, who moved to Crescenta Valley last March after 24 years as a teacher, administrator and boys’ basketball coach at Muir, agreed.

However, three years ago, the Southern Section directed that a black official be assigned to work a boys’ basketball game between the schools because of complaints that two white officials were biased toward Crescenta Valley during a previous game. Crescenta Valley is a predominantly white school, Muir is predominantly black.