Greenberg Apologizes to Students

Long Beach State Coach Seth Greenberg said Friday he has publicly apologized to two New Mexico State students who were removed from a Big West Conference basketball game Jan. 22 at Las Cruces, N.M.

University attorneys faxed a letter signed by Greenberg, apologizing to the students, Charles Sallee and Craig Sullivan, who allege Greenberg slandered them and violated their civil rights.

They have retained a lawyer.

Greenberg requested security officers remove several people from the Pan American Center during the final moments of the Aggies’ 76-63 victory, televised nationally on ESPN, after he pointed to a group of spectators he alleges yelled racial slurs at his African-American players.

“These young men, in my opinion, were not the cowardly individuals who said those things,” Greenberg said.

Before the game, Long Beach discovered an anti-Semitic epithet scrawled on the grease board in the visitors’ locker room. Greenberg was highly critical of New Mexico State officials and spectators during a postgame tirade in front of reporters.

Sallee has denied making or hearing any racial remarks.