Calipari Issues Apology

Calling a sports writer a “Mexican idiot” was insensitive and an ill-advised attempt at humor, and nothing more, New Jersey Net Coach John Calipari said in East Rutherford, N.J..

Calipari publicly apologized to Dan Garcia of the Star-Ledger of Newark for comments made during an argument with the beat writer last week following a practice.

“I have apologized to Dan personally and in writing, and in no way was my intent to be derogatory in a racial context,” Calipari said. “I am sorry for any pain my remarks have caused.”

Calipari refused to answer questions and said he considered the incident closed.

“If he apologized, that’s fine,” Garcia said. “He made a mistake. He’s apologized to me. Let him go on with the team.”

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Houston Rocket guard Clyde Drexler, who recently returned after sitting out more than a month because of a hamstring injury, sprained his right ankle early in the third quarter of Tuesday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. . . . The Phoenix Suns put forward Mark Bryant on the injured list after a bone scan revealed a stress fracture in his right foot. Forward Loren Meyer was activated to replace Bryant, who will be out indefinitely.