NBA

Dan Gilbert Responds To Jesse Jackson “Slave Owner” Remarks; Fined $100K By NBA

Dan Gilbert has responded to Jesse Jackson’s charge that he has a “slave owner mentality,” saying he “strongly disagrees” with the Reverend’s comments. The Cavaliers owner has also been fined $100,000 for his original online tirade about LeBron James, wherein he referred to LeBron as a “coward” and “traitor” and other creepy kooky scary allusions to “having to die to get to heaven.”

First, here’s Gilbert’s response to Jackson’s charges of racism (yes, he used the Comic Sans):

“I strongly disagree with Rev. Jesse Jackson’s recent comments and we are not going to engage in any related discussion on it. Going forward, we’re very excited about the Cavaliers and the positive future of our region.”

Although his response to Jackson lacked the… pizzazz of his original craziness, it’s probably for the best. Meanwhile, from a secret bunker somewhere in the NBA offices, league commissioner David Stern issued the fine and said Gilbert’s comments were “a little bit extreme.” Extreme enough to make him the most talked-about owner in sports.

Here’s Jesse Jackson commenting on the LeBron/Gilbert saga: