In Houston’s game against Arizona on Saturday, Cougar junior guard Aubrey Coleman stepped on Arizona junior forward Chase Budinger, who was on the floor after drawing a charge. After using video review, officials called technical fouls on both players and ejected Coleman from the game with 9:51 left in the second half.
After the call, Coleman didn’t shout at the officials, throw anything into the crowd or taunt the other team. He accepted the sympathy and encouragement of his teammates, walked out of the arena and wrote a letter of apology to Budinger after returning to the team’s hotel.
‘I want to apologize to Chase Budinger for what happened Saturday night. I never meant to step on him. I have never been in an incident like this before, and I have nothing but respect for him as a great player,’ Coleman said in the letter, which was posted on the University’s athletics Web site.
‘I love the game too much to do something like that intentionally. I want to say I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I know that God knows what is in my heart, but I am hopeful that Chase will understand and forgive.’
Perhaps Coleman should have written a similar letter to the general public. Many comments on video of the incident posted on youtube.com and e-mails The Daily Cougar has received contain racial slurs and hate speech directed at Coleman that are not fit for publication.
Coleman harmed another player on the court, and he was punished for it. He apologized for the incident afterward, showing more class than those who have resorted to using racial slurs to comment on the matter.
Whether one agrees with Coleman’s actions and the punishment he received, one event should not be used to judge and typecast an entire race. Only days after the inauguration of the United States’ first black president, it is shameful and disheartening to see people resort to using a person’s race to judge his actions. While The Daily Cougar welcomes open discussion on any topic, arguments made should be based on fact and reasoning, not ignorance and hate.
