Phil Jackson: "If I've offended any horses...cowboys...I apologize."

In Houston yesterday, one of the NBA's most decorated coaches admitted he had made a mistake and apologized for his "brokeback" San Antonio comments. It was an apology not devoid of yet another shot at Texans and cowboys (just to name a few), but an apology nonetheless.

I was, however, amused by his insight on the difference between an NBA coach making inappropriate and derogatory statements to that of television personalities such as the Tonight Show's Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman who provide that kind of comedy.

AP Sports Writer Chris Duncan wrote:

"Coach Phil Jackson said he deserved the reprimand he got from the NBA on Wednesday for making a sexual reference in a comment following the Los Angeles Lakers' loss in San Antonio.

The Spurs made 13 3-pointers in their 107-92 victory on Tuesday night, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters.

"We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said. "It was one of those games."

The 2005 film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

"But in retrospect, it wasn't really funny," Jackson said before the Lakers played Houston on Wednesday night. "When you take it out of context, it wasn't funny. It was a poor attempt at humor and I deserved to be reprimanded by the NBA."

Still, Jackson couldn't resist making another joke as he apologized.

"If I've offended any horses, Texans, cowboys or gays, I apologize," Jackson said.

Jackson thanked beat writers and other journalists who covered Tuesday's game for dismissing the comment as an innocent joke. He said several of them laughed when he said it.

The NBA did not.

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said: "The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future."

Jackson admitted he should've known better -- that coaches can't get away with the jokes that Jay Leno and David Letterman do for a living on their late-night talk shows.

"It's societal right now," he said. "Some people can do it. Some people can't. That's something that's appropriate for certain categories."

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president Neil G. Giuliano issued a statement saying: "Phil Jackson's been coaching long enough that he should be able to talk about the Lakers' performance without resorting to cheap gay jokes."

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NBA upset about Lakers' Coach Phil Jackson's "Brokeback" comments

The Associated Press reported:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA has spoken with the Los Angeles Lakers about a sexual reference coach Phil Jackson made in a comment following Tuesday night's game in San Antonio.

The Spurs made 13 3-pointers in their 107-92 victory, and Jackson was asked if too much penetration was leading to open outside shooters.

"We call this a 'Brokeback Mountain' game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said. "It was one of those games."

The 2005 film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.

"The remarks are in poor taste, and the Lakers have assured us such remarks will not occur in the future," league spokesman Brian McIntyre said.

I wonder if they will be fining Coach Jackson...

Probably not...but since the NBA made such a big deal out of it.

The damage has already been done?

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My team has the Brain Power of Slugs or Earthworms

At McDonald’s outlet sometime ago, I came across an article entitled, "My team has the brain power of slugs or earthworms." I said to myself, "Man! Who said that?"

It turned out to be Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson. Jackson, irate with his team’s “lack of energy” and seemingly insurmountable 3-1 deficit against the Phoenix Suns in their first round seven-game series, told his team in his “moment of irritation” that they had "the brain power of slugs or earthworms."

Wow! If I was one of Jackson’s players, I’d really be motivated. Lakers’ superstar guard Kobe Bryant seemed to think so when he commented on Jackson’s “slugs and earthworms” comment.

"As irritated as I've ever seen him," Kobe Bryant said after the Lakers practiced in California on Tuesday (May 1, 2007). "He was really upset - frustrated. That was his way of saying, 'You'd better get your butts in the game."'

Couldn’t Jackson have just used the word, “hustle?” The Phoenix Suns were in a similar predicament during their first-round match up last year against these same Lakers. The Suns trailed the Lakers 3-1 then found it in themselves to win three straight to advance.

I didn’t hear any “slugs and earthworms” comments back then by Suns’ coach Mike D'Antoni last year. But then again, www.foxsports.com got it right when they wrote that “these Lakers aren't last year's Suns and that Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson has tried a bit of everything to make his team competitive.” (http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6764980)