Atlanta Hawks Discipline Another Official for Racist Comments

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Atlanta Hawks Discipline Another Official for Racist Comments
Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry. Credit: David Goldman, File

The Atlanta Hawks are disciplining general manager Danny Ferry, who was one of the recipients of co-owner Bruce Levenson's racially charged email, for making offensive comments about a free agent they were pursuing this year.

The team did not provide any details of the discipline.

Hawks spokesman Garin Narain said the team's investigation of Ferry's comments uncovered the racially inflammatory email written by Levenson. That discovery led to Levenson's announcement Sunday that he will sell his controlling share of the team.

Atlanta's WSB-TV reported it obtained a letter (full version embedded below) from Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. which cites Ferry telling the ownership group that free agent Luol Deng "has a little African in him" and was "a two-faced liar and cheat."

Letter from source - In it Michael Gearon, minority owner, asks for #Hawks GM Danny Ferry to be fired. http://t.co/mOG6AANWOx— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) September 9, 2014

Ferry apologized Tuesday for "repeating comments that were gathered from numerous sources" about Deng.

Letter From Hawks Michael Gearon to Bruce Levenson

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