The Orlando Magic and the NBA banned Magic fan Hooman Hamzehloui from attending any league games this season and revoked his season tickets after he directed a racial slur at Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo Thursday night during a preseason game at TD Waterhouse Centre.
Hamzehloui, a Windermere resident and realtor, was ejected by security at TD Waterhouse Centre. He later conceded he called Mutombo a "monkey" and made monkey-like gestures.
He said he didn't know saying monkey could be construed as a racial slur. Mutombo had to be restrained during the game from going after Hamzehloui and wanted the league to take action.
Hamzehloui sent a letter of apology to Mutombo and offered $5,000 to a charity of his choice. But the league and the Magic wanted to set an example and put some teeth in the Fan Code of Conduct it instituted after the Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers brawl. Courtesy: Orlando Sentinel
