Incident at SoCal Challenge: Fardaws Aimaq Confronts Fan Over Offensive Remarks"
Cal has asked organizers of the West Coast Christmas tournament to ban a fan who allegedly called Fardaws Aimaq a "terrorist" before the sixth-year forward confronted him in the stands.
A video circulating on social media shows Aimaq, the son of Afghan refugees and a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, approaching a fan in the crowd after Cal's 75-72 loss to UTEP in the SoCal Challenge on Monday. Aimaq is seen leaning towards the man and pointing at him as he speaks to her.
Cal coach Mark Madsen said in a statement Wednesday that Aimaq confronted a fan after he was allegedly subjected to abusive language during and after the game.
Cal coach Mark Madsen said in a statement Wednesday that Aimaq confronted a fan after he was allegedly subjected to abusive language during and after the game.
“During and after the game on Monday, Fardaws Aimaq was allegedly subjected to disgusting and offensive comments by a fan, including being called a terrorist,” Madsen said.“I have asked the SoCal Challenge tournament director to conduct a formal investigation and ban this fan from the property.”
Aimaq
officer Daniel Poneman said the fan stayed after the game and continued to harass Aimaq before meeting his family.
Aimaq, a 6-foot-1 guard from Texas Tech, is averaging 16 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for Cal, his fourth school.He grew up in Canada, where his parents settled after fleeing the Soviet-Afghan War.
Madsen, playing for Cal for the first time this season, said the language allegedly used by the fan was inappropriate, but also said Aimaq would be disciplined for confronting the man in the stands.
“Today we had an important conversation with Fardaws about how he must remain calm regardless of what happens during the game or what is said directly to him,” Madsen said in a statement. “I am concerned that Fardaws was the recipient of such comments and am disappointed that he was confronted by this fan in the stands. Fardaws understands my expectations for his conduct as a student-athlete.”We will deal with the consequences of this situation internally.
NASSAU, Bahamas – Michigan State coach Juwan Howard returned to the Wolverines' bench on Wednesday, but only as an observer during their first-round game against Memphis in Battle 4 Atlantis.
Howard is resting after heart surgery Sept. 15 to remove an aortic aneurysm and repair the aortic valve.
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At the time of surgery, Howard was expected to recover within 6 to 12 weeks and be back in the program within 4 to 6 weeks. The school recently said there is no immediate timetable for his return as he continues his rehabilitation and rest periods while Phil Martelli continues to serve as interim coach.
Another former college and NBA star, Memphis coach Penny Hardaway, was on the Tigers' bench for the first time this season after missing the team's first three games and serving a suspension for game-related recruiting violations.
