RIDER ALLEGES RACISM: Rather than brood about his latest suspension, Isaiah Rider talked.
The troubled Portland Trail Blazers guard on Wednesday launched into a lengthy tirade alleging racism by fans and some members of the organization. That further alienated him from a city already incensed that he walked out on his team in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's win over the Los Angeles Lakers.Rider was suspended for one game by the Blazers on Wednesday and after practice said he was fed up with criticism from the fans and the media.
"Right now I'm a little sensitive to a lot of things," Rider said.
Addressing reporters outside the Blazers' practice facility, Rider said some Portland staff members gave him dirty looks before the game. He added that some staffers also had acted like he didn't belong on the team, treating him like "crud on a stick."
Later during his rambling 30-minute discussion with reporters, he said it was only the wife of an unidentified employee who treated him badly.
But the most inflammatory comments were about Portland itself, which Rider described as a "racist area."
"Forty miles from here, they're probably still out hanging people from trees," Rider said without elaborating.
TRADE TALK: A Penny Hard-away-to-New Jersey deal might be dead, which doesn't mean the four-time All-Star and his puppet alter ego won't be headed elsewhere soon.
As many as 12 other teams were believed to have called Orlando to discuss a deal for Hardaway.