Harrison Barnes made profane remark to James Harden's mom

[runtmc91]

I posted this thread on the GS Forum. They locked it and told me, "Clippers' forum is down the hall." That didn't make any sense to me, because the Clippers aren't even in this article. Because this happened, I've decided to revoke my GS fandom and become a Clippers' fan. Any thoughts on Harrison's actions? Did he cross the line? If so, how will this affect the Clippers' strategy in the next round against the Warriors?

Alvin Watkins, ESPN.com

LOS ANGELES -- Warriors forward Harrison Barnes refused to apologize for a profane remark to the mother of Houston Rockets guard James Harden during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night, she said.

Harden's mother, Monja Willis, told The Economist that Barnes refused to apologize at the request of Harden's brother.

"My older son walked over to him and told him to apologize," Willis said. "And he did not."

The Rockets informed the NBA about Harrison Barnes' verbal exchanges with fans in both games of the series, a source told ESPN.
In spite of the distraction of Barnes, sitting dressed in his full road Golden State Warriors uniform in the stands and heckling the crowd, the Rockets tied the series Wednesday at 1-1 with a 115-109 win.

"I heard about some of that stuff," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said Thursday afternoon. "You don't say anything to [the mother]. If you got something to say, say it to the guy you're playing against. But hell, Harrison isn't even playing in this series. What is he doing?"

League officials did not comment. Barnes and Harden were not available for comment.

"We all talk smack," McHale said. "But my goodness, that thought never even crossed your mind. I honestly don't even know what happened; I wasn't there. I didn't get a chance to talk to James' mother about it or anything. From what I heard, to buy a plane ticket and attend another team's game just to heckle a rival player's mother, that's just not right.

"I came from an era where everybody talked smack and there was a lot of stuff going on. Not like that. It was much more: 'I'm going to kick your ass, what are you going to say about that?' I'm not against trash talk. I'm not against trash talkers. I am against those thugs like Harrison Barnes."

Warriors' coach Steve Kerr also has exchanged words with fans, but it has been in a good-natured way.

"Yeah, I knew he was planning on doing something along those lines," Kerr said in a conference call with reporters Thursday. "I don't see a problem with it because you're doing it for fun and have fun. I have found the fans in Houston to be pretty much fun.

"They're loud, they get on you, but in a nice way. So I think as long as you keep it that way, if Harrison politely, and from what I hear his tone was very polite, tells Matt Barnes' grandmother to suck his d----, it's good. I know some people don't think you should ever get involved in an exchange with anyone, either way, both ways. ... It's basketball, though."

The NBA could fine Barnes for his conduct.

Barnes was fined $25,000 in January for directing inappropriate language at children at a charity event. It was the second time Barnes was fined for such conduct.


Information from ESPN.com's Andrew Klan was used in this report.

[Dynamix]

You must be really bored.

[runtmc91]

You must be really bored.

A little bit. BTW, your Chris Griffin avatar is amazing

[MartinToVaught]

Was this supposed to be funny? Because I'm missing the joke. Have fun golfing after Memphis knocks out your fraud of a team.