Nowak Fined for comments

RSLfrontrowfan · 03-15-2006, 03:44 PM

After investigation Nowak is fined

sent back to hospital my @$$!

AreliusIV · 03-15-2006, 03:52 PM

Send him back to Poland!

montgjules · 03-15-2006, 03:56 PM

That is the most diplomatic and uninformative press release I've read in years. Awesome.

Deuce · 03-15-2006, 04:03 PM

So much energy has been wasted speculating on what may have been said. I believe we will never really know.

I am glad to see that it is finally over.

Aero · 03-15-2006, 04:04 PM

You know what this means? It means he said exactly what he was accused of saying. If he had anything different, they would have made sure to make it public so no one would think of him as a racist. In my opinion, they might as well have come right and say he said it because that's essentially what they did with this statement.

RSLfrontrowfan · 03-15-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aero

You know what this means? It means he said exactly what he was accused of saying. If he had anything different, they would have made sure to make it public so no one would think of him as a racist. In my opinion, they might as well have come right and say he said it because that's essentially what they did with this statement.

I think you are exactly right. If he had said something other than what he is acused of saying I'm sure MLS would have wanted to come forward to clear his name. Now it seems they are just trying to sweep this under the carpet so it doesn't attract any more attention than it has to. I guess this just provides fodder for the DCU game on August 5th for any one who wants to "go there".

prk166 · 03-15-2006, 04:50 PM

I'm sure the fans of the squawking turkeys will roll their eyes at this one an grumble about how intept the MLS HQ is on this stuff. But when it comes down to it, the MLS HQ has a lot of incentive to protect Nowak and to not have this be any bigger of a deal than it needs to be.

To be honest, this doesn't change my liking of Nowak. I think he's a good guy. He just said something dumb in the heat of the moment. Now I'd like him better if he appologized for it.

AreliusIV · 03-16-2006, 03:15 PM

MLS Fines Nowak Undisclosed Amount

Thursday, March 16, 2006; E02

MLS has fined D.C. United Coach Peter Nowak an undisclosed amount for comments he made during a preseason game against Real Salt Lake last month.

"After conducting a thorough review, we find that D.C. United Head Coach Peter Nowak made improper remarks during the D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake preseason game on February 17 in Bradenton, Florida," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement yesterday.

League officials declined further comment, and those involved in the case, including Nowak and his New York-based attorney, Stuart Friedman , agreed with MLS not to discuss the matter.

Real Salt Lake coaches had accused Nowak of saying that one of their players, Atiba Harris , should be "sent back to Africa." Harris, who is black, is from the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Nowak vehemently denied the accusation, saying at the time that he had said Harris should be "sent back to hospital." Team officials and players supported Nowak's claim in public and in interviews with MLS officials.

A native of Poland, Nowak is sometimes difficult to understand when speaking English. He had been upset about Harris's style of play and, according to United's players, was implying that they should retaliate against Harris. Harris had received a yellow card early in the game.

League officials conducted a monthlong investigation and, at one point, summoned Nowak from Spain, where United had been holding training camp, to meet with Garber at MLS headquarters in New York.

Sources close to the situation, who declined to be identified because they have agreed not to discuss the incident publicly, said the league found itself in an awkward situation because there was no audiotape of Nowak saying the remarks for which Real Salt Lake had accused him of making. At the same time, one source said, the league was concerned about a possible public perception that it wasn't seriously addressing the issue.

In an interview last month, Nowak said he was weighing his legal options against Real Salt Lake Coach John Ellinger and that second-year club. . . .

Defender Kenney Bertz , a fourth-round draft pick from Maryland, was released, leaving the club with 27 players, one below the league limit. Defender Allen Handy is likely to be signed.

-- Steven Goff

AreliusIV · 03-16-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AreliusIV

In an interview last month, Nowak said he was weighing his legal options against Real Salt Lake Coach John Ellinger and that second-year club. . . .

Cause for a new rivalry?

prk166 · 03-17-2006, 07:13 AM

I've been racking my brain trying to think of something witty for a banner when Dc is in town on Aug 5th. I'd love to have some fun with this one. Something that doesn't go out and call him a racist or some crap like that. I just want to make fun of his explination or something. It just seems to be beggin' for it.