Christie (l) and Napear co-host a radio show and work together on Kings TV broadcastsNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
KHTK-AM radio host and Kings broadcaster Grant Napear was "placed on administrative leave following remarks about the Black Lives Matter movement during a Twitter exchange" with former Kings C DeMarcus Cousins, according to Jason Anderson of the SACRAMENTO BEE. The controversy was "sparked Sunday evening" after Cousins directed a tweet at Napear "prodding him for his take on the Black Lives Matter movement." Napear responded, "Hey!!!! How are you? Thought you forgot about me. Haven't heard from you in years. ALL LIVES MATTER. ... EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!" Cousins replied, "Lol as expected." Yesterday, "The Grant Napear Show" opened with Program Dir Jason Ross reading a statement from KHTK and station owner Bonneville Int'l. Ross and Exec Producer Jay Johnson were later joined by former Kings G Doug Christie, who "co-hosts Napear's afternoon radio show and partners with him as a color commentator during Kings television broadcasts on NBC Sports California." Christie spoke in support of Black Lives Matter but "did not address" the absence of Napear, who has called play-by-play for the Kings since '88 (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/2).
TO ERR IS HUMAN: In Sacramento, Marcos Breton notes Napear has since "apologized." Napear yesterday said, "I'm not as educated on BLM as I thought I was. I had no idea that when I said 'All Lives Matter' that it was counter to what BLM was trying to get across." Breton writes Napear was "emotional on the phone and was sincere." Breton: "And I believe that he didn't know the political implications of the phrase he used." Napear "made a mistake and he knows it." Breton: "We all make mistakes. I hope forgiveness keeps him on the air" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/2).
