He's an excellent coach but I’m not sure these incidents of pulling the race card look great for him. In saying that I wouldn’t know what it’s like being the only black coach in a pro league.

He can't keep his mouth shut and pulls the racist comment.Typical.

Really poor form, the dude has some serious issues.

Could argue over his previous comments regarding skin colour as a general rant about what sets him aside from other coaches, but this was seemingly a direct accusation against Mayberry. Mayberry should be getting legal advice and NBL should come down hard this time, unfortunately spoiling a grand final series.

What sort of punishment could he be looking at? Suspension?

This isn't the first time he’s used the race card. He needs to realise he’s not in the good ole USA. Need to leave the chip on his shoulder at home. Calling Mayberry into that form of disrepute is so wrong. He should get a suspension for his second time. But because he’s Jayson Tatum’s daddy and dare I say it 'a tall black man’, he’ll get a slap on the wrist. Hope the refs give him something to really sook about from now on.

Joey Wright has had a bit to say in the past about perceived racial profiling but this is poor form by Tatum. Warrants a suspension IMO but doubt it will happen.

The guy is an idiot. The whole team acted like bunch of fools in the last minute of a game where they are up by nearly 40 points.

Buford behaved a lot worse than Tatum ever did without penalty and from reading above Mayberry was the one that brought up colour. Nothing to see here and in all honesty Mayberry doesn't deserve a GF gig as he’s a show pony and not that good.

Where does it say Mayberry brought up skin colour first?

Accusing a ref of racism is a lot worse, totally undermining the ref's ability to call a game impartially, than just kicking a sign like Buford did.

What Mayberry said was inaudible so how do you know that Dunkman?

NBL won't suspend Tatum on the eve of a GF because it will look too much like giving the (boss’s) United team a helping hand at the expense of a small-scale Cinderella team. The media would be all over it, a big embarrassment to the NBL.
There might be a quiet deal that Tatum doesn’t coach a few games at the start of next season, but I would be amazed if they stopped Tatum coaching in the GF.

And it would be bloody awkward for Mayberry if he has to ref Hawks in the GF after that accusation, no matter that it was in the heat of the moment.

I doubt Tatum gets suspended anyway due to the black eye it would give the GF series from the get go but not because of not wanting to look biased towards United. We Sixers fans distinctly remember that suspension Sobey got in the 2018 GF series against United for that BS head-butt.

Sorry I must've misunderstood what I read above. I still think it’s been blown up, but yess I do agree that Grida behaviour was bad and Tatums as well, they were all so hyped up. It happens in life and sport.

Accused a referee of racism. Should miss game 1 of GF series. Has he not been watching Sam kerr's career ??

What if Tatum is right?


Other coaches get away with a hell of a lot without getting called out.

Nobody has ever been racist in Australia.

I'll play Devil's Advocate then.

Where did Tatum say anything about race? "My kind" meant coaches who stand up and speak their mind and don't back down when they think referees have got it wrong.

Hahaha @Damo

Where did Tatum say anything about race? "My kind" meant coaches who stand up and speak their mind and don't back down when they think referees have got it wrong.

I agree with you although it could have meant anything. Nothing was said specifically about race.

In the earlier incident he also didn't exclusively play the race card; he described himself in a few ways.

@ mball

Of course it could have meant anything which is my whole point. Everyone can form their own opinion about what may/may not have been insinuated, but to even contemplate suspending him for saying Mayberry is racist would be opening up a massive Pandora's Box.

its vague enough for it not to warrant much if anything imo

rillie says a lot of annoying crap on the sideline as well.

Tatum (and his team) are becoming a bunch of tossers but this isn't suspension worthy due to the arguable vagueness of it

I think the simple decision by the NBL here is to suspend Kendrick Davis for 2 games.

Both Tatum and Grida are elite-level d-bags. I was a neutral supporter who is now firmly on Team United after that gross carry on. The Hawks did a good job of tainting the end of that otherwise great game.

I'll add Hickey to that list too actually

Tatum outcoched by Vickerman.

Hawks probably complacent.

Tatum outcoched by Vickerman.

Hawks probably complacent.

Tatum outcoched by Vickerman.

Hawks probably complacent.

Tatum outcoched by Vickerman.

Hawks probably complacent.

Still nothing from NBL about Tatums racist rant at Mayberry. Second best league in the world is just hoping it will go away.

I'm not expecting anything until after the GF series is over

The BA integrity unit are the body investigating, not the NBL.

Thanks Seb. Pretty sure they will be taking 100% directive from NBL.

BA are still the governing body within Australia. Hence the Cook's case was released by BA as a violation of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy, which BA sign up to hence the NBL are therefore also aligned.

You read my mind, Crackers

If I was Mayberry I'd be getting legal advice very very quickly. It's not America where he can use for millions, but the implication of racism is serious to Mayberrys reputation. The comment has already been construed here as nothing, but let's have Tatum say what he meant by it.
If it had been regular season it would have been sorted, although they do drag their feet. They've stated the integrity unit is investigating, how long does it take to ring the parties. And if it is founded before, let's say game 3, does Tatum get sidelined.


The NBL has released the following statement regarding public comments directed at referees:

The NBL stands by the integrity of the game and its officials. Comments directed at referees and game officials are viewed seriously and will be investigated.

Previously the NBL released this statement. Just need to add in a timely fashion. Most professional leagues would have this wrapped up by now, or at least say based on current evidence they are making further enquiries. It's not like it's a Columbo investigation. Pretty simple.
"Vaughan, what did you say to Tatum before his comment?"

"Justin, what did you mean by saying Vaughan not liking your kind?"

Make ruling based on that, if things are disputed, then at least be transparent. But the NBL never is.


Had previously hoped Hawks would win, but after the carry-on, have switched to United.

For me, I don't think it matters what Tatum meant by "my kind" as he is inferring that Mayberry is discriminating against him for reasons based around Tatum's membership of a group. Given discriminating against people based on race/ethnicity, religious/political beliefs, ability/disability, gender, sexual orientation, age and appearance is illegal, what is actually left that Tatum could be talking about? Even if he is talking about tall men with beards, that is still accusing Mayberry of discrimination based on appearance and that would be illegal.

It's not America where he can use for millions,

It's not like it's a Columbo investigation. Pretty simple.

Sigh, yes Mayberry could sue for defamation but compared to America where they sue for the most ridiculous things and win is different to here.
The quote could be attributed to a lot of things, but what would a reasonable person have thought of that comment. And those arguing it could be anything, I bet the first think you thought of was related to race.
And in the high profile trials of Lehrmann and Roberts-Smith, it really didn't go well for them did it. Tatum might be tapping his son on the shoulder for a loan for his legal costs, if he loses he'll be up for even more plus the publicity if he wants to coach further. Mayberry just has to prove the comment proved embarrassment, attacked his character and may even affect his earning ability as one of Australia's top refs.
Now I'm not saying he'll win, but there's a chance. Imagine in your workplace and you have a disagreement with someone of a different race or sexual orientation and they yell at you that you don't like their kind.
Tatum's behaviour and the carry-on his team has made has already cost them the feel good battlers taking on the league heavyweights. They have always struggled for sponsorship, negative publicity like this from Tatum getting an ego may cost them.
He should have taken ownership and apologised but covering his back saying he regrets what he said, that he didn't mean to imply it was racial and then wait for any findings and take it from there. But the silence has been deafening.

compared to America where they sue for the most ridiculous things and win

Phantom: "He should have taken ownership and apologised but covering his back saying he regrets what he said, that he didn't mean to imply it was racial and then wait for any findings and take it from there. But the silence has been deafening.

Not at all. My first thought was that Tatum meant a coach who stood his ground, nothing at all to do with race,

What a load of rubbish mball