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April 27, 2001/Iyar 4, 5761, Vol. 53, No.30
Knicks' Ward upsets Jews
PETER EPHROSS
JewishTelegraphic Agency
NEW YORK - A New York Knicks basketball player has more to worry about than his team's current opponent in the NBA playoffs - despite his apology.
The American Jewish Congress is calling on Florida's secretary of state, Katherine Harris, to bench point guard Charlie Ward as the official spokesman for a state reading program after Ward was quoted in the April 22 edition of The New York Times Magazine as saying that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus.
In an article on the Knicks, Ward also was quoted as saying that Jews are persecuting Christians "every day."
Ward's "comments are hurtful and he needs to be responsible for them. The state needs to be responsible by not associating with him," said Jack Karako, the executive director of the AJCongress' Southeast region.
If Ward is allowed to continue in his role for the "Born to Read" program, it would be "as if the state is endorsing his comments," Karako added.
Harris has yet to respond to the call.
After he was publicly reprimanded by NBA Commissioner David Stern, Ward apologized in a statement released by the Knicks.
"I want to truly apologize to everybody who was offended by the New York Times Magazine story. I will say again that I would never condemn or criticize any group or religion," the statement said.
Ward also agreed to engage in a dialogue with Yechiel Eckstein, the founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, "in an effort to heal the wounds of the last few days."
After the initial comments were published, Ward told reporters that if they want to know the context for his statements, they should read the Bible. He added that his best friend - Jesus - is Jewish.
He then said that when he talked about Jews persecuting Christians, he was referring to Jews who denounce family members who convert to Christianity.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center has invited the entire Knicks team to visit the Nazi-hunting group's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. The center is awaiting a response.
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