Malik Dime did what a lot of players wish they could do during a game: he slapped a heckler. Heckling athletes is a tradition that goes back as far as there were athletes to heckle, and like it or not, it isn’t going anywhere.
For his actions, the Washington basketball program has suspended Dime indefinitely, and hopes this will be a “valuable teaching moment” for him.
The incident occurred on a night when the the Huskies fell to the Buffaloes 81-66.
As the Washington players were headed into the locker room at the half, Dime pretended as if he was going to high five one of the students in the student section, and instead slapped him and followed through, hitting the person next to him.
University of Washington statement on Malik Dime, who slapped two CU fans in the face Thursday night. Dime has been suspended indefinitely – pic.twitter.com/zgblP2QQ5a
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) February 10, 2017
Dime was not playing in the game, sitting out his ninth consecutive contest with a broken finger. Considering that he was unable to play, and likely unable to play in the coming games, the suspension means very little. It appears to be action taken for the sake of appearances; can’t have players slapping fans and not do anything about it.
In an era where Knicks will arrest one of their all-time greats for sitting too close to an owner that doesn’t like him, a suspension for slapping a fan isn’t that bad.
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Photo Credit: Washington Basketball
