Charlie Villanueva, the former UConn Husky and current Detroit Piston tweeted this last night:
KG called me a cancer patient, I'm pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he's tossing it like it's a joke,
The KG Villanueva is referring to is Boston Celtic Kevin Garnett. The Celtics played at Detroit last night.
Villanueva suffers from alopecia universialis, which means he is unable to grow hair on any part of his body. Villanueva has become a spokesperson for people with the disease, and his efforts to reach out to kids with it have been well documented.
Kevin Garnett released a statement today, responding to Villanueva's allegations:
"I am aware there was a major miscommunication regarding something I said on the court last night. My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact ‘You are cancerous to your team and our league.’ I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure. I have lost loved ones to this deadly disease and have a family member currently undergoing treatment. I would never say anything that distasteful. The game of life is far bigger than the game of basketball."
You can make of that what you want. Personally, "You are cancerous to your team and out league," sounds like A) Something that doesn't make a lot of sense to say to Villanueva and B) a pretty awkward taunt, so I'm calling bullshit.
Kevin Garnett, you're a dick.