Grizzlies Coach Lionel Hollins Told Fans to ‘Shut the **** Up’

Oh boy, like the Grizzlies didn’t already have bad enough publicity, now they have to deal with their coach going all Bruce Boudreau on some fans. According to Chris Vernon via CBS Sports, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told a group of 17-year-old kids to “shut the **** up” after they made noise questioning his decision to leave center Hasheem Thabeet in the game instead of replacing him with Zach Randolph.

It’s inappropriate for fans to use that sort of language, unacceptable by players, and unheard of for a coach to go off on fans like that. They’re supposed to be the level-headed leaders of a team, masters of public relations. Instead, you have Hollins cussing out some kids. I’m sure they were being jerks but he has to know better than that.

Making matters worse, apparently the fans are hardcore Grizzlies supporters who have six season tickets to Memphis games. Wrong people to mess with, Lionel. As much as everyone would love to unload on people heckling them, sometimes you just can’t. And I’ll also take the opportunity to reiterate a point I’ve made before: just because you’ve bought a ticket doesn’t give you the right to act like a jackass at a game. Normal manners and good behavior is still expected (though I know that’s asking a lot) for some people.