Tristan Thompson (left) was ejected from the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies for trying to slap Memphis star Jae Crowder on the butt.
There was a time when the butt slap in sports was an expected part of the game. Players slapped each other on the butt as a way of saying “good job” or to motivate their teammates.
But with the increased focus on homosexuality and transgenderism in the media, the butt slap gesture has fallen out of favor with many macho players.
WENN.com reports the incident happened after Cavaliers star Thompson made his first of two free throws during the game on Friday, Jan. 17.
Crowder was walking near the free-throw line to leave the game when Khloe Kardashian’s ex reached to give him a pat on the backside – which Crowder immediately rejected by slapping Thompson’s hand away.
While the referee closest to the action let the gesture slide, another ref blew his whistle and gave Thompson his second technical foul of the game, which resulted in an automatic ejection.
Explaining the incident after the match, the part-time reality TV star commented:
“They might have taken it the wrong way probably because they forgot that, I don’t know, we were teammates for half the year, so it feels like playing anyone else, like if I was playing Kyrie (Irving) or something. The same thing. They teched us. I’m definitely calling the PA (Players Association) to appeal that – one thousand per cent.”
Thompson and Crowder were previously Cavaliers teammates from 2017 to 2018.
The Memphis Grizzlies won the game 113-109.
In a similar incident, NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. was nearly arrested when he got carried away and slapped a cop on his butt during a post-college national title celebration in the LSU locker room
A warrant was issued for the wide receiver’s arrest but the warrant was later dropped when the cop withdrew his complaint.
