Why Steve Blake Apologized to the Lakers Fan That He Swore at


Steve Blake’s bizarre confrontation with a courtside fan last Friday night (here’s video of the incident) led to a $25,000 fine from the NBA. The fan, Lance Jackson, reached out and Blake apologized, most likely because the guy’s dad — Steven Jackson, CEO of LA Gear and a huge supporter of the Lakers — has so much pull. From the LA Times: “Said Blake: ‘It’s one of those moments you’re not proud of.’ Said Lance Jackson: “I’m just sorry it got to this point.’ That’s not exactly what they were saying to each other during Friday night’s Lakers loss to the Clippers at Staples Center. While playing for the injured Steve Nash, Blake was struggling, hitting just two of his six shots while the Lakers were falling to 0-3. According to Jackson, he was shouting to Blake about ‘making your open shots.’ Another source says t Jackson was actually peppering his message with personal expletives. In the final minute of the game, Blake began firing back, shouting at Jackson from across the court, then actually approaching his courtside seat and cursing directly at him after fouling out with 29.2 seconds remaining. It was such a stunning scene, the personable Blake angrily confronting a member of one of the Lakers’ first families, that the Lakers announcers gave a blow-by-blow on television. […] The tiff became news Tuesday when Blake was officially fined $25,000 by the NBA for directing inappropriate language toward a fan. It was the first time in his 10-year career that he’s been cited for bad behavior with a fan. Interestingly, Steve Jackson probably spends about $25,000 each night on tickets. He is such a Lakers fan, his Bel-Air home contains a replica of the Staples Center court that is sometimes used by visiting teams for a secluded practice. This is also the first time in his more than three decades as a season ticket-holder that any member of his family has been in the news for harassing players. All of which would have placed the Lakers in a major quandary — do they support their important player, or their valued fan? — except they finally caught a break. Lance Jackson and his father reached out to Blake in hopes of clearing the air, and Blake reached back. They met Tuesday in an office at the Lakers practice facility, where Blake apologized, and the apology was accepted. Said Blake: ‘I didn’t have to do it, but they didn’t have to reach out as well, and it shows what kind of character they have.’ Said Lance Jackson: ‘Steve seems like a great person, it all happened at the heat of the moment.’ […] ‘Part of our job is that fans can yell at you, heckle you, things like that, and you have to remain professional,’ Blake said. ‘Unfortunately, I didn’t, and I want people to know that from this point on, I will carry myself better.’ […] ‘It’s a frustrating time, the Lakers had fallen to 0-3,’ said Lance. ‘But at the end of the day, it was a misunderstanding, and we move on.'”