Fired Rutgers coach Mike Rice issues public statement about his abuse of players

Fired Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice has issued an emotional apology to the media:

As I stated three months ago after I watched the video…how deeply regrettable those actions… I also stated how I was going to try and work on changing and I think I have accomplished a lot of that.

I can’t say anything right now except I’m sorry… they’ll never be a time when I am going to use any of that as an excuse – or be any excuse.

I have let so many people down… my players, my administration, Rutgers University, the fans… my family who’s sitting in their house just huddled around because of the fact that their father… is an embarrassment to them.

It’s troubling but I will at some time…maybe I will try to explain it but right now there’s no explanation for what’s on those films because there is no excuse for it – I was wrong.

I want to tell everybody who’s believed in me… that I am deeply sorry for the pain and hardship that I have caused.

Rice was fired yesterday after hours of video was released showing him subjecting players to homophobic slurs and physical assaults.

Rice’s behavior was first reported by former director of player development Eric Murdock, who compiled footage of Rice’s actions—including kicking players and calling one a “fucking fairy” and a “fucking faggot.”

Initially, Rice was just suspended for three games, sent to anger-management classes and fined $50,000. But when ESPN and other media outlets got a hold of the disturbing 40-minute video, the school made an about-face and fired Rice.