Nuggets report: PETA letter
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published November 20, 2008 at 11:22 p.m.
* When: 8:30 MST tonight
* Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
* TV/radio: Altitude; KCKK-AM (1510).
* Starting lineups
| Denver (8-4) | Pos. | Ht. | Pts. |
| 15 Carmelo Anthony | F | 6-8 | 20.6 |
| 4 Kenyon Martin | F | 6-9 | 13.4 |
| 31 Nene | C | 6-11 | 14.7 |
| 30 Dahntay Jones | G | 6-6 | 6.6 |
| 7 Chauncey Billups | G | 6-3 | 17.5 |
Coach: George Karl
| Lakers (8-1) | Pos. | Ht. | Pts. |
| 10 Vladimir Radmanovic | F | 6-10 | 6.1 |
| 16 Pau Gasol | F | 7-0 | 17.6 |
| 17 Andrew Bynum | C | 7-0 | 10.8 |
| 24 Kobe Bryant | G | 6-6 | 24.3 |
| 2 Derek Fisher | G | 6-1 | 10.6 |
Coach: Phil Jackson
* Injuries: Nuggets - F Chris Andersen (broken rib), C Steven Hunter (right knee surgery), G-F Sonny Weems (groin strain), all out. Lakers - G Trevor Ariza (upper respiratory infection), probable.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to owner Stan Kroenke asking the Nuggets to enact a policy prohibiting the use or display of live animals at home games.
PETA cited the Nov. 7 game at the Pepsi Center against Dallas, when team mascot Rocky ran onto the court and held two baby tigers over his head and when the mascot handed out kittens from a box to those in the crowd wanting one.
Upset fans were said to have contacted PETA, which called the atmosphere of a big crowd inappropriate for the baby tigers and that it was imprudent to give away kittens in that setting.
Kroekne Sports Enterprises isn't commenting for now.
Notes: Anthony, who averaged 25.7 points last season, and Bryant, who averaged 28.3, are two stars who are both scoring less while deferring more to teammates. . . . Denver is tied for first place with Utah in the Northwest Division.
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November 21, 2008
10:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
LingLingfor_prez writes:
Upset fans called PETA? Why didn't they call the Nuggets offices? PETA (People for the Eating of Tasty Animals)
November 21, 2008
11:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
tettes writes:
So you eat kittens, LingLing?
I have to say this kind of promotion is abhorrent. When you buy or adopt a pet, you go through a process to determine that you're at least basically fit to own the pet. Especially at places like the humane society, where they make sure your home and yard are properly equipped to house a dog or cat when you adopt.
Simply handing out kittens in a crowd sounds like a form of animal abuse to me, and I'm glad the crowd wasn't full of a bunch of morons like LingLing, otherwise no one would have ever known.
November 21, 2008
7:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Johnnyk7 writes:
I think that "Ralphie" should mow over a few PETA nutz...
November 21, 2008
8:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
jpsparks writes:
Weren't they stuffed kittens that they passed out? It's like when Rocky "trips" and knocks a cake over to a birthday girl (who happens to be in on the gimmick). Goodness gracious...
November 24, 2008
2:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
justme1977 writes:
OH, for crying out loud
November 26, 2008
1:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
carryBIGstick writes:
It's PETA folks. I take them about as seriously as I do Dennis Kucinich or Michael Savage.