The two players for Washington's basketball team were involved in a fight, allegedly prompted by an accusation made by Murray that his teammate, Strickland, was gay.

Unseld fined each player involved $25,000 and required them to donate the fines to one another's favorite charity, and Ordered them to make public apologies. Coach Bernie Bickerstaff also required an apology to their teammates for the incident and ensuing disruption.

Neither player has commented on the cause of the altercation.

Sharen Shaw Johnson, executive director of Gay Men & Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV), observed, "This incident sends an extremely dangerous message to the millions of Americans who look to these highly-paid athletes as role models. The message then becomes that homophobia is so acceptable, even the suggestion of being gay is justification enough to start Battering someone."

She continued, "Anti-gay violence is far from acceptable. In the District of Columbia, the Wizards' home, it is in fact against the law. It is a hate crime."

Cathy Renna, GLAAD DC Media Resource Center Manager, said, "GLOV and GLAAD salute Wizards General Manager Wes Unseld for fining the two players $25,000 each and requiring they donate the money to each other's favorite charity. We feel these two D.C.-based organizations are ideal choices for receiving that money: GLOV works to counter violence against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered; GLAAD works to protect this targeted community against the kind of media defamation that was an inescapable by-product of these athletes' brawl."

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org