| November 9, 2021, 7:27 PM
November 9, 2021, 7:27 PM
The wife of Robert Sarver has sent messages to three former Phoenix Suns employees in the aftermath of a story from last week alleging the NBA team's owner has a history of racist, misogynistic and hostile incidents, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes.
NEWS: Former Suns employees receive messages from Penny Sarver, the wife of the Phoenix Suns majority owner Robert Sarver. Said one: "I don't know how to interpret it other than as a threat.” Penny Sarver denies she was trying to intimidate anyone. https://t.co/kINnsMAWwK
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) November 9, 2021
Penny Sarver confirmed to ESPN she did send the messages "to try to set the record straight and to share how disappointed and hurt I am by the lies that are circulating about my husband and the Suns organization."
One former employee told ESPN they interpreted the letter as a threat.
ESPN says one of the messages from Penny Sarver says: "Please put your hatred aside and realize the hurt you are causing by spreading lies and fabrications. Is your time in the spotlight that important? If something happens to one of my children, I will hold you and Earl Watson personally responsible. Think about your own child for a second and imagine the tables turned."
Watson, now a Toronto Raptors assistant coach, said in the original story that Robert Sarver repeatedly used the N-word in the presence of Watson, who is Black and Hispanic. The Raptors have pledged their full support to Watson.
Another message from Penny Sarver to an ex-employee, according to ESPN, says: "You are such a liar. In your trying to destroy my husband with [your] lies -- you have destroyed my family and children."
The NBA has said it has launched a formal investigation, engaging the same law firm that they used before forcing former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell the team after video of him using racist language became public.
