Airline apologizes to basketball players after theft accusation, removal

American Airlines has apologized to two members of the Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate who were kicked off a plane in Dallas after a flight attendant wrongfully accused them of stealing blankets.

Airline spokesman Joshua Freed said Tuesday that Memphis Hustle guard Marquis Teague and forward Trahson Burrell boarded the Sunday flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The flight was operated by Envoy Air.

Two first-class passengers gave the players their blankets as they headed to their seats in coach. But a flight attendant accused them of theft and the players were asked to leave the plane following an argument.

An airline manager apologized to the players and they later flew first class to Sioux Falls, Freed said.

Hustle assistant coach Darnell Lazare said in a tweet that the flight attendant saw two “young black athletes” with blankets from first class and that his first comment was “did you steal them?”

Both players and the flight attendant are black.

Teague played a year at the University of Kentucky before being drafted in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Burrell played two seasons at the University of Memphis.

NFL

CHIEFS’ MAHOMES TO START AT QB » Firstround draft pick Patrick Mahomes II will make his NFL debut at quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs when they play an otherwise meaningless game against the Broncos on Sunday.

It will be the first time since Steve Fuller in 1979 that Kansas City has started a rookie quarterback in a non-strike year.

Mahomes was the first quarterback drafted by the Chiefs in the first round since Todd Blackledge in 1983.

The Chiefs locked up the AFC West with a 2913 victory over the Dolphins last weekend, and cannot improve their playoff positioning against the Broncos, so, starting quarterback Alex Smith and many of the other regulars will get a week off before the playoffs.

College basketball

NO. 1 VILLANOVA ROUTS DEPAUL» Mikal Bridges scored 20 points, Phil Booth added 17 points and six assists, and No. 1 Villanova made it look easy, beating DePaul, 103-85, on Wednesday in the Big East opener for both teams.

The Wildcats (13-0, 1-0 Big East) closed in on last year’s programrecord 14-0 start and gave coach Jay Wright his 399th victory in 17 seasons at Villanova.

Max Strus had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists for DePaul (7-6, 0-1).