Former SU Player Calls Out Woman Who Denies Him a Seat

Former SU basketball player Etan Thomas is calling out a woman who denied him a seat on the train. Was it because he was black?

Thomas got on a train and asked if he could sit next to a woman. After telling him someone was sitting there he went to the next seat. In Thomas' Facebook post that has gone viral he says, "less than 2 mins later a man (who happens to be white) asks if he can sit there and she says why sure let me move my stuff."

Unable to stay quiet, Thomas asked the woman "did you just not want ME to sit next to you? And she says don't pull the race card with me. I dated a Black guy in college. So the guy (who was a nice guy) said listen I'll get up and I said no need I'mma just take this pic and make a Facebook post about it."

Thomas also posted a "Shout out to the lady who didn't want me to sit next to her on the train but quickly moved her stuff when he asked," on Twitter.

The woman became upset her picture was being taken and said to Thomas, "I'm going to tell the conductor you're over here illegally taking pics of people without their consent."

When the conductor arrived, he recognized Thomas and happened to be a big fan, telling him "love what you're doing in the community. Loved you with the Wizards. Big Cuse fan man. the Knicks sure could use you."

After the exchange between Thomas and his fan, Thomas turned to the woman and said "Was there something you wanted to tell my man?"

While many stand behind Thomas, some people think he's overreacting. Was the woman being racist or did she just not want to sit next to such a big man. Thomas is 6'10" and weighs 260 pounds. That doesn't leave much room for the person sitting next to him.

What do you think? Racism or an overreaction?

Thomas played for SU from 1996-2000 before heading to the NBA, playing for the Washington Wizards.