DENVER ? The Denver Nuggets suspended head coach Dan Issel for four games without pay Wednesday in response to racially oriented remarks the coach made to a heckler Tuesday night.

The suspension will cost Issel more than $112,000, based on his annual salary of approximately $2.3 million.

Issel apologized for the remark Wednesday, but some in the Hispanic community said his apology and the team's reaction didn't go far enough.

A video shot by a KUSA cameraman Tuesday night documented the exchange between Issel and a fan as the Nuggets left the Pepsi Center court after losing to the Charlotte Hornets.

"Hey, go have another beer, you (expletive) Mexican piece of (expletive)," Issel said.

"Last night after the game I was involved with a very stupid and regrettable incident with a fan, for which I'm very sorry," Issel said during an emotional press conference Wednesday. "In response to a heckler, I used some very regrettable and ... very unfeeling statements, and I'm sorry for that. I apologize to the fan, I apologize to the Denver Nuggets organization and I apologize to the city of Denver for that un-Christianlike comment.

"Obviously, the organization doesn't condone