The real problem with Dan Issel may not be racism but a general inability to control anger.  Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post writes about Issel's long history of self-destructive outbursts not just with fans but players and referees.

"When things go bad, Dan Issel doesn't think. He just reacts. And he goes off," Nuggets center Raef LaFrentz said Thursday. "When Dan Issel gets mad, that's what happens. He attacks referees, the press, his players."

"Dan Issel is very volatile. He is capable of saying things out of anger and frustration that he regrets later. Sometimes, it hurts his ability to coach this team," said Nuggets assistant Mike Evans, who is replacing Issel during his four-game suspension.

Kiszla concludes this way: "Now, it's 15 minutes past time for a clearly miserable coach to say goodbye. If Issel truly loves Denver as much as he professes, he knows what to do. The history of the Nuggets cannot be written without Issel. But the Nuggets have no future until Issel lets go."