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Chris Webber Lashes Out At Criticism Over TV Mistakes

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- Former Sacramento Kings superstar Chris Webber abruptly cut an interview short after facing a question over erroneous statements made during a nationally televised Kings game Thursday night.

KHTK host Grant Napear quizzed the ex-Kings forward about his statements that called the efforts to build a new Sacramento arena dead following a city council vote earlier this week, but Webber unloaded on the radio host and indicated he was unaware of any inaccuracies.

"If there was any incorrect information, just tell me the correct information," Webber said.

>> Listen to the full audio exchange

During the TNT broadcast of Thursday's Kings vs. Thunder game, courtside reporter Cheryl Miller asked Mayor Kevin Johnson about a bill the city council voted down on Tuesday, incorrectly stating that the move had been a rejection of the arena plan.

In fact, the measure was an attempt to block the arena deal by putting the decision on the June ballot, which would have forced the arena plan to miss the NBA's deadline in March. The city council shot down the idea in a 5-4 vote, keeping the arena hopes alive.

Johnson quickly corrected her, but Webber stated moments later that he had heard the arena deal itself had been rejected. Fellow TNT analyst Reggie Miller went on to describe Johnson's correction as political posturing.

"That's Kevin Johnson being a political figure, by spinning, because it was rejected," Miller said.

Webb responded hotly to Napear's question about the mistakes Friday night and bulled through attempts to clarify the issue in a rant that lasted nearly three minutes.

"I called out of my heart, out of the goodness of my heart," Webber said, before later adding. "If I did any wrong to the fans of Sacramento, I'll apologize, you know I love you. But I'm not going to give this guy on this show the chance to make me do that."

Webber soon hung up, despite Napear's pleas to stay on the line.

Mayor Johnson's office did not respond to requests for comments on the issue Friday.

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