Pat Garofalo
Twitter

Minnesota State Rep. Pat Garofalo officially apologized on Monday for a controversial tweet about NBA players, the Associated Press reports.

On Sunday, the veteran Republican tweeted, "Let's be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime," sparking a Twitter outcry. At first the politician said he was being misinterpreted, but on Monday he changed his tune.

"I sincerely apologize to those who I unfairly categorized," he said, according to a statement. "The NBA has many examples of players and owners who are role models for our communities and for our country. Those individuals did not deserve that criticism and I apologize.

"I don't have a racist bone in my body. I pride myself on the fact I've tutored in inner-city Minneapolis," Garofalo, who is up for reelection, added. “[There are] no excuses. I apologize. I'm responsible for my actions."

More than 70 percent of NBA players are black, the AP notes.

Garofalo is reportedly known for his bluntness, often displaying sarcastic takes on politics, culture and sports on Twitter, in addition to his equally brusque speeches on the floor, according AP. 

Read more at ESPN.