"I Hate Christian Laettner" film prompts apology from former Duke star

Former Duke basketball star Christian Laettner has apologized for stomping on a Kentucky player during his playing days. He was featured in a new ESPN documentary focused on his negative reputation

Christian Laettner apologizes for 1992 stomp on player's chest 01:31

Before Christian Laettner hit "the shot" that propelled Duke over Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA East Regional Final, he delivered "the kick" to Wildcat forward Aminu Timberlake.

The blatant stomp on Timberlake's chest only served to fuel the ire of all the fans who despised Laettner, the cocky star who led the Blue Devils to four consecutive Final Fours and two national titles. ESPN chronicled that animosity Sunday night when it aired the "30 for 30" documentary called, appropriately, "I Hate Christian Laettner."

But rather than snubbing the film, Laettner, now 45, embraced it, live-tweeting throughout the documentary with equal parts humor and contrition. More than two decades after kicking Timberlake, Laettner apologized:

I am only going to say this once... But I mean it. #IHateChristianLaettner pic.twitter.com/2AovaiJo42
— Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball) March 16, 2015

For his part, Timberlake said he wasn't going to "hold his breath" for the apology but said he appreciated it:

@laettnerbball @30for30 #IHateChristianLaettner #BBN over 20 yrs later #theapology never thought the day would come http://t.co/fXrMP3tFob
— Aminu Timberlake (@AminuTimberlake) March 16, 2015

Laettner was busy on Twitter throughout the airing of the documentary, chatting with fans and commenting on his hair:

Alright. Checking in. Which do you love more, my competitiveness or my hair?
— Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball) March 16, 2015

.@braden_oliver tweeted his dad was a big Duke fan. Asked him what he thought of #IHateChristianLaettner @30for30 pic.twitter.com/z9HE4wku9S
— Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball) March 16, 2015

.@30for30 At 45, I’m different than when I was 20. Maybe now you understand a little bit more about who I am and what fuels me.
— Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball) March 16, 2015

It seems like the documentary actually converted a few haters to admirers:

.@PCBrettC @30for30 I hope you came away with how much I love the game
— Christian Laettner (@laettnerbball) March 16, 2015

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