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Gratton denies making slur
Fri. Nov. 13, 1998

PHILADELPHIA - Chris Gratton of the Philadelphia Flyers denied using a racial slur during a scuffle with Peter Worrell of the Florida Panthers. On Thursday night, Gratton said something when he and Worrell tangled behind the net. At least two reporters watching video said it looked as if Gratton called Worrell an ''ape.'' They then wrote stories about it for Friday's papers. ''Under no circumstances did I say anything like that,'' Gratton said after practice Friday. ''I would never, ever say that, disrespect Peter like that.'' Asked what happened, Worrell said: ''If he said something, I didn't hear it.'' He added: ''If I heard something, I'd tell you. But I'm not going to go around accusing people.'' Gratton said it was frustrating to deal with the accusation. ''I don't know who started this, but it's unbelievable,'' Gratton said. ''I'd apologize, but I never said it.''