Antonio Davis goes into the stands...

[boisesuns]

I wonder why the Bulls said security was there before when they clearly weren't.

 

[Yuma]

Hmm. so the thinking goes something like this then...

"Hey that guy is yelling at my wife..."
"Now he's touching her....."
"Now she looks like she's falling back...."
"Wait. He hasn't hit her yet...."
"Still hasn't hit her......"
"Still, waiting for him to hit her........"

Osprey thinking continues "I still don't see her getting hit, yet......"

Osprey's wife thinking, "Damn! I wish Osprey had brought Yuma along to get this ******** of me!"

 

[jbeecham]

but from all accounts, he never touched her

also, why is he focused in on the stands in the first place?!

my own personal opinion is that he was still amped up from the fight on the court a few minutes earlier that he let his emotions get the best of him and wasn't thinking clearly

David said he saw the guy put his hands on her and she starting falling backwards (like he pushed/shoved her) and that's when he ran into the crowd.

"I witnessed my wife being threatened by a man that I learned later to be intoxicated," Davis said in a statement issued after the game. "I saw him touch her, and I know I should not have acted the way I did, but I would have felt terrible if I didn't react. There was no time to call security. It happened too quickly."

Knicks coach Larry Brown said Davis went into the stands because he saw his wife "falling back."

 

[MigratingOsprey]

then ospreys wife thinks about potentially living in yuma and wanders the desert looking for a bridge to jump off of before eventually dying a slow and painful death in the middle of nowhere (which is almost kind of like living in yuma)

 

[MigratingOsprey]

of course he did ... he's the one potentially getting in trouble

has any non-biased observer (say the 100 people immediately around them) mentioned any physical contact?! - no

 

[Yuma]

David said he saw the guy put his hands on her and she starting falling backwards (like he pushed/shoved her) and that's when he ran into the crowd.

That doesn't matter. He should have still pointed out that she was getting abused to security from the court. Davis says to security, "Excuse me sir. See my wife (pointing in her direction), could you go save her while I continue the game, please."

 

[MigratingOsprey]

by the way - watch the video again and look for the grey haired guy in the suit

he beat davis up to the spot and then disappears from the screen (because antonio eclipses the guy) and then reappears as he helps usher davis away

personal was able to get there before antonio - who only added extra confusion to the situation

 

[jibikao]

he absolutely should be suspended

you don't go into the stands, especially under that circumstance

the fact that it wasn't confrontational shows further there was no need for him to be there

all he did was create more havoc and create a potentially dangerous situation

I agree with this 100%. Yes, it wasn't confrontational but what if it turns out to be confrontational? What if that "someone" WAS messing around with your wife? So an NBA player starts fighting with that "someone" and a small fight may turn into big fight. There are so many people sitting beside his wife and you don't know if you would hurt them or not (or scare them at least).

The best way is to call the security to see what the problem is. Going there (by jumping over the table??) without any permission is wrong IMO. People thought something big happened.

 

[Yuma]

then ospreys wife thinks about potentially living in yuma and wanders the desert looking for a bridge to jump off of before eventually dying a slow and painful death in the middle of nowhere (which is almost kind of like living in yuma)

Why would she move to Yuma? I'm sure she would eventually forgive you for continuing to play in a basketball game while some scary man was at the very least physically abusing her and causing her great apprehension. She may even by the line, "But honey, they would suspend me if I left the court. That's why I sent security to help you."

 

[MigratingOsprey]

thanks jib - although thankfully nothing happened, the potential was pretty big for something to go down

especially in a close game that just saw a couple players thrown out a few minutes before

if the guy did push her, have security throw him out and have your wife put charges on him

 

[MigratingOsprey]

heh .. i'd use the $200k in saved game checks to send her to europe for a shopping spree - with a bodyguard of course

 

[Yuma]

by the way - watch the video again and look for the grey haired guy in the suit

he beat davis up to the spot and then disappears from the screen (because antonio eclipses the guy) and then reappears as he helps usher davis away

personal was able to get there before antonio - who only added extra confusion to the situation

That's because he saw which direction the gigantic athlete was heading. Then saw why he was going there. The guy should be commended for settling the situation so Davis didn't have to be involved.

 

[Yuma]

I agree with this 100%. Yes, it wasn't confrontational but what if it turns out to be confrontational? What if that "someone" WAS messing around with your wife? So an NBA player starts fighting with that "someone" and a small fight may turn into big fight. There are so many people sitting beside his wife and you don't know if you would hurt them or not (or scare them at least).

The best way is to call the security to see what the problem is. Going there (by jumping over the table??) without any permission is wrong IMO. People thought something big happened.

So you fine a guy for restraining himself from being confrontational?

 

[jibikao]

So you fine a guy for restraining himself from being confrontational?

No, you fine a guy who broke the rule. He knew going to the stand is wrong... jumping over the table is wrong. It "could" turn out to be a choatic situation if they ended up fighting. That's why they impose this "rule" to avoid that happening.

Having said that, I think one day suspension is enough.

 

[Chaz]

I don't blame him one bit for going into the stands.

Still he broke the rule and should be suspended for at least a game.

 

[arthurracoon]

I don't blame him one bit for going into the stands.

Still he broke the rule and should be suspended for at least a game.

 

[elindholm]

he beat davis up to the spot and then disappears from the screen (because antonio eclipses the guy) and then reappears as he helps usher davis away

That could be, but a security person who looks anonymous and doesn't command attention in even a low-key situation isn't much good, is he?

has any non-biased observer (say the 100 people immediately around them) mentioned any physical contact?! - no

Has any information been released about the accounts of the other witnesses? Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Yuma]

No, you fine a guy who broke the rule. He knew going to the stand is wrong... jumping over the table is wrong. It "could" turn out to be a choatic situation if they ended up fighting. That's why they impose this "rule" to avoid that happening.

Having said that, I think one day suspension is enough.

I agree he broke a rule. People break rules all the time to save lives or help others out of situations. Usually the courts absolve them of any penalty because they were doing good. Or in the cases where parents break laws to protect their kids, husbands to protect wives, etc. That's what we are talking about here. The old, there's an exception to every rule. Why just this week a Pittsburgh Steeler broke a rule criticizing officials. He was forgiven. I think Antonio will be forgiven. You think he won't. I may end up wrong. You may end up wrong. So what? I am just playing devil's advocate to your strict interpretation that he broke a rule so he must be punished. I'm just pointing out, he MAY not be after it's all over with.

In any event, I bet he got some good nookie from the wife after his chivalrous attitude showing concern for her well being while not pulverizing someone unnecessarily!

 

[Chaplin]

but from all accounts, he never touched her

also, why is he focused in on the stands in the first place?!

my own personal opinion is that he was still amped up from the fight on the court a few minutes earlier that he let his emotions get the best of him and wasn't thinking clearly

Ok, so say you're at work--let's say your a mid-level manager at a finance company. You glance out the window and see your wife on the sidewalk and some guy is harassing her. He's not really touching her, but you can tell that something is wrong (or at least, in your opinion, something seems wrong). Do you just stand there and wait for the cops to show up? Or do you go out there and see what is going on? I think we all know the answer to that question. Would your company fire you? Of course not. And if they DID, that is absolute grounds for wrongful termination.

If Davis gets more than a 1 game suspension, then I hope the media (not Chris Sheridan, who wants to give Davis a harsher penalty than some did in the brawl) jumps all over Stern.

 

[Yuma]

Ok, so say you're at work--let's say your a mid-level manager at a finance company. You glance out the window and see your wife on the sidewalk and some guy is harassing her. He's not really touching her, but you can tell that something is wrong (or at least, in your opinion, something seems wrong). Do you just stand there and wait for the cops to show up? Or do you go out there and see what is going on? I think we all know the answer to that question. Would your company fire you? Of course not. And if they DID, that is absolute grounds for wrongful termination.

If Davis gets more than a 1 game suspension, then I hope the media (not Chris Sheridan, who wants to give Davis a harsher penalty than some did in the brawl) jumps all over Stern.

I agree. Maybe I'm hanging with Osprey. I see a drunk yelling at his wife. I think she's touched and appears to be falling backwards. I look at Osprey. He says, "Dude, let's find security. It's not that bad yet." What should I do?






















Just having fun with you. I really don't think you'd let your wife get abused by a drunk. Unless that drunk is you, of course!

 

[boisesuns]

They've got some more stuff on ESPN including a fan account from ESPN radio. Sounds like he was somewhat close to the scene.

 

[boisesuns]

Rumor is possibly an 8 game suspension.

 

[boisesuns]

Fan Plans to Sue:

Updated: Jan. 19, 2006, 4:02 PM ET
Fan says he did nothing wrong, plans to sue Davis, wifeAssociated Press


CHICAGO -- As New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis awaited word Thursday on whether he will be suspended for climbing into the stands to confront a man during a game in Chicago, that fan said he did nothing wrong and was attacked by Davis' wife.


The altercation came in overtime Wednesday night of the Bulls' 106-104 victory. Davis said he thought his wife was in danger and later released a statement saying the fan was drunk.


"It's a lie," 22-year-old Michael Axelrod said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.


Unlike last season's melee when Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and fans were involved in perhaps the worst brawl in U.S. sports history, order was quickly restored. No punches were thrown, there were no arrests and Davis was ejected.


The Knicks were home Thursday night against Detroit. An NBA spokesman said decisions on penalties are usually made before a team plays its next game.


Davis, president of the NBA players' association, jumped over the scorer's table to get in the stands at the United Center.


"I witnessed my wife being threatened by a man that I learned later to be intoxicated," he said in a statement after the game. "I saw him touch her, and I know I should not have acted the way I did, but I would have felt terrible if I didn't react. There was no time to call security. It happened too quickly."


But Axelrod said Kendra Davis tried to scratch him after he after protested a call. Axelrod said he never laid a hand on Davis' wife and said he was not drunk.


Axelrod's father, David, is a prominent Democratic political consultant in Chicago who has worked with Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley.


"When I go to games, I cheer as hard as I can for the Bulls, and I boo as hard as I can for whoever they're playing," Michael Axelrod said. "I don't feel comfortable if players are allowed to easily jump into the crowd whenever they feel like it's necessary."


Axelrod's attorney, Jay Paul Deratany, said he planned to sue Davis and his wife for more than $1 million. Deratany said he was writing the papers Thursday for a battery suit against Kendra Davis and a slander case against Antonio Davis, and planned to file them Friday.


According to Axelrod, he was sitting in the seventh row and booed an official's call. Kendra Davis "came out of her seat. I didn't even pay attention to her. I thought she was just going to the bathroom or something," he said.


Axelrod, who was sitting a couple of rows behind her, said she yelled at him to be quiet. Axelrod said he did not know she was Davis' wife until the player ran into the stands.


Axelrod said Kendra Davis put both hands on his face, and that he motioned for security. He said she later went after another fan.


"I was glad she was done hitting me, but I didn't want her to hit anyone else," Axelrod said.


Antonio Davis appeared calm throughout and walked away willingly when security arrived. He returned to the bench and took his seat before being ejected. The game resumed after about a five-minute delay.


Axelrod was escorted to the concourse by security, but said he was allowed back into the arena and saw Ben Gordon's winning shot at the buzzer.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Ok, so say you're at work--let's say your a mid-level manager at a finance company. You glance out the window and see your wife on the sidewalk and some guy is harassing her. He's not really touching her, but you can tell that something is wrong (or at least, in your opinion, something seems wrong). Do you just stand there and wait for the cops to show up? Or do you go out there and see what is going on? I think we all know the answer to that question. Would your company fire you? Of course not. And if they DID, that is absolute grounds for wrongful termination.

If Davis gets more than a 1 game suspension, then I hope the media (not Chris Sheridan, who wants to give Davis a harsher penalty than some did in the brawl) jumps all over Stern.

chap - figuring that I'm on the 11th floor, i'd immediately phone security on the ground level, alert them of the situation and then make my way out of the building

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I think it's a bit much for axelrod to sue as well

but then again, davis wouldn't have to worry about a lawsuit if he would of let security do it's job